The Ohio State University Department of Dance advances contemporary dance by honoring the pillars of the field and empowering students to cultivate craft, adaptability, innovation, and global reach. Our mission is to educate students through a breadth of study in contemporary dance, integrating areas of movement practice, creative investigation, and theoretical inquiry; to make significant contributions to research through scholarship and artistic activity and production in the field of dance; and to provide leadership in service to the field of dance.
The department offers three degree programs: BFA, MFA, and PhD. All programs seek to provide the best possible preparation for dance professionals including challenging dance experiences in and out of the studio and classroom that influence and reflect the changing contemporary dance scene. Diverse course offerings occur in the following areas: contemporary and traditional dance techniques, somatic practices, performance, choreography, interdisciplinary collaboration, creative technologies for dance, dance film, dance lighting and production, dance history, theory and literature, movement analysis, dance education, Labanotation and Laban Studies. Faculty and graduates of The Ohio State University Department of Dance demonstrate excellence in the field of dance through national and international recognition as leaders in many professional arenas.
As part of one of the largest colleges of arts and sciences in the nation, the Department of Dance recognizes a responsibility to build public understanding and appreciation of dance as a multi-dimensional creative, cultural, and educational discipline. In support of the university and college missions, the department provides dance classes available to all university community students and open public performances, emphasizing contemporary work, for both the university community and the central Ohio region. A range of curricular offerings and thought reflect the varied make-up of the faculty, staff, and student bodies.
As one of the premiere dance programs in United States, the department is at the forefront of contemporary modern dance through choreographic and performance exploration, creative use of technologies and reimagining the documentation of dance traditions. Visiting artists and scholars enrich all dimensions of the program and regularly augment the resident faculty. The students also benefit from institutional relationships with Dance/USA, BalletMet Columbus, Movement Research, Inc., of New York City, OhioDance, growing exchange programs with universities and centers in Europe, Asia, Central and South America, and Africa, and the Dance Notation Bureau Extension housed in the department.
In the summer, the department offers the H.A.T.CH. (Holistic Approaches to Transformative Choreography) incubator program, which provides a space to consider choreography as not only as product, but a process to understand our world. World renowned contemporary choreographers are in residence over the summer and further engaging with the Department of Dance throughout the academic year.
The department’s facilities in historic Sullivant Hall at the gateway of the university’s campus recently underwent a renovation, and the newly remodeled building was unveiled with a Grand Reopening Celebration in September 2014. The renovated facility features a state-of-the-art, flexible performance space in the center of the building, on the top floor. The roof was raised to provide natural light during the day and a dynamic black-box performance environment by night. In addition, the new space includes six studios, a costume shop and a media lab. New neighbors within the building include the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library, ACCAD and the Department of Arts Administration, Education and Policy. This new vantage provides an expansive view of the University’s evolving Arts District.
The Ohio State University is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD).