Unveil the rich tapestry of human expression through studying dance and movement. Delve into critical analyses of dance practices, immersing yourself in historical and cultural perspectives that breathe life into this art form. No previous dance experience is necessary for this transformative class.
What You’ll Study in the Bachelor’s Degree in Dance
Explore how dance practices both reflect and shape our world. Through work inside and outside of the studio, find connections between embodied, written, creative, and scholarly work and understand dance as a way of approaching salient social, cultural, and political questions. Become a visionary scholar or artist who drives innovation and social change in the field through rigorous training and our comprehensive dance curriculum.
Roadmap to the BA in Dance at Reed
Embark on your journey by immersing yourself in our rich offerings. Reed’s dance department emphasizes the synergy between critical and creative work. Our approach provides foundational knowledge and fosters innovation, preparing you to create and carve a pathway as a scholar or artist.
Year One
Start at Your Level
The dance major offers a diverse range of courses catering to both beginners and seasoned dancers. Explore the expressive potential of movement and refine your technical skills in our state-of-the-art studio and performance spaces.
As a first-year student, you also engage in the intellectually stimulating Humanities 110 course. This signature Reed class lays the foundation for your liberal arts education.
Year Two
Stay in Motion
Delve deeper into the world of dance through a range of advanced courses. Build skills through Contemporary Dance I: Invention and Design or Contemporary Dance III: Action and Interaction, culminating in an end-of-semester performance showcasing your artistic growth.
You can contribute your choreography to the student-run Reed Dance Troupe or audition for the Contemporary Performance Ensemble, where you perform pieces choreographed by our esteemed faculty. Find more performance opportunities through Reed Arts Week, student thesis productions, and independent projects.
Year Three
Level Up in Dance and Academia
Broaden your dance education by enrolling in our wide range of elective courses. Study diverse styles, such as African and African-diaspora dance, ballet, hip-hop, and Argentine tango. Other classes explore dance from the perspective of race, gender, class, ability, and sexuality.
You can also participate in dance-intensive exchange programs in renowned dance hubs like New York, Paris, Havana, or Jerusalem. Spend a summer or semester with different artistic communities to learn new approaches and perspectives. Reed also offers grants and fellowships to pursue scholarly research or performance opportunities. With all of your on- and off-campus learning, you are ready to take your junior qualifying exam in dance.
Year Four
Perfect and Perform
Complete and present your senior thesis as a culmination of your dance degree. Depending on your dance emphasis, submit scholarly research on a specific field within the field of dance or present and perform a significant creative endeavor that you’ve put into context through extensive research.
There are many benefits to studying dance and movement at Reed. Learn to effectively communicate ideas and themes through the creation of choreography and expressive dancing. These fundamental skills, combined with your comprehensive knowledge of dance theory and practice, will serve as the bedrock for your future endeavors in the field of dance and beyond.
Why Study Dance at Reed College?
Two Dance Emphases: Studies and Studio
With the dance major at Reed College, take courses that build your dance knowledge and performance skills. You can specialize further by choosing an emphasis in dance studies or dance studio.
In the dance studies emphasis, delve deeper into the rich history, theory, and critical and cultural studies surrounding dance. In your senior thesis, engage in scholarly research to explore a specific topic within the field of dance; you may also include a creative component.
The dance studio emphasis nurtures your technical proficiency, choreographic abilities, improvisation skills, and performance artistry. Undertake a thesis project in which you complete research to support a creative endeavor of your own making. You have the opportunity to stage a fully produced performance, showcasing your choreographic vision and artistic expression.
With these two distinct emphases, our dance department provides a robust and multifaceted dance program that caters to diverse interests and aspirations within the field.
Residency Program with Guest Artists
Artist residencies play a vital role in connecting you with professional dancers and choreographers at the forefront of their fields. Reed’s dance department maintains a robust residency program where guest artists work directly with you.
These artists bring their expertise and creativity to the campus, offering fresh perspectives and addressing urgent issues related to race, gender, sexuality, and ability. Previous instructors include Ronald K. Brown (EVIDENCE), Reggie Wilson (Fist and Heel Performance Group), and Rosie Herrera (Rosie Herrera Dance Theatre).
Our Dance Courses
Dance 201 - Introduction to Dance Studies: History and Culture
Dance 270 - Dance, Race, and Gender
Examine the intricate interplay between movement and racial and gender identities. Step into a world where dance is both a mirror and a catalyst for questions of labor, class, ability, and sexuality. Learn via viewings, discussions, and assignments, as well as movement workshops and dance practice-based classes.
Dance 365 - Contemporary Global Dance
Explore and experience contemporary dance practices in a global context to understand how they are products of cultural negotiation, contestation, and exchange. Uncover how dance helps us understand national, racial, and gendered identities and blurs the line between Western and non-Western traditions.
Careers for Dance Majors
Reed dance graduates develop creative and critical thinking skills that help them succeed in fields, including performance art and community engagement. Recent careers for Reed dance graduates include the following:
- Choreographer, performer, and teacher, The New Zealand Dance Company
- Communications and outreach manager, Inevitable Foundation
- Costume designer, Imago Theatre
- Dance performer, explore dance network
- Dance teacher, Block 1750
- Director and company member, sub.set dance
- Production design lead, Google
Achievements of Reed Dance Graduates
Our dance majors have gone on to join prestigious dance companies and graduate schools, including these:
- Black Grace Dance Company (Australia)
- Gibney Dance Center
- NYU Tisch School of the Arts
- ORIANTHEATRE Dance Company (France)
- Tanzfabrik Berlin (Germany)
- The University of Arizona
- University of California, Los Angeles
- Urban Bush Women
Professor Pens Award-Winning Book
Professor Victoria Fortuna combines history with dance studies in her book Moving Otherwise: Dance, Violence, and Memory in Buenos Aires, which won the de la Torre Bueno First Book Award for “its significant contribution to the intersection of dance, trauma theory, and politics.”
