Bennington College

About the Program

The making of original work is central to dance at Bennington since its 1932 founding. The program emphasizes technical practice, somatic study, improvisational and compositional research, peer and faculty collaboration, interdisciplinary investigation, design, production, and performance. Bennington's dance program is historically significant as one of the first American college dance programs to prioritize modern dance and choreographic experimentation.

Degrees Offered

Concentrations

Coursework

Four-year undergraduate program where students begin making dances in the first year. Weekly Dance Workshop brings all levels together to show and respond to works-in-progress. Emphasis on creative process, cultural and historical context, technical training combined with conceptual work, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Field Work Term is a defining annual internship experience.

Notable Faculty

• Elena Demyanenko
• Michael Giannitti
• Levi Gonzalez
• Tilly Grimes
• Kaolack Ibrahima Ndiaye
• Mina Nishimura
• Dana Reitz
• Susan Sgorbati

Facilities

Martha Hill Dance Theater — one of the largest sprung-wood black box theaters in the U.S. Spacious, naturally lit studios available 24/7. Alternative site-specific performance locations.

Performance Opportunities

Weekly Dance Workshop performances, formal theater productions, site-specific performances. Annual Field Work Term connects students with 30+ professional dance companies including Martha Graham Dance Company, Mark Morris Dance Group, and Trisha Brown Dance Company.

Rankings & Alumni