The Performing Arts major – Dance concentration and the Dance minor are designed to challenge students whether they are novices exploring a new world or seasoned dancers furthering their quest for new dance genres.
Stonehill dance students experience creative thinking through composition and physical expression, build self-esteem, learn teamwork and presentation skills, and develop an appreciation of the art form that can be a lifetime experience.
Introductory classes such as Dance Technique offer a compilation of dance styles while more advanced classes, such as Ballet II and Advanced Jazz Dance, allow students to refine their techniques and challenge themselves.
Students also have the opportunity to help others through an outreach program that pairs Stonehill dance students with children in the local Brockton school districts. Using dance techniques to teach movement exercises, the Stonehill students and their mentees together choreograph and perform a dance show at the end of the semester.
The Performing Arts major with a concentration in Dance requires the completion of nine courses plus three semesters in dance company or dance company, production.
The Dance minor requires the completion of 18 credits.
Organizations involved in assessing U.S. colleges and universities continually cite Stonehill as being among the best in the nation when it comes to value, outcomes and a commitment to making the world a better place. See full list of accolades.
Stonehill moved up 62 places in this year’s WSJ “America’s Best Colleges 2024” rankings, putting it in the top 12 among Massachusetts schools and top 6% nationally.
After considering input from 165,000 students at colleges and universities across the country, The Princeton Review recently ranked Stonehill College 19th out of 389 schools for quality of life.
Less than 20% of the 700 schools on Money’s 2023 Best College list, including Stonehill, received 4.5 stars or higher in the magazine’s 5-star rating system.
The Stonehill College Dance Company provides performing experience for qualified students through participation in a company that reflects the spirit of the College. The company is comprised of auditioned dancers who learn choreography from well-known area choreographers and perform in various venues on and off campus throughout the semester. Individual creative expression is emphasized.
Although not affiliated with the Visual & Performing Arts Department, these student organizations are geared toward students interested in dance.
The Dance Club welcomes all students interested in the art of dance to learn various dance routines. The Dance Club hosts a semester recital once a semester so the campus community may enjoy the work of the club.
The Stonehill College Dance Team is an intercollegiate team that practices weekly with a goal of competing at and placing in various dance competitions across the country. Tryouts are held each semester. Each year the team also competes at NDA College Nationals.
Stonehill students of dance have many opportunities for internships in arts administration. Two recent internship placements were at Urbanity Dance Co. in Boston and Alison Cook Beatty Dance Co. in New York City.
Students have combined dance with their science curriculum to form degrees that can be used in graduate studies of dance movement analysis and kinesiology.
Continue exploring Visual & Performing Arts graduate outcomes.
Students of dance at Stonehill learn to develop their creative expression not only through performance but also in their technique and theory of dance composition classes.
The Stonehill Career Development team offers extensive assistance to students seeking employment, pursuing advanced studies or participating in postgraduate service opportunities. By completing internships and utilizing mentors, students are empowered to build lifelong career management skills.
Video created by Stonehill Dance Company member Kayla Provencher ’20 featuring academic dance classes, dance team, R.U.C.K.U.S., Stoneworks Dance Company and Irish Step
The Arts Outreach program pairs under-served children from the nearby city of Brockton with Stonehill mentors. Because most of the Stonehill students who participate have little experience in art, the projects they undertake – ranging from photography and videography to painting and sometimes dance – provide an opportunity for the mentors and mentees to learn and do something new together.
