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.
Degrees We Offer
| Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance | Bachelor of Arts in Dance | Dance Minor | Dance Certificate |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) will give you a well-rounded dance education in a variety of contemporary styles and approaches. You will train like a professional and gain real-world experience in on-campus productions, community performances, and throughout Kansas' center of arts and culture—preparing you for a successful performance career. | A Bachelor of Arts (BA) will give you a well-rounded dance education with a triple-emphasis on modern dance, ballet, and jazz. You'll train like a professional and gain real-world experience in on-campus productions and throughout Kansas' center of arts and culture—preparing you for a successful performance career. | A minor will expose you to the basic techniques of modern dance, ballet and jazz. It's a great asset for many majors and careers—from the performing arts to education. | Commercial Dance |
| Our degrees | Our degrees | Our degrees | Our degrees |
Our Faculty
Denise Celestin Cheyla Clawson Chandler Mina Estrada, Program Director Sabrina Vasquez
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
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