LVA Dance
Dance philosophy
The Dance Conservatory is a progressive, creative and technical training program that prepares students to pursue dance in college, professional dance careers, or other life paths supported by the arts. We focus on creating young artists who know their own voice and have a strong grasp of the current dance environment. The Dance curriculum is designed to enhance technique and to develop strong artists who have a specific point of view. Students are challenged to build their own work as well as train in a variety of rigorous techniques presented by our diverse faculty and a community of guest professionals. Performance skills are built through creating and presenting ensemble works in concert three times a year from a multitude of different choreographers, as well as two auditioned original, full-length shows. The program’s blend of dancers coming from all different teachers and training across the valley provides our young artists the opportunity to investigate their craft in a continually evolving, immersive, and cutting-edge environment.
Dance Overview
The Dance Conservatory is a progressive, creative and technical training program that prepares students to pursue dance in college, professional dance careers, or other life paths supported by the arts. We focus on creating young artists who know their own voice and have a strong grasp of the current dance environment. The Dance Department is designed to enhance technique and to develop strong artists who have a specific point of view. Students are challenged to build their own work as well as train in a variety of rigorous techniques presented by our diverse faculty and a community of guest professionals. Performance skills are built through creating and presenting ensemble works in concert three times a year from a multitude of different choreographers, as well as two auditioned original full-length shows. The program’s blend of dancers coming from all different teachers and training across the valley provides our young artists the opportunity to investigate their craft in a continually evolving, immersive, and cutting-edge environment.
Program Curriculum
The Dance Department fully covers Contemporary, Composition, Jazz, Ballet, Graham, Horton, and Post-Modern styles of dance. Students are placed in one of our eight levels of major block classes based on their maturity, commitment, discipline, artistry and technique. Our levels begin with Technique and Theory 1B and advance to Elements II dance technique class. Instructors place a high priority on building an ensemble in these classrooms, which enables students to build artistry and self-esteem through being a part of a collective group with a common focus. In addition to daily major block classes, each dance student is placed in at least one elective course that meets every other day. All Freshmen are placed in Ballet, Intro to Modern, or the Male Elective. Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors audition for the elective(s) of their choice including Contemporary, Ballet, Intermediate or Advanced Modern, Intermediate or Advanced Jazz, Choreography and Ballroom. This option provides students the opportunity to focus on specific areas of need or interest as they progress through the program.
Program Outcome
The Dance Conservatory aims to prepare students to pursue dance in college, professional dance careers - or to simply enter the world as well-rounded creative thinkers with a strong work ethic and ability to work on a team. Many students go on with scholarships to 4-year prestigious dance college programs, while others become teachers in studios, performing arts high schools, and colleges across the country. Some go on to create dance companies of their own. Other students, who choose not to pursue a dance career, enter the general workforce with a multitude of skills: prepared to think outside of the box to solve problems, find the beauty in any situation, and live life as their art piece.
Program Accolades
The Dance Department boasts many alumni working as professional dancers. We have graduates in the Batsheva dance company, Body Traffic dance company, Lion King National Tour, Cirque du Soleil, two winners, and several contestants on So You Think You Can Dance, as well as many cruise ships and commercial dancers touring.
Each September the Department hosts a college audition on campus, where colleges recruit students to attend their universities, as well as give out scholarships to outstanding students. All seniors are welcome to participate in the audition for the invited 10-15 colleges. We have students who have pursued dance at programs including Julliard, USC, NYU, Marymount Manhattan College, SUNY Purchase, Point Park University, California Institute of the Arts, Chapman University, John Hopkins University, Hart Conservatory, and Southern Methodist University, among many others.
