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The Dance Program at Saint Mary’s College aims to:
CONSTRUCT a healthy attitude toward dance and the value of diverse dance forms including cross training in different styles and Somatic disciplines, following a holistic view of the human body which allows assessment and reflection without judgement both in the studio and on stage;
DEMONSTRATE individual artistic choices and promote self-authority and agency to express individual thought and creativity outside of rigid, dominant and binary world views both experientially and in writing;
DISTINGUISH technical terms and theories used in dance studies, influenced by aesthetics, anatomy and science, Somatics, pedagogical and performance theories; and employ this terminology appropriately when discussing and writing about specific works and/or assessing one's practice;
RECOGNIZE the cultural context of a work of art or style of movement in the studio and in writing. Frame creative challenges within larger historical/theoretical questions to locate one’s own place in history by recognizing the dance lineage that shape us in our search for defining the dancing identity necessary in today’s world;
ENGAGE in critical discourse to explore how social identities are constructed, constrained, reinforced, and treated with inequality by systems of power, including within the field of performing arts by analyzing issues of access, representation, exclusion, and inclusion in the field in both creative practice and on paper;
FORMULATE an intersectional perspective through the lenses of race, ethnicity, gender, class, sexuality, ability, age, and culture; strengthening our sense of how socially conscious bodies are able to see and take action towards social diversity in relationship to the SMC community, the Bay Area, the country and beyond when assessing one’s practice.
Choreography and Performance
Study the theory and practice of movement, technique, choreography, and pedagogy through a variety of workshops and performances
Dance Studies
Study the historical, theoretical, and cultural roots of dance as a performance art while learning and performing a variety styles and choreography
Dance Science
For more information on this specialized concentration, please consult the Director of the Dance Program, Professor Cathy Davalos
Learn More about the areas of study
From September to May, Company members experience what it means to be a professional dancer by going through training, choreography, and performance. Students in the dance program create original choreography for a fall dance concert that features the work of graduating seniors. In the spring, the SMCDC members work with dance faculty and guest artists to create the annual spring dance concert. Guest artists have been dancers and choreographers from throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond including: Kara Davis, Micah Sallid, Jermaine McGhee, Bela Watson, Bliss Kolmyer, Paco Gomes, Janice Garrett, Nina Haft, Stacey Printz, and Randee Paufve.
Auditions are not required for the Performing Arts major in dance. Students will audition for performance ensembles, including the Saint Mary's College Dance Company, early in the new academic year. Contact Dance Program Director Cathy Davalos for more information on performance auditions.
The Dance Program at Saint Mary’s College offers scholarships to incoming first years. Dance scholarships are merit-based for demonstrated artistic excellence. Dance Scholarship auditions will be be in person January 21, 2023 and virtually January 22, 2023.
This is to give all students the opportunity to attend and provide equity in the process. All applications for the Dance Scholarship must be submitted by Nov. 15, 2022 and you must also first apply to the college via early action (application is still open). You must be accepted to the college before Jan. 21. The audition will consist of three parts: a modern dance technique class, a short solo, and an interview. Annual merit scholarships of $13,000 are available to selected incoming first-year students who intend to major or minor in Theatre, Dance or Music. These merit-based awards are available only to incoming first-year students, and are renewable for four years.
Dance Program Director
Cathy Davalos
(925) 631-4824
cdavalos@stmarys-ca.edu