Submission Date

4-26-2010

Document Type

Paper

Department

Dance

Adviser

Cathy Young

Committee Member

Cathy Young

Committee Member

Chris Aiken

Committee Member

Beverly Redman

Department Chair

Domenick Scudera

Project Description

In 1932, dance educator Martha Hill created the first accredited dance major Bachelors of Arts degree at Bennington College. Since then, dance has grown into a popular course of study for undergraduate students, and seen major developments in dance science, kinesiology, dance injury prevention and technologies. In this research paper I will trace the development of young dancers from competitive studio training into liberal arts dance programs by exploring the aesthetics and training methods of both dance environments. As a senior dance major at Ursinus College, I have witnessed a pattern that takes place each year where incoming freshmen dancers are surprised to discover that their new college dance environment is much different than their previous dance school. They struggle with adjusting to the expectations, rigors and demands of a college dance classroom. I will conclude by presenting ways in which students and faculty might work together to address the complexity of this transition. In turn this will alleviate classroom tension, provide a stronger working relationship between students and professors, promote alternative training practices for young dancers and ultimately help ease the transition from studio to college dance.

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