First Year Dance Project (FYDP) is a Companydance component designed to provide incoming students interested in dance with a learning community. FYDP develops key characteristics central to a career as a dancer and successful studentship – working as a group, learning from multiple choreographers, body awareness, and self responsibility. FYDP can take different forms but usually students learn choreographed pieces from faculty members throughout the school year, working toward a year end concert. FYDP provides new students with a fuller introduction to the dance department at St. Olaf College and prepares them for future opportunities within the department. FYDP may present their own concert in May of each year in the Center for Art and Dance Wagner Bundgaard Studio 1. Auditions are held in the fall. FYDP is open to all first year students and to all students who are members of Companydance for the first time.