Mission Statement:
In the St. Olaf College Dance Department, students study dance as a vital community and artistic practice. Partnering with the college’s liberal arts curriculum and building interdisciplinary relationships, the dance program encourages exploration of complex ideas through investigation, knowledge, and expression of the body. Our program combines embodied practice with critical thinking to root dance forms from around the world in their culturally, socially, and politically informed values. This combination is a fundamental means of self-discovery, understanding other dancing bodies, and advancing an anti-racist, equitable, and just community. Whether students in our program become dance artists, choreographers, scholars, or teachers or integrate their skills and knowledge into other fields, they grow into movers, makers, and thinkers who responsibly engage in, serve, and shape the community around them.
Center for Art & Dance Inclusivity Statement:
Great art celebrates diversity and inclusion. The Center for Art and Dance thrives on the contributions of people of every race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, economic status, political affiliation, age, ability, and other perceived differences. We welcome all those who want to explore art and dance as a positive expression of our shared humanity.