Vassar College
Dance Department
Poughkeepsie, NY
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About the Program
The Dance Department at Vassar is strongly committed to the arts and nurtures a vibrant community that enables students to combine their passion for dance with their intellectual pursuits. Beginner to advanced courses in multiple techniques are offered alongside improvisation, composition, and movement-analysis coursework, with master classes, artist residencies, and field trips to New York City for live concert dance. (BA in Dance launched fall 2026.)
Degrees Offered
BA in Dance
Minor in Dance
Concentrations
Coursework
Faculty are alums of Martha Graham Dance Company, American Ballet Theatre, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and New York City Ballet. Curriculum includes multiple techniques, improvisation, composition, and movement analysis. Master classes, residencies, visiting artists, and field trips to NYC supplement studio work.
Notable Faculty
- Miriam Mahdaviani-Goldstone (Lecturer & Chair; former New York City Ballet)
- Stephen M. Rooks (Professor; former Martha Graham Dance Company)
- John F. Meehan (Professor, Frances D. Fergusson Chair & VRDT Director; former American Ballet Theatre)
Facilities
The Dance Department occupies the southern wing of Kenyon Hall, featuring four dance studios and faculty offices, plus the 244-seat Frances Daly Fergusson Dance Theater — a performance space dedicated solely to dance with a fully sprung floor, wing space, and advanced lighting and sound.
Performance Opportunities
Vassar Repertory Dance Theater (VRDT), Dance Department showcases, and student-run dance organizations.
Want to Learn More?
Continue on Vassar College's official site.