Dance Program

Move | Create | Innovate | Lead

The Dance Program, housed in the School of Performing Arts at Wichita State University, offers a BA and BFA in Performing Arts – Dance. Our program is centered in contemporary dance forms. Additional degree enhancing forms include ballet technique, jazz technique, hip hop, musical theatre dance, and tap.

Students will deepen their dance education with further studies in teaching dance, kinesiology, body conditioning, somatics, dance histories, professional practices, and a professional internship. In all four years of study, students have the opportunity to engage in creative processes through choreography classes, guest artist workshops and residencies, and faculty dance works.

Wichita State University is an accredited institution, for both the BA and BFA in Performing Arts – Dance, through the National Association of Schools of Dance.

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As A Dance Major

Prepare for Your Career

Be prepared to meet the diverse challenges of a professional dance career.
With annual opportunities to present your choreographic work in the Litwin Theatre.
With the Mid-America Dance Theatre, you will produce concerts, create artist residencies, help support, fund student travel and professional development.

Mid-America Dance Theatre

Guest Artists & Residencies

Train with world-renowned guest choreographers and artists such as:
Darrell Grand Moultrie
Doug Varone
David Parsons
Charlotte-Boye Christensen
Doug Nielsen
Nathan Trice

Follow the legacy of dancers who have gone on to dance in companies such as:
Diavolo
Tanztheatre Wuppertal Pina Bausch
Jazz Roots Dance Company
Dallas Black Theatre II
The Martha Graham Dance Ensemble

Opportunities to work with professional companies and community companies and organizations - Alithea Mime Theatre, Ballet Wichita, Regina Klenjoski, Dance Company, Chandler Dances, Music Theatre Wichita, Smack Dab Dance Lab.

Professional Development

Hone your performance skills with the faculty dance touring company to national and international locations and expand professional development and engage in networking by attending regional and national conferences.

Our Faculty

Megan Bascom Denise Celestin Cheyla Clawson Sabrina Vasquez (Program Coordinator)

A Brave New World

Brave New World was not only designed to stretch the boundaries of conventional theatre-based performance but also create an event that breaks these boundaries while including the WSU campus as an entire, single, social, organic entity. This is an original experimental dance theatre production written, directed and produced by Nicholas Johnson and the School of Performing Arts Dance Program, Wichita State University. The audience will rotate in sequence through four locations, Heskett Pool, outside Hubbard Hall, Rhatigan Center, Shocker Courtyard and back to conclude in the pool. This experimental work of physical theatre will, similar to the book by Aldous Huxley, examine the the effects of a conformist society when confronted by the behavior of an outcast individualist. The work is written and directed by Nicholas Johnson, Director of Dance and includes choreography from Denise Celestin, Sabrina Vasquez and Cheyla Chandler.

BRAVE NEW WORLD
an interpretation of the book by Aldous Huxley
CONCEIVED & DIRECTED BY: Nicholas Johnson CHOREOGRAPHY: Denise Celestin, Cheyla
Chandler, Sabrina Vasquez
LIGHTING DESIGN: Ben Roose Nick Johnson
SET DESIGN: Dan Williams ORIGINAL MUSIC COMPOSITION: Aleks Sternfeld Dunn
Chris Reichmeier
COSTUME DESIGN: Renea Goforth “The Voices” - Sam Raimey,
Sabrina Vasquez
STAGE MANAGER: Maddie Nevins ADDITIONAL SOUND DESIGN: Sabrina Vasquez
VIDEOGRAPHY: Greg Matthias, Kurt Rierson, Gerrick