RIT Dance Collective is an audition-based company providing in depth dance experience and training for RIT students. Students participate in School of Performing Arts and NTID Department of Performing Arts dance productions on campus and touring opportunities as well as engaging in community performances.

This course is designed as an introduction to dance as a developmental, expressive, and creative art form. Students will learn how the artistic principles and movement concepts of: basic rhythms, dance technique, improvisation and beginning choreography; impact the creation and execution of modern dance. Students will discover new technical capabilities regarding flexibility, strength, coordination, balance and their comprehension of modern dance in relation to music, space, time and energy. Through practice and application, students will understand the unique structure of their own bodies and expand their awareness of self and others. Theoretical aspects of dance related to historical and socio-cultural contexts will be explored. Learning about dance performance and history through the use of images, video, practice and discussions as well as reading and writing assignments will be part of the course. No previous dance experience is required.

This course is designed as an introduction to ballet observed through artistic principles, movement concepts and the exploration of technique. Students will discover new technical capabilities regarding flexibility, strength, coordination, balance and their comprehension of the ballet form in relation to music, space, time and energy. Through practice and application, students will understand the unique structure of their own bodies and expand their awareness of self and others. While the primary focus is on strengthening individual dance technique and knowledge of traditional and contemporary ballet movements, dynamic alignment, movement efficiency, connectivity, articulation, phrasing, and breath support, students can expect to develop an appreciation for aspects of the ballet aesthetic while considering theoretical aspects related to historical and socio-cultural contexts. Learning about dance performance and history through the use of images, video, practice and discussions as well as reading and writing assignments will be part of the course. No previous dance experience is required.

This course focuses on the study and appreciation of dance and choreography through an exploration of theory, history, and social-cultural perspectives encompassing the elements related to designing movement. Students will explore various approaches of dance composition and the creative process from historical and cultural perspectives while examining the interactions of dance and movement found in society today. Attention will also be placed on the role of designing movement and space beyond the dance studio. Examples from live and recorded performances, as well as digitally produced creations such as animations in television, movies and video games, will be examined.

This course focuses on the study and appreciation of the intersection of dance and technology. Students will examine historical and contemporary integrations of technology in both the creation and production of dance. This inquiry-based exploration broadens perspectives and encourages inventiveness as students actively investigate the relationship between dance and technology.