Information for Accepted Dance Students

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Departmental Policies for Dance Students

Technique classes and rehearsals are the most time‑intensive requirements in the dance program. They focus on developing your expressive and physical skills through a strong foundation in ballet and exposure to a large range of modern dance approaches. Therefore it is imperative that in these studio courses you are ready to work and do so consistently.

Attire

Proper attire for Ballet Classes for Women includes:

• Tight black leotards (straps should measure approx 1 inch or more – no spaghetti straps, spider straps, criss-crossed straps, halter necks, or mock turtle necks).
• Proper foundations neatly covered by practice clothes.
• Pink tights. Tights must be worn under the leotard. It is preferred that the tights be worn to cover the feet. If you must wear tights with the feet cut off, please make sure that they are tidy at the ankle.
• Please do not wear tights or leotards with holes or runs in them.
• Wear soft ballet shoes with elastics appropriately attached.
• Pointe shoes are required for Pointe Technique, Ballet Variations, Pas de Deux, and Ballet leves III and IV, and they should be brought to every class meeting and appropriate rehearsal.
• Skirts may be worn for pointe class, but only for the center work and/or at the discretion of the instructor. The skirt must be black to match the leotard and may not be longer than mid-thigh.

Proper attire for Ballet Classes for Men includes:

• Black tights.
• A snug black or white T-shirt or leotard (worn under the tights).
• Dance belt.
• Waist band or belt to hold up tights.
• Black soft ballet shoes with elastics appropriately attached.

Proper attire for Modern Dance Classes includes:

• Tights without feet and a solid colored leotard for women.
• Snug T-shirts and tights without feet would be appropriate for men.
• Unitards may be substituted for either.
• Dancers should be prepared, in every way to dance barefoot.

Furthermore . . .

• Sweat pants and other bulky garments may be worn in rehearsal only with the permission of the instructor.
• Practice clothes are to be clean and neat (visitors often observe classes), and they should permit the instructor's clear observation of the line of the body.
• Outside the studio students should 'cover up,' even if the weather and/or contemporary fashion allow otherwise.
• All dancers are to neatly and appropriately secure their hair off the face and neck.
• The wearing of jewelry, with the exceptions of engagement/wedding bands and post earrings, is prohibited.
• Unless the temperature in the studio is 65º or below, students will be asked to remove all "warm-up" clothing before class begins.
• Please consult your professor's syllabus concerning individual preferences or guidelines regarding appropriate attire, hair and shoes.

 

Additional Attire for Belhaven University Dance Ensemble:

Women should have a pair of neat pink canvas ballet slippers and should always have a second pair of pointe shoes they are working in. You are to provide your own tights unless otherwise discussed with the Artistic Director, and you should own a pair of sparkling post earrings, and false eye lashes.

For special occasions and for choreographic work that is being "workshopped" without formal costuming, women should also have a cap sleeved, scooped black leotard, black Capri-length tights and a black tigh-length georgette wrap skirt. It is further highly recommended that all female Ensemble members own a pair of 3/4″ or 1″ heeled tan-colored character shoes.

Men, in addition to their usual attire, should own a white and a black short-sleeved crew neck nylon leotard by Capezio. Men should also have two pairs of canvas ballet shoes standing by, one white and one black.

All dancers should have a pair of black jazz pants and a pair of jazz shoes at their disposal. They are also to supply and apply their own make up.

 

Information as You Prepare to Transition for Study in Dance at Belhaven University

The faculty of Belhaven University's Dance Department are delighted that you have chosen to continue your pursuit of excellence in the art of dance in a higher education setting. Our dance program offers an exciting opportunity to enhance your training, expand your knowledge, and prepare you for a future in the world of dance and affiliated careers.  Although the transition from a private dance school to a liberal arts college is adventurous and exciting, you may find many differences and challenges. Our faculty, as well as this document, will help you make this transition.

Belhaven University's Dance Program offers a diverse curriculum.  During your academic experience, the following goals will be emphasized.

1. To develop and integrate a Christian worldview into your dance studies.
2. To develop skills in technique and performance artistry.
3. To gain an understanding of dance through history and theory.  
4. To develop your artistry voice and ability to craft dance through composition and choreography.

These goals aim to expose you to a wide breadth of courses that are designed to give you a broader and deeper perspective and skill-set.

Upon entering our dance program, your prior training may have been focused primarily on developing technical skills and improving performance execution. Therefore, that is why we hope that you keep an open mind to new dance opportunities and cultivate a healthy curiosity about all aspects of the art form.  The following suggestions are to better prepare you for your collegiate career with a background of knowledge making your first experiences with our dance department positive:

• Attend as many dance performances as you can
• View television documentaries and films on dance
• Read about dance in newspapers, magazines, books, on the web—visit your local library
• Familiarize yourself with key choreographers of the 20th century—George Balanchine, Martha Graham, José Limón, and William Forsythe, to name a few.
• Research contemporary dance artists and current dance trends
• Visit internet sites (YouTube and dancemedia.com) of different dance genres
• Broaden your skill base—discover new ideas and approaches by taking from different teachers
• Explore other dance forms—try something different! (SYTYCD is only one small offering)

As you expand your perspectives by discovering the vast array of opportunities that you may not have thought about pursuing, it is important to remain creative and flexible in your thinking, while looking into the only true mirror that will tell you who you are, what you have and where you are as a child of God- His word.