Dance offerings at Boston College operate within the Department of Theatre. While Boston College does not offer a separate major in Dance, students can take dance classes for credit as part of the Department of Theatre's recommended dance concentration. The dance program at Boston College educates the whole person, including creative, intellectual, and spiritual aspects of this artistic form. Work experienced in class opens the students to self discovery and builds technical mastery. Ongoing exploration, developing skills, and readings in choreography, history, and kinesiology help connect the process to a larger perspective. A unique emphasis is available as well in Sacred and Liturgical dance. Academic challenge and performance opportunities build the students' confidence while allowing for highly individualized educational goals to be met. Many students continue to choreograph and perform after graduating.

COURSE OFFERINGS

The classes offer a comprehensive base in dance as a theatre art. Upon graduating from the college, students enter the dance world as performers, choreographers, critics, therapists, knowledgeable audience members, and dance supporters. Discoveries made in the classroom and on stage turn the living art of dance into concrete expression. Skills learned are reflected in the students' approach to creative living and problem solving.

The following courses are offered:

• CT110 Beginning Ballet I
• CT110 Beginning Ballet II
• CT205 Elements of Dance
• CT 206 Dance for Musicals I
• CT210 Intermediate Ballet I
• CT211 Intermediate Ballet II
• CT215 Dance: An Invitation to the Sacred
• CT220 Stage Movement I
• CT305 Dance: History and Performance
• CT306 Dance for Musicals II
• CT320 Stage Movement II
• CT321 Choreography: Composition and Movement
• CT405 Ritual and Performance

DANCE ORGANIZATIONS AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES

Several groups on the Boston College campus provide performing and choreographic opportunities for students who want to increase their technical advancement and explore their creative ideas. Performances are held in the Robsham Theater Arts Centers Mainstage theatre or in its Bonn studio theatre and are under the guidance of students or faculty. 

Boston College Dance Ensemble is a 40-50 member student-run dance organization which provides both training and performance experience. Selected students dance in two performances on the Mainstage. Many aspects of the theatrical process are involved: artistic production, choreography, costuming, performing, and promotional design. 

Boston Liturgical Dance Ensemble is the resident dance company at Boston College and is comprised of professional dancers, Boston College alumni, and students. The company's one major production of the year is "A Dancer's Christmas" which has become a holiday tradition at Boston College since 1981. The group has toured nationally and internationally and is under the direction of Robert Ver Eecke, SJ. 

Dancers at the Robsham is a group show which includes professional choreographers and dancers, Boston College alumni, and students. A late spring performance allows students to experience a variety of choreographic styles. This is under the direction of Margot Parsons. 

Departmental Productions: Dance students are also often as either dancers or choreographers in Boston College theatrical productions sponsored by the Department of Theatre, or by the various student theatre groups.

BOSTON COLLEGE DANCE FACULTY

Pamela Newton, Lecturer in Dance, has a BA in dance from Sarah Lawrence College, an MA from the University of Wisconsin, an MA from Boston College, and is currently a diploma candidate at the C. 6. Jung Institute in Boston. Her classes and choreography explore the relationship of the body to psychological state and ritual enactment.

Margot Parsons, Lecturer in Dance, received her BS from the University of Wisconsin and her MA (with honors) from the University of Utah. She performed in New York City and on Broadway in numerous companies, with such artists as Yuriko, Pearl Lang, Agnes deMille, and Maggie Black. She is Artistic Director and choreographer of her own dance company, and teaches ballet at Boston College, Boston University, and The Dance Complex in Cambridge.

Robert Ver Eecke, SJ, has been at Boston College for the past twenty years, working in the theatre as Jesuit Artist-in-Residence. He holds a master of divinity degree from Weston Jesuit School of Theology and a Master's degree in Dance and Liturgy from Lesley College. He is the artistic director of the Boston Liturgical Dance ensemble and author of Dance in Christian Workshop, book and video (Pastoral Press).

Kenda Newbury-O'Brien, Lecturer in Dance, received her BA from Ottowa University in Phoenix and her M.F.A from the Boston Conservatory of Music, Theater and Dance.  She performed and studied in New Yourk City, Europe, Australia and throughout the US in numerous companies, with such artists as Marjorie Tallchief, Jurgen Schneider, Gelsey Kirkland, Joe Tremaine, Same Watson, Gus Giordano, Luigi and Frank Hatchet.  She is Artistic Director and choreographer of her own dance compnay, performs with Impulse Dance Company, SK2 Dance Company, and Boston Liturgical Dance Ensemble, and teaches dance at Boston College and Boston Ballet. 

HISTORY OF DANCE AT BOSTON COLLEGE

For over twenty years dance as a performing art and a recreational activity has been growing on the campus of Boston College. What began in 1974 with a small group of students who formed the Boston College Dance Company has developed into a multi-faceted program that involves hundreds of students in a variety of dance forms. What follows is a brief chronology of the development of dance at Boston College.

Chronology

1974-75 - Boston College Dance Company formed as a student activity with performances on the stage in the auditorium of the Newton Chapel. Approximately 20 students involved.

Dance classes offered in the new recreation complex with instructors, Pamela Newton and Louise Bruyn. (unfortunately the dance space was not appropriately designed for the needs of dance and those classes were moved from the Rec Plex to the Quonset Hut on the Newton Campus)

1977 - The beginning of Liturgical and Sacred Dance at Boston College. At the invitation of the Campus Ministry, Robert Ver Eecke S.J., a theology student at Weston School of theology begins working with students in the religious dimensions of dance. Dance is introduced for the first time into the Baccalaureate Liturgy in the Recreation Complex.

1978 - Robert Ver Eecke S.J. is hired by Boston College and works with students in a variety of forms of dance but with a particular emphasis on Sacred and Liturgical Dance. Collaborations begin with the student Dance Company and the Boston College Chorale in Advent and Lent. Father Ver Eecke works with Dr. C. Alexander Peloquin in artistic and liturgical collaborations at Trinity Chapel.

1980 - The Boston College Dance Company becomes the Boston College Dance Ensemble with the assistance of the Office of Student Activities at Boston College. The Boston Liturgical Dance Ensemble is formed under the artistic direction of Father Ver Eecke. This performing group is comprised of BC alumni as well as students.

1981 - The Robsham Theatre Arts Center is opened. The BC Dance Ensemble schedules two performances a year. The ensemble contracts choreographers from outside BC as well as BC faculty to work with the students. The performances include student choreography as well. Student participation and interest continues to grow. Approximately 100 students audition for this performing group.

The Liturgical Dance Ensemble presents a Christmas program in the Robsham theater which in 1984 will be called "A Dancer s Christmas" and become a Boston holiday tradition, including professionals, alumni and students. This production will be seen by thousands of people over the next 17 years.

1983 - Robert Ver Eecke S.J. is appointed Jesuit Artist-in Residence and begins offering academic dance classes in the Theater Dept. along with Pamela Newton. Together they will become the resident choreographers for the Musicals performed by the Dramatics Society on the main stage at Robsham Theater.

1984-1996 - The dance program continues to develop, despite the lack of an appropriate dance facility anywhere on campus. The interest in dance continues to grow with over one hundred students auditioning for the Dance Ensemble. Students who are not accepted into this performing arts venue are able to take academic courses in dance or the university sponsored technique classes taught by Margot Parsons and Robert Ver Eecke.

The Boston Liturgical Dance Ensemble achieves national and international recognition through the writing, retreats and workshops offered by Father Ver Eecke and ensemble members. Boston College graduates continue to work in the area of Liturgical and Sacred Dance in other venues.

1984-86 - "Dance Craft at Boston College". This yearly performance under the direction of Pamela Newton exposed students to the work of professional choreographers in the Boston Area.

1995 - "Dancers at the Robsham". This yearly performance under the artistic direction of Margot Parsons, part-time faculty gives students the opportunity to see the works of professional Boston Choreographers as well as to perform in the pieces.

1995 - The Dance Team is formed. This performing group is involved in half-time shows during the football and basketball season.

1996 - Boston College Dance Organization is formed to support the variety of dance events and classes on campus. It begins to offer popular "ballroom" classes with over 80 students participating.

1996 - Boston Liturgical Dance Ensemble is named "Resident Dance Company at Boston College". Its mission is to offer master classes for students and the university community as well as integrate the religious and artistic dimensions of dance. As resident Dance Company it offers a two week intensive study program in Sacred and Liturgical Dance as part of the IREPM's summer program. It is also touring nationally in Jesuit Colleges and Universities with "For the Greater Glory of God", a dance theater work on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.