six student dancers piled on floor.
Annual Spring Back dance performance of student and faculty-choreographed pieces directed by Ann Cooper Albright. Photo credit: John Seyfried
Program Overview

Dance

Program Type: Major, Minor
  • Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Department: Dance

A major in dance at Oberlin is characterized by a commitment to experimentation and creation of original work. Student, faculty and visiting artist choreography is presented throughout the year in events ranging from fully produced proscenium concerts to adjudicated student concerts.

Why Study Dance at Oberlin?

35
Variety of Courses
9
Department Faculty
7
Study Away Programs
groups of dancers intertwined in a dance move on stage.
Dance students perform in annual Fall Forward showcase. Photo credit: John Seyfried

Student Choreography

Each fall and spring semester, Oberlin dance students present Fall Forward and Spring Back. These two annual performances showcase student-choreographed works of varying genres, ranging from hip-hop to ballet to contemporary and jazz styles. Some shows incorporate music and art installations. Each of these performances demonstrate the dance department’s commitment to experimentation and authenticity.

Dance at Oberlin

Student Clubs

With more than 175 student groups and clubs from which to choose, you’d be hard pressed not to get involved in something. From economics to faith and identity, and from music and performance to club sports, Oberlin has an array of clubs open to new and returning students.

Sample Courses

  • DANC 161 - Capoeira Angola I 4 credits
  • DANC 205 - Somatic Studies: The Anatomy of Innovation 2 credits
  • DANC 311 - Practicum in Dance 4 credits
  • DANC 340 - Arts Management II 4 credits
Curriculum and requirements

Dance Faculty

Dance faculty are both scholars and teachers who devote their careers to making important contributions to their discipline through writing, performance, choreography, and research. They are committed to undergraduate education and teach everything from first-year seminars to advanced courses.

Explore Faculty within Dance

“Students at Oberlin are both smart and willing to be serious about their studies in dance. There are some colleges where students continue to think about dance as a hobby, and that wouldn’t be as satisfying to me. At the same time, though, I wouldn’t want to teach at a place where people aren’t majoring in other departments and bringing that information into their dance practice.”

Ann Cooper Albright, Professor of Dance
See Profile

Dance Faculty

Dance News

A an stands in front of a movie screen with the words of the screen on his face and body.

This Week in Photos: January 22

January 22, 2020
In this photo series, we explore the art of cinema storytelling; go to an entrepreneurial boot camp; get intense with strings and Greek; go back to high school in Berkeley; stop by the freezer section in Kim’s Grocery & Carryout; get involved with dark matter; learn R for SPSS; join a dance class; design an archeological exhibit; get cozy with a wild beast; and much more.
View all Dance news