Letter From The Director

“We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once” – Nietzsche

I hold a firm belief that Dance is an art and a discipline that can expand a person’s horizons. The discipline that comes from the practice of dance is its own reward. Whether or not a child grows up to become a professional dancer does not matter nearly as much a the work ethic that, once instilled through dance, will stay with the child forever. Equally, the ability to use one’s body as a creative tool is invaluable to children who would otherwise dedicate those hours to living through a computer screen. Because of this, having access to a positive and productive outlet for physical creativity is more important than ever.

The opportunity to combine the discipline and creativity of dance, and to share it with this immeasurably special community is something for which I am deeply grateful. I also hope to use my position at Carleton College to bridge the communities of that school, St. Olaf and the city of Northfield. Fostering creative opportunities within and between these interdependent communities will enrich everyone’s lives.

To that end, we have gathered some of the most qualified faculty members available. We pride ourselves in the depth of our knowledge of choreography, somatics, performance, as well as anatomy/kinesiology. But we don’t stop there. Understanding the art and science of the discipline of dance is only half of the equation. We are, at our core, educators. We truly care about the full education of each student in dance, regardless of their motivations, or where their future may take them.

Due to this outlook, we have expanded the demographics of our NDA students to include more adults, senior citizens and college students. We have begun offering more classes and scholarships to under-privilidged and under-represented children who might otherwise not get a chance to experience this art form that I hold so dear. We also bring in professional guest artists to set works on students, give masterclasses and provide workshops for the entire community.

We currently offer classes in all the classic dance disciplines: Ballet, Pointe, Modern, Tap, and Jazz. We also offer classes in musical theatre and hip-hop for children and teens. For adults we offer classes in Ballet, Tap, Modern, Jazz and Belly Dance as well as Dance Ability Classes for people with Mobility issues.

Look below for a look at our past few years of work.

I look forward to sharing the gift and beauty of dance with you all!

Sincerely,

Daphne McCoy