As the spring dance show picked up momentum, the sophomores at the Ann Lacy School of Dance found themselves at a pivotal moment in their careers: choosing their dance tracks.
These tracks will determine the direction of their academic focus, and they are currently being decided by the deans and faculty of the school.
All dance majors at the Ann Lacy School of Dance begin as Dance Universal Majors, a designation that allows them to receive a broad dance education during their first four semesters.
However, by the end of their sophomore year, these Dance Universals are sorted into one of three tracks: Dance Performance, Dance Pedagogy or Dance Management.
“It was introduced to us in freshman year that we would start as Dance Universal Majors,” said sophomore dancer Lilly Bryan. “Then, each track would be introduced to us through different classes.”
These classes include traditional dance styles such as ballet, tap and jazz, as well as courses like Introduction to Teaching Strategies and Costume Lab.
This variety helps dancers gain insight into each track while allowing faculty to assess students’ strengths in specific disciplines.
When the time comes, sophomore dance majors submit a form ranking their interest in each track.
A series of meetings between students and faculty follows, ensuring each student is placed in the track that best fits their skills and ambitions. While students express their preferences, the final decision rests with the deans.
Once a track is assigned, the course load adjusts to meet the requirements of that particular focus.
“With performance majors, you have to take acting, private voice lessons and other related classes,” Bryan explained. “For management, you begin taking more business-oriented classes, such as dance studio management, business and finance.”
The school boasts an impressive network of alumni who work professionally as Rockettes, Broadway dancers, cruise ship performers, teachers, managers and agents.
The school’s structured approach mirrors the professional world, helping students prepare for a variety of careers in dance.
Consistently ranked as one of North America’s top dance schools, dancers can be confident they’re making the right moves, no matter which track they pursue.
With the institution consistently rated as one of the top dance schools in North America, dancers can be sure they’re hitting all the right moves no matter what track they end up in.
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