Visiting the Department

The University of Utah Department of Modern Dance welcomes prospective students, alumni and other visitors to the department to observe classes and facilities, meet faculty, informally chat with students and discuss how the department can suit your academic or artistic needs. Please note that alumni are always welcome back to the department and can participate in technique classes for up to one week each semester. To maximize your time here with us, please plan to visit the department during the Fall or Spring semesters.

Visits are to be arranged in advance and can be scheduled through the appropriate advisors:

Director of Undergraduate Studies
Abby Fiat
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801 581-3223

Director of Graduate Studies
Stephen Koester
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
801 587-9808

Alumni or other visitors:
Department Office
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801 581-7327
Monday-Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.

Campus Tours can be arranged through the Orientation Office:
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801 581- 7069
www.sa.utah.edu/orientation

Reprint: Dance Teacher Now

Dance in Higher Education
University of Utah
Department of Modern Dance
Reprint from Dance Teacher Now: November 1997

Outside the dance world, Salt Lake City may be more widely known as the home of the Utah Jazz basketball team, the host of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, or the city founded by Mormon settlers. But dancers know the area for its thriving dance community, its rich dance heritage and the excellent dance programs at the University of Utah (U of U).

U of U’s Department of Modern Dance has long been recognized as one of the nation’s best centers for providing aspiring dancers with a broad dance curriculum and high academic standards, while preparing them to enter the world of professional dance.

The university has a separate ballet department of equal stature (see “Dance in Higher Education: Ballet Department University of Utah,” DTN, September 1987). Dance program heads ranked U of U’s undergraduate and graduate programs among the top programs in the United States and Canada in Dance Teacher Now’s 1995 and 1996 Career Guides. Scott Marsh, newly appointed chair of the modern dance department, says, “There are many professional dancers working and living here, and many professional opportunities for our students here in Salt Lake City.”

Besides departmental productions, students are regularly invited to perform with the area’s professional dance companies and in community theater groups. “This critical mass of professional dance activity has long made our department a thriving center for aspiring dancers,” Marsh says. Marsh is a former member of the Repertory Dance Company and Tandy Beal and Company (see “Spotlight on Tandy Beal: Project Into the Space Around You,” DTN, October 1994) and has been on faculties at Mills College in Oakland and the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California.

Faculty members and graduates founded two major professional dance companies still affiliated with the modern dance program: Repertory Dance Theatre and Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company. The Repertory Dance Theatre features works ranging from Isadora Duncan to the post-moderns. The Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company focuses on contemporary choreography with diverse points of view. Faculty members Shirley Ririe and Joan Woodbury, who founded Ririe-Woodbury, have received many honors for their work.

Undergraduate students take daily technique classes in pursuit of a B.F.A., undergo an extensive composition program, and receive training in kinesiology, dance history, philosophy, criticism, dance theater, video production, music for dance, teaching, dance repertory, and improvisation. Students also have the option of continuing for a fifth year in the College of Education to receive certification to teach. Graduate students in the M.F.A. degree program may specialize in performance, choreography, or special projects; students in the M.A. degree program may specialize in dance history, kinesiology, or teachingThe department also is known for its innovative work in dance education and performances for children.

Phyllis Haskell, dean of the College of Fine Arts and former chair of the department of modern dance, praises the well-rounded preparation that students receive. “Our improvisation and choreography training is some of the finest in the nation and is on par with our technique and performance training, our teaching and administrative training and our music, aesthetic, and dance science training,” she says.

Dance majors take a course in teaching methods for the children’s dance from Mary Ann Lee, director of the Virginia Tanner Creative Dance Program. Located on U of U’s campus, this program provides many opportunities for the students to work with one of the nation’s finest creative dance programs for children.

Dance majors may audition for the Performing Dance Company, the acclaimed group that represents themodern dance department in national festivals and international tours. Founded in 1978, the group hasbeen chosen regularly to perform at the American College Dance Festival National Gala inDC, and has represented the United States at festivals in the British Isles, Southeast Asia, andThe company performs choreography be faculty members and visiting guest artists. Recent guesthave included Steve Koester, Douglas Nielsen, Daniel Shapiro, and Joanie Smith, and Risa Steinburg.

The modern dance ballet departments are proud of the Alice Sheets Marriott Center for Dance which has 333-seat theater, six dance studios, classrooms, production workshops, a video lab, a conditioning and a student lounge that opens onto a rooftop patio. “After years of touring the world’s studios theater facilities, I have yet to find such a beautiful and well-functioning facility for dance,” Marsh says.

Several Scholarships are available. First-year students who are Utah residents may audition for one of Elizabeth R. (Betty) Hayes Utah Freshman Scholarships awarded each year. The Etta Keith Scholarship Fund is based on need and is awarded to talented, continuing students. Talented entering the undergraduate or graduate programs may audition for other modern dance scholarships.

The university will switch from a quarter calendar to a semester calendar in Fall 1998. Students contact the department for information on audition requirements for graduate and undergraduate programs. U of U is a four-year, coeducational, public university founded in 1850. A dance program was started 1892, and a dance major was established when Elizabeth R. Hayes became director of modern dance 1940. Today the modern dance department has 85 B.F.A students, 15 M.F.A. students, including students from many other states and countries.

Performing Dance Company

ABOUT THE COMPANY
Performing Dance Company (PDC) founded in 1978, provides a professional level performing experience for graduate and undergraduate students pursuing their degrees at the University of Utah. The Company showcases choreography from faculty and guest artists focusing on the creation of new works and the reconstruction of historical masterpieces.

PDC performs two regular home seasons each year at the Alice Sheet Marriott Center for Dance on the University of Utah as well as several performances yearly at various local venues and tours in the United States and abroad. Performing Dance Company has frequently been selected to represent the Northwestern Region of the American College Dance Festival at that organization’s National Festivals at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.. In 1988 the company represented the U.S. at three international dance festivals in Asia, Hong Kong, Mainland China and Taiwan. In 1995, PDC completed a highly successful three-week tour of Australia. More recently, the Company performed in Madrid Spain, as well as several venues in New York City including the New York City/Lincoln Center performance in Central Park, the John Ryan Theater in White Wave, as part of the d.u.m.b.o. and Cool New York Dance Festivals, and for the American Guild’s 50th Anniversary Gala Concert. In 2007, PDC performed and taught Master Classes as part of The Part des Anges Festival in Artigues, France.

In addition to the new works from faculty choreographers, the Company has performed commissioned works, as well as works from the repertory of many distinguished artists including: Trisha Brown, Doug Varone, Molissa Fenley, Ron Brown, David Dorfman, Doug Elkins, Lar Lubovitch, David Parsons, Laura Dean, John Malashock, Deborah Haye, Sara Rudner, Tandy Beal, Della Davidson, Paul Madsen, Zeng Huanxing and Gabri Christa, among others. The Company has also performed reconstructions of historical work by Martha Graham, Viola Farber, Alwin Nikolais and Murray Louis, Hanya Holm, and Helen Tamiris.

PERFORMANCE AND RESIDENCY ACTIVITIES
Performing Dance Company and the directors who tour with the company offer a wide range of residency and performance activities. Touring repertory is selected from the current repertory of the Company. As a showcase for new works, PDC is able to present the finest in modern dance from a host of choreographers. This generous array of choreographic works allows PDC to present an evening of dance that would not be possible otherwise. Your audience can enjoy the works of several different choreographers in a single concert. A typical one-and-a-half to two hour concert would feature between four and six fully produced works.

Performing Dance Company also offers master classes and lecture/demonstration performances for any population. Classes in modern dance technique, composition and repertory are offered for dancers from secondary school level through university and professional levels. Master classes focused on creative movement may also be included for younger, elementary school age children. Lecture/demonstration performances are designed to introduce new audiences to modern dance or to present insights into the art form, and can be tailored for any specific population from child to adult, novice to devotee.

As a university-based dance company, Performing Dance Company’s goal is to create as many performance opportunities as possible for the student company members. With this goal in mind, we seek presenters who are able to cover the costs associated with producing the concert, which does not include any honorarium for the company. We are looking for presenting partners who can provide the venue, production crew, and marketing/promotional support we materials we provide. Any amount of additional support for extended travel and housing may be negotiated. Because PDC is an auxiliary of the Department of Modern Dance at the University of Utah all the combined residency (performances, master classes, lecture/demonstrations) are provided with no expectation for honoraria. Each residency is designed with the individual presenter to maximize the Company’s impact in your community. We are happy to discuss the many different residency possibilities with you.

CONTACT INFORMATION
All residency and booking arrangements can be made through the department of Modern Dance at the University of Utah. You may contact us by phone, e-mail, post or fax.
Donna White, Department Chairperson
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
801 587-9811

Danell Hathaway, Marketing Director
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
801 587-9804
Fax: 801 581-5442
Mail: 330 South 1500 East, Rm 106
Salt Lake City, UT 84112-0280
USA

Performing Dance Company

Performing Dance Company (PDC) founded in 1978, provides a professional level performing experience for graduate and undergraduate students pursuing their degrees at the University of Utah. The Company showcases choreography from faculty and guest artists focusing on the creation of new works and the reconstruction of historical masterpieces.

For more information or booking possibilities, please visit the “press” link, located on the left side bar.

The University of Utah Department of Modern Dance

The Department of Modern Dance at the University of Utah has a long, distinguished history of excellence that unites the world of academia with the world of professional dance. NASD accredited and ranked as one of the top programs in the country, our alumni have gone on to work internationally and nationally as dancers, choreographers, artistic directors, teachers, videographers and administrators.

We are committed to creating an educational community in its finest form: one which invites diversity, embraces ambiguity, welcomes creative conflict, practices honesty, honors risk and experiences humility. Both our Bachelor and Master Degree programs offer a rigorous, in-depth inquiry into dance as a physical, aesthetic, intellectual and cultural practice.

Building Details

Alice Sheets Marriott Center for Dance
330 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84112-0280
Map

In This Building:
Modern Dance Department
Ballet
Hayes Christensen Theatre
Studio Theatre, Rm 240

Nearby Public Parking:
parking maps

Other Resources:
Visiting Utah? Get information here: SLCinfo.pdf
University Guest House Accommodations
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Directions

Map
Interactive Campus Map
Parking Details

Driving directions to the Department of Modern Dance, University of Utah:
Enter Campus at 500 S and Guardsman Way (1580 E).
Follow the round-about on S. Campus Drive west to the stop light at 1500 E.
Turn right on 1500 E. The road will dead end in to the visitors pay parking lot.
The Marriott Center for Dance building is on the west side of the parking lot.

Support Modern Dance

The Department of Modern Dance relies on the generous donations provided by alumni, students’ families, lovers of dance everywhere, and our own faculty members.

If you would like to extend your support to our department, please visit the University of Utah’s Development page. Here you can specify if you would like to donate to our general fund, student scholarships, or the guest artist program. You may also conduct a search to see if your employer will match your tax-deductible donation. For donors whose contributions meet or exceed $500 we provide a brass seat plaque with your name in our Hayes Christensen Theatre. Your seat will announce to all that you care about the continuation of the art form here at the University of Utah.

Contact Information

The University of Utah
Department of Modern Dance
330 South 1500 East Rm106
Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-0280

phone: (801) 581-7327
fax: (801) 581-5442
e-mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Undergraduate Program Contact
Abby Fiat
(801) 581-3223
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Transfer Students Contact
Eric Handman
(801) 587-9813
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Graduate Program Contact
Stephen Koester
(801) 587-9808
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Department Chair
Donna White
(801) 581-7327
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Production Director
Cole Adams
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Costume Shop
Steve Rasmussen
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Marketing/PR
Danell Hathaway
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Audio/Visual Production Room
801 587-9182

U of U Modern Dance on Facebook

U of U Modern Dance Blog

Who We Are

The Department of Modern Dance at the University of Utah has a history of excellence that unites the world of academia with the world of professional dance. Many alumni are working with international, national and regional dance companies as dancers, choreographers, and artistic directors. Others are teachers and administrators in high schools, universities and professional studios.

Students from the University of Utah Department of Modern Dance have been chosen to appear on many of the American College Dance Festival’s National Gala Concerts. The department’s performers and choreographers are also consistently recognized for excellence at the regional festivals. In 1988, the University of Utah was invited to represent the United States at the International Festival of Dance Academies held in Hong Kong.

This recognition is the result of an experienced, dedicated faculty, with standards of professional excellence, nurturing and challenging talented students through a rigorous and demanding program of study. In addition to daily technique classes and an extensive composition program, students receive training in dance kinesiology, dance history, philosophy, criticism, dance theatre and video production, music for dance, teaching skills, dance repertory and improvisation. The undergraduate program leads to a BFA degree and an MFA degree is offered at the graduate level.

An average of five fully produced performances and numerous informal presentations each year give dance majors substantial performance and choreographic opportunities. A variety of guest artists are regularly invited to teach and choreograph for our dance majors. In addition, students and faculty are encouraged to collaborate with artists in other departments providing a rich creative environment. The department’s Performing Dance Company provides a taste of the professional dance world within the university setting. Members are selected by audition twice a year and participate in a touring program that has taken them across the United States, to Britain, to Asia, and to Australia.

Dancers from all parts of the nation and from many foreign countries are drawn by the faculty’s philosophic commitment to the development of kinesthetic awareness, theoretical understanding, creative ability and aesthetic sensitivity in addition to technical accomplishment. It is the faculty’s conviction that such training not only prepares students to be vital and exciting artists but also creative human beings committed to the enrichment of society.

Mission

The mission of the University of Utah Department of Modern Dance is to promote student and faculty growth as professional dance artists, critical inquirers, and community members. The department is dedicated to contributing to the growth of the discipline of modern dance through research, teaching, and service of the highest caliber. Excellence, creativity, and professionalism are the department’s keywords to igniting the imagination of this dance community.

Faculty and students maintain the highest standards of creative work, scholarship, pedagogic practice, and service.
Excellence in the department’s research is fundamental to excellence in student learning.
The highest professional commitment is required from both faculty and students, with substantive departmental investment in admissions, hiring, and retention.
Diversity is desired, respected, and encouraged; creative and intellectual integrity is required; professional discipline is expected.

Vision
A contemporary dance community distinguished by its sense of excellence, professionalism, humanism, and a profound commitment to a lively spirit of creative inquiry.
Values
Excellence
Imagination
Integration
Professionalism
Passion
Tradition
Commitment
Collaboration
Individualism
Innovation

The Department of Modern Dance consistently ranks in the top three in the nation.

History

The University of Utah’s extensive dance program is exceptional in that it has two cooperative yet fully autonomous departments within the College of Fine Arts: the Department of Modern Dance and the Department of Ballet. The heritage of dance at the University of Utah began in 1892 through a program developed by Maude May Babcock. Elizabeth R. Hayes was appointed Director of Modern Dance in 1940 and soon after established the dance major. Willam F. Christensen, a noted dancer, teacher and choreographer who founded the San Francisco Ballet Company, returned to his home state in 1951 to begin a ballet training center at the University of Utah.

Graduates of the Modern Dance Department perform with many national and international professional dance companies including the two major Salt Lake based companies: Repertory Dance Theatre and Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company. Repertory Dance Theatre features an extensive repertory that reaches from Isadora Duncan to the Post-Moderns. Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company focuses on works by contemporary choreographers with varied points of view and is renowned for innovative work in dance education and performances for children. The artistic directors of these companies have strong ties to the Department, having been former faculty members or current adjunct faculty.

The Virginia Tanner Creative Dance Program and Children’s Dance Theatre is also housed on the University of Utah campus with the company’s artistic director, Mary Ann Lee, teaching in the Department . The school trains students ages 2 1/2 to 18 in creative and modern dance. Children’s Dance Theatre has been acclaimed nationally and internationally as a unique force in the performing arts.

The Departments are housed in the Alice Sheets Marriott Center for Dance. The facility has a 333 seat theatre, six dance studios, a smaller faculty studio, academic classrooms, production workshops, a conditioning clinic, student lounge, outside observation deck, and is one of just a few facilities in the United States designed especially for dance.

Salt Lake City has a dynamic dance community with many smaller companies and independent artists working alongside the major professional companies. Many of our students take advantage of the numerous perfoming opportunities outside of the Dance Department as well as performing at the University.