The mission of the La Roche College Dance Department is to prepare a competent, educated, and mature professional who is viable in the current creative work force. We are committed to nurturing our students through extensive technical training, a deep historical and kinesthetic knowledge of the art form, and an enriched artistic awareness that is developed through performance and practicum.

The La Roche College Dance Department is a ballet-based program offering a Bachelor of Arts Degree in professional performance and pedagogy. The concentration of the dance department is rooted in classical ballet; however the artists are to reach proficiency in multiple genres including: contemporary ballet, modern technique, jazz, Pilate’s technique, and dance composition.

Faculty:
	Maria Caruso Chair Maria.Caruso@laroche.edu 412-536-1212

VISION

The La Roche College Dance Department strives to educate and coach our students in a nurturing and compassionate way, developing each of their individual talents through a comprehensive and cohesive academic and creative environment.

DEPARTMENTAL GOALS

The La Roche College Dance Department is committed to the development and enhancement of our artist’s abilities in an effort to articulate our pristine accelerated programmatic goals on a national level.

• Students study and train primarily with the Director of Dance for the duration of four years while receiving enrichment from company artists and esteemed guests of Bodiography Contemporary Ballet.
  
  
• Students are required to reach equal proficiency in both classical ballet technique and contemporary technique upon graduation.
  
  
• Students are required to demonstrate their competency and knowledge of all techniques through the production of a student guided senior thesis, which identifies their technical balance while highlighting their individual artistic strengths.