Amanda Rae
Staff Writer
FSC is home to many different majors and programs. The department of Theatre Arts and Dance is a program that allows aspiring performers to prepare for a professional career in the arts. In this program, it allows performers to experience real performance and an opportunity to showcase their skills. The Florida Southern Dance program is ranked #6 in Florida for dance schools.
The Dance program offers numerous curriculum, including jazz, ballet, modern, contemporary and choreography techniques. This variety ensures dancers are well rounded in every style, granting them adaptability within the performing arts industry.
“We are a concert based dance program. Every dance minor and major is required to take a certain amount of ballet and modern classes. However, other styles like African, pointe variation and improvisation are also offered,” said, junior dance minor, Catherine Dewberry. With the help of all of these different technical classes, students are able to become universal performers.
In addition to preparing students for the stage, this blend of technique, originality and multiculturalism helps develop applicable skills including self expression, discipline and collaboration with other performers. While viewing the entire Florida Southern dance program as a whole, the academics this dance program has to offer assures dancers will graduate as flexible and confident professionals who will be able to thrive within the rapidly evolving industry.
“The dance department prepares students for a wide variety of careers. Students go on to perform, choreograph and teach in both the concert and commercial sides of the field. The structure of the program allows for students to tailor their electives towards their career goals through electives such as “Dance for the Camera” and “Teaching Dance” Mia Daniel said.
The Florida Southern dance program produces multiple performances for performers to participate in which helps influence their stage presence for when they graduate. The program ranges from student-led showcases to professionally choreographed performances.
“BFA juniors and seniors get to showcase their choreography on stage. Juniors participate in “Emerging Artists” which is held in the Buckner theater during December. Meanwhile for the seniors, they have their senior BFA performance in the spring,” said Dewberry. Their latest show was in the spring called “Kinetic Connections.”
The Dance and Theatre department is celebrating their program day this upcoming Monday, Oct. 13. “Theatre and dance day is a day for prospective students to come see what our program is all about. Perspective students get the opportunity to meet our faculty, meet current students and even audition for the programs,” Dewberry said.
The Dance program offers an experience for students to showcase their passion while preparing for their future.
“The faculty are very knowledgeable and have had amazing dance careers. We also have multiple guest artists per year come set works on students during a short period of time. Building connections is absolutely essential to dance,” Daniel said. The opportunities given to the dance students here at Florida Southern are endless and extremely rewarding. Students are provided with exceptional technical education while developing unique talents through choreography, showcases and self discovery. Florida Southern’s performing arts program creates an environment for students to understand their strengths, weaknesses and gifts.
