Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

About the Program

The Dance program at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (Department of Fine and Performing Arts, Winona) provides a comprehensive foundation in classical and contemporary dance technique and theory. It offers a Dance Track within the Theatre B.A. major and a Dance minor. Beyond technique, students study dance history, choreography, anatomy, and dance teaching methods, with performance opportunities in theatre and musical theatre productions, faculty/guest artist dance concerts, a biennial full-length Nutcracker, student-choreographed productions, and the American College Dance Association's annual festival. The program is noted as one of the only university programs in the Midwest, and the only one in Minnesota, that allows dancers to take pointe technique, variations, and advanced ballet, and to perform on pointe every semester.

Degrees Offered

Concentrations

Coursework

Curriculum includes dance technique, dance history (concert and world dance forms), choreography, anatomy/kinesiology, and dance teaching methods. Strong classical ballet and pointe emphasis: pointe technique and variations, advanced ballet technique, and pointe performance available every semester. Dance is structured as one of five tracks within the single Theatre B.A. major (alongside Acting/Directing, Design/Technology, Musical Theatre, Theatre Studies), plus a standalone Dance minor.

Study abroad available

Performance Opportunities

Theatre and musical theatre productions, faculty/guest artist dance concerts, biennial full-length production of The Nutcracker, student-choreographed dance productions, and participation in the American College Dance Association's annual festival. The department produces two dance productions on the Winona campus annually.