UWSP dance program rated high in nation

The dance program at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point has been rated among 25 outstanding college and university dance departments in the nation by Dance Spirit magazine.

In the publication’s September issue, UWSP was listed with 24 other top university programs such as Arizona State, Brigham Young, Butler, Columbia College’s Chicago Dance Center, University of Washington and UW-Madison. They were described as "schools that merit attention based on the diversity of dance disciplines, faculty, guest artists and performance opportunities."

Criteria for the selection involved strong recommendations from working artists in the field, members of the Dance Spirit Advisory Board and guest faculty. Julie Davis of the magazine's staff said, "UWSP's program came highly recommended."

The article included a description of UWSP’s dance curriculum, faculty and performance opportunities accompanied by a photo of a recent dance piece and a quote by 1998 graduate Amy Grumann.

"UWSP is small," Grumann said, "but we’re getting a high quality of training. I’ve gone to dance festivals around the nation and have often felt my training is as fine as what I would receive at any other university."

Dance Spirit is a national magazine which addresses issues of concern to studio-trained dancers including where to continue their training in college.

The UWSP program is coordinated by Susan Gingrasso, who is joined in the classroom by faculty colleagues James Moore, Joan Karlen and Mary Fehrenbach.

The curriculum, accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance, features a core of ballet, jazz, tap, theatre dance, dance composition and theoretical studies. Courses also are offered in interdisciplinary studies in which students integrate dance with other art forms or academic disciplines. Performance opportunities include an all-student production with chosen works adjudicated at the American College Dance Festival regional competitions. During the past five years, two of these works were selected from a national pool for gala performances at the Kennedy Center, Washington D. C.

Graduates are currently performing with Doug Varone and Dancers, New York City; Ginger Farley, Chicago; on MTV and with Cirque. Others have formed their own dance companies opened private studios, entered graduate programs or engaged in related entertainment fields.

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