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Information for New Dance Students

We're looking forward to dancing with you.

Dancers

We welcome dancers at all levels of experience. If you are interested in beginning dance classes, we recommend you enroll in Modern I or a lecture course such as History of American Vernacular Dance. Please feel free to contact any member of the faculty if you have questions.

If you have previous dance training, you should attend one of the Dance Placement Evaluation sessions held during Orientation Week to obtain permission for intermediate and advanced technique classes. The evaluation is not held the second semester, so if you believe you may want to study dance sometime during the upcoming school year, it is important to take the Placement Evaluation during Fall Orientation.

The evaluation consists of four short movement phrases designed to address the varying degrees and styles of dance training students may possess. Current advanced students in the Dance Program demonstrate the movement throughout the evaluation. Students should wear form-fitting clothing and be prepared to dance barefoot. After the results of the evaluation are posted, faculty will be available to answer questions, help with scheduling, and process enrollment requests. 

If you are unable to schedule a dance course during your first semester at William & Mary, you will be able to use the results of this placement evaluation for future semesters. If a course you desire is closed Fall semester, you will be given first priority for enrollment Spring semester. Contact a faculty member at the beginning of the next registration period to ask for permission to enroll for Spring.