Category:Dance
From College of Fine Arts and Communications
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Overview
The Department of Dance provides an academic dance program so extensive in its offering that it is unmatched by any other university in the world. More than 13,000 students take classes every year in one or more of the department’s four areas of emphasis: ballet, ballroom, modern dance, and world dance, as well as in tap, jazz and aerobic dance.
The Beginnings
As early as the 1890’s, dance classes were taught at the university. What may be considered the first class was offered in 1892 by Maude May Babcock. The class was billed as a physical culture class where students would learn “delsartean movements.” This style of exercise was seen as innovative because it focused on self expression rather than building muscle. However, the classes created an uproar on campus as news circulated that the girls in the courses wore exercise bloomers.
By the 1920’s, social dance had become a popular activity around campus. In 1921 the Bureau of Social Service was organized with one of its major focuses being promoting social dance on campus. This was done by offering dance classes as part of university workshops. At the same time, interpretive dance classes were also offered with students offering recitals on the bank of the Provo River.
Over the next decades BYU taught an array of dance courses, yet lacked an academic social dance program. This addition was made shortly after Alma Heaton joined the faculty in 1953. Heaton, who had previously taught social dance at a nationally recognized dance studio, set the stage for BYU to become a leader in ballroom dance. His passion for teaching social dance gained administrative support in 1965 when University President Ernest L. Wilkinson became concerned with the types of dancing taking place of campus. Wilkinson felt that dances such as the “limbo,” “twist,” “swim,” and “jerk” were not appropriate for BYU students and mandated that the College of Physical Education offer more ballroom and round dancing classes.
A Dance Curriculum
As the seventies began, the dance program’s reputation had begun to draw students. In 1972 Lee Wakefield arrived at BYU. Having studied dance since age 14, he quickly became involved in the dance program and began teaching classes himself. A semester later Linda Baes arrived at BYU. Raised as a Catholic, Baes came to BYU because it was the only university that offered a ballroom dance program. Six months later she joined the LDS Church and shortly thereafter married Lee.
The duo competed together at BYU before moving to California and working their way into the national and international limelight. In 1980, after six years of training, coaching, and competing, they returned to BYU to head up the ballroom program. After returning to Provo the pair continued to compete, capturing two consecutive national championships in the theater arts category. Lee currently serves as the department chair for the Department of Dance.
"When we arrived at BYU, a lot of essentials already existed,” said Lee in a 1998 BYU Magazine article. “The university had a long history of support, a lot of classes were being offered, facilities were great, and there was a large enough pool of interested students that we could put together a talented group of performers. Everything was in place, making it possible for the program to blossom."
A Succesful Department
The Department of Dance has received international acclaim as touring groups, including the Ballroom and Folk Dance Teams, have performed in locations worldwide. Not only have the performers enriched lives through dance, but also through their testimonies and the spirit that they each carry with them.
The Department of Dance is committed to preparing reflective, articulate dance artists, teachers, and scholars. Ultimately, the department hopes to cultivate dancers who honor and preserve the past, give voice to the present, and seek to define the future as it provides for study, research, experimentation, practice, performance, and the creation of new works. With the belief that dance, as an expression of art, is an optimal educational vehicle to harmonize the body, mind, and spirit, the department’s administration and faculty seek to integrate the scientific, the historical, cultural, and the aesthetic, in both theory and practice. The department is dedicated to presenting wholesome dance to a global audience and generating interest and enthusiasm about this artistic medium. The faculty maintains the strictest of academic, moral, and performance standards to ensure the richest education possible.
On June 1, 2009, the Department of Dance became part of the College of Fine Arts and Communications. Prior to that, it was housed in the College of Health and Human Performance.
Department Chairs
- Phyllis Jacobsen (1980-1995)
- Sara Lee Gibb (1995-1999)
- B. Lee Wakefield (1999-Present)
External Links
Subcategories
There are 12 subcategories to this category.
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Articles in category "Dance"
There are 35 articles in this category.
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