The program offered at Washington College within the Physical Education Department is designed to train dancers, choreographers, and performers anatomically, biomechanically, and artistically. These are facets of dance which are viewed as mutually dependent and interactive. Fundamental to the training of the dancer is the building of the dancer's body; and so the program includes technical training in ballet, modern dance, and jazz dance, in addition to work in improvisation, dance composition, dance history, and repertory. Performances are an important part of the program, ranging in scope according to the student's abilities, vision, and needs.
A broad dance curriculum emphasizes both physical and cognitive skills and includes classes for academic credit in: modern dance, ballet, jazz, dance composition, dance history, tap dance, and movement for actors. Students may also take aerobic dance and yoga for additional strength and conditioning of the body.
It is the goal of the program to teach vocabulary of dance movement and knowledge of factors that influence movement by introducing students to kinesthetic awareness and acquiring the fundamental skills of various techniques, developing creative potential through improvisation, developing awareness of tempo, meter, accent, and phrasing in movement, introducing spatial concepts and floor patterns. Students also are exposed to appreciation of dance as an art form by exploring the work of dance artists; viewing dance performances on tape, film, and in live theater; analyzing movement ideas, and composing movement studies based on compositional ideas, musical, or dance forms; understanding musical terminology as it applies to dance; and developing musicality in performance.
Washington College has a chapter of Nu Delta Alpha (NΔA) - the national dance honor society - which is open to students who maintain a 3.0 GPA and show outstanding ability in dance technique, performance, scholarship, choreography, literature, and/or production.
Washington College Dance Company is open, by audition, to all students. The Company performs throughout the state of Maryland in public and private schools as well as at the Maryland State Dance Festival. They perform 16th century court dances at the annual Renaissance Christmas Feast with the Music Department and present a spring dance concert, perform at the Birthday Ball, and/or perform off campus.
Washington College is a small, liberal arts college located on the Eastern Shore of Maryland within 1-1/2 hour's drive of Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Washington.
Current Dance Class Schedule
Monday
1:30-2:20 - Pilates Mat (Prof. Smith; also Wed.)
2:30-3:20 - Yoga (Prof. Smith, also Wed.)
4-5pm - Flamenco (Kathy Bands)
6-7pm - Jazz (Laura Connelly)
7-8pm - Lyrical (Barbara Harrington)Tuesday
1-2:15 - Dance History-CNW (Prof. Smith; also Thurs)
2:30-3:45 - Ballet (academic class with Prof. Smith; you may attend
for credit or audit; also meets on Thursday)
4-5pm - Ballet (Riley Carbonneau)
6-7pm - Contemporary Dance (Katie Himmelberger)
7-8pm - Tap (Lauren Thomas) - Cain Dance Studio
8-9pm - Group Rehearsal (dances learned in fall 2007)Wednesday
5-6pm - Company Class (Karen Smith; EVERYONE performing in April Concert
must attend)
6-7pm - Ballroom Dance (Karen Smith - for audit or credit)
6-7:30 - Sho'Troupe rehearsal (Cain Gym)
8-9pm - Pointe (Jenn German)Thursday
2:30-3:45 - Ballet (Prof. Smith)
5-6pm - Sassy (Diane Swenson)
6-7pm - Hip Hop (Katie Himmelberger)(all classes are in the LFC studio with the exception of tap, which meets in the Cain studio )
Washington College Dance Program
Washington College
300 Washington Avenue
Chestertown, Maryland, USA 21620-1197
Director Karen Smith: ksmith2@washcoll.edu, http://karen.smith.washcoll.edu/
Adjunct Professor Asa Thorp: athorp2@washcoll.edu
Webmaster: jgerman2@washcoll.edu