dance
dance
The NMSA Dance Department cultivates the creative and artistic growth of its students through intensive dance training and education. Our curriculum is rooted in classical Ballet with a focus on Contemporary Dance. We offer classes in Ballet, Contemporary Dance, Modern, Partnering, Men’s Technique, Pointe, Repertory, Improvisation, Urban Styles. We also offer immersive experiences with guest artists and choreographers, and opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaborations. Dancers participate in biannual performances and regular community appearances, as well as research and creative projects. Dancers have the opportunity to see professional dance companies performing in Santa Fe and surrounding cities.
NMSA provides dancers with the essential fundamentals they need to prepare for a professional dance career or post-secondary study in dance. These fundamentals help dancers develop technical refinement, musicality, individual expressiveness, mental acuity, stylistic versatility, and a practical awareness of healthy work habits. We strive to instill a respect for classicism and technical study, along with a willingness to experiment and take risks as we investigate new material; skill sets that can combine a multitude of dance techniques along with a maturity and focus that allows dancers to participate in choreographic processes. NMSA is committed to producing well-rounded dancers with integrity, strong technique, and an excellent work ethic that can be applied to a career not only in dance, but any field.
The NMSA Dance Department cultivates the creative and artistic growth of its students through intensive dance training and education. Our curriculum is rooted in classical Ballet with a focus on Contemporary Dance. We offer classes in Ballet, Contemporary Dance, Modern, Partnering, Men’s Technique, Pointe, Repertory, Improvisation, Urban Styles. We also offer immersive experiences with guest artists and choreographers, and opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaborations. Dancers participate in biannual performances and regular community appearances, as well as research and creative projects. Dancers have the opportunity to see professional dance companies performing in Santa Fe and surrounding cities.
NMSA provides dancers with the essential fundamentals they need to prepare for a professional dance career or post-secondary study in dance. These fundamentals help dancers develop technical refinement, musicality, individual expressiveness, mental acuity, stylistic versatility, and a practical awareness of healthy work habits. We strive to instill a respect for classicism and technical study, along with a willingness to experiment and take risks as we investigate new material; skill sets that can combine a multitude of dance techniques along with a maturity and focus that allows dancers to participate in choreographic processes. NMSA is committed to producing well-rounded dancers with integrity, strong technique, and an excellent work ethic that can be applied to a career not only in dance, but any field.
Sheila Rozann
Classical Ballet Instructor
Kevin Ward
Accompanist
NMSA’s Guest Artist Program is a critical piece of the curricula and central to the mission of the school. It augments students’ technical skills, provides mentorship, and brings the profession to life, allowing students to see how their skills can ultimately be applied in a real world setting. It also offers students and staff alike a fresh perspective that can fuel creativity, encourage experimentation, and expand imagination.
Classical Ballet Technique 1 – 4
Classical Ballet Technique classes emphasize building a strong and refined technique, encouraging students to develop musicality, expressiveness, and clarity of movement. Classes provide each dancer with fundamentals from barre to center work, including proper placement, line, strength, agility, and dynamics. We believe excellent ballet training is critical to the development of every dancer.
Men’s Class
This class focuses on classical ballet and is designed to advance the specific technical and physical requirements of the male dancer including: jumps, turns, variations, and strength training. This class will at times include contemporary movement in its curriculum.
Pointe Technique
A comprehensive beginning to intermediate level study of pointe work, these classes will also include classical and neo-classical variations.
Partnering
Classical partnering is offered for any student with the required proficiency. The classes will also include classical, neo-classical, and contemporary repertory as classwork.
Modern/Contemporary Technique 1 – 4
Modern Technique: This class focuses on torso articulation, the strong relationship between movement and music, physical coordination, and clarity of execution. Floor work, center work, and center combinations across the floor are utilized to develop a more versatile and varied approach to dance as an expressive and communicative art form. Classwork will draw from Limon and Graham techniques as well as utilizing repertory as a vehicle for instruction.
Contemporary Technique: This class uses exercises and repertory phrases from a variety of contemporary styles designed to expand movement quality and aesthetic sensibility. Classwork focuses on individual expression as well as dynamics and articulate expression.
Senior Project
The Senior Project fosters individual or group learning experiences in planning, acquiring responsibilities for one’s own learning, and developing skills for post-secondary study. Senior Project’s goal is to expose dance students to practical experiences with the potential result of a career in dance. The focus and subject is largely determined by the student with guidance from faculty and can take a variety of forms. Seniors are required to present their respective projects in a performance context in the spring semester.