About the Bard Dance Program

In the Bard College Dance Program we see the pursuit of artistry and intellect as a single endeavor. We believe that the study of dance is a cognitive act demanding both physical practice and academic exploration. We focus on dance and choreography as performing art with an interdisciplinary scope. Students are exposed to areas of inquiry that represent the broader context in which the art form exists, in and outside of the arts. We expect students to take risks–risks that call on their participation as citizens of the world and cultivate their perceptive sensibilities. We foster the discovery of a dance vocabulary that is meaningful to the dancer/choreographer and essential to his or her creative ambitions. This discovery leads to the cultivation of original choices–choices informed by a full exploration of a student’s surroundings, choices that find expression in new and dynamic ways. We prepare dancers for the versatility and integration necessary to face the questions: Where will dance go next? What will the next dance revolution look like, and where will it come from? We believe that serious inquiry in all areas of the liberal arts is critical to the development of the whole person and to the success of our future artists.

Why I Chose Bard

"Essentially through making dance a central part of my life here, I have found a new frame of mind to enter academics and the rest of my interests in life, using this daily physical and creative practice to ground my energy and focus it on a multitude of ideas both inside and outside the studio." —Dance Major, 2014

“What I knew was that any academic pursuit was going to be integral to my growth and evolution as an artist. I decided on philosophy as my second major, and I think they fit together beautifully and they're inseparable. ... One makes me better at the other." —Dance/Philosophy Major Samuel Pratt '14