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Meredith Herald
Vol. 3 No. 10
Meredith College, Raleigh, NQ 27611
March 15,1988
Degree program in dance to take off next year
■by Jo Hodges
Meredith will soon be able to offer a major
in dance. Recently, the college offidally
accepted a proposal, developed and submit
ted by dance instructor Alyson Colwell, to
expand Meredith's dance program to include
a dance major.
As early as next year, students can major
in dance and. in about two years, receive a.
bachelor's degree in dance.
The new dance major requires 56*58
hours in dance and movement, health, phys*
leal education, and biology.
Ten new classes in dance technique, move
ment instruction, production and pt^ical
education have been developed for the pro
gram. said Colv^ll.
Three new advance level technique classes
in Jazz, ballet, and modem danc^ v\nll be
added to the present curriculum v4iich con
sists only of b^inning and intermediate lev
els. as well as two two-hour classes in
movement, including movement fijnda-
mentals (DAN 255) and creative movement
for children (DAN 457). a teaching methods
class.. ..i. - ..
The new major will introduce three three-
hour classes in kinesiology, the scientific
study of body movement (PED 482). dance
production in which students will learn the
different aspects of producing a dance pro
gram (DAN 455). and teaching methods of
dance {DAN 457). Another new class, prev
ention and care of athletic injuries {PED
282). v\/iil also be added for the major.
Near the completion of the major, stu
dents will be required to do a dance practi-
cum for one to three hours credit. Students
\MII concentrate on some aspect of produc-.
tion — choreography, set development
advertising and other areas of interest —
with one credit hour required in the area of
lighting.
Besides the new classes, dance majors
must take the dance classes and two health
classes presently offiered the department
and 16 hours fix)m general biology, hunian
anatomy, and physiology.
Performance with Meredith Dance Thea
tre is also required.
Foreign language
Week promises a
cultural experience
to remeimber
■biy Ettabeth Almond
Evei^ year, the department of fisreign
languagfli and the three foreign language
clubs at Meredith host a vt«ek-long celebra
tion of Qemnan. French, and Spanish cultures.
This year, activities during Foreign Lan
guage Week will Include a French play, sev
eral foreign movies, cuisine sampling, and an
on-campus replica of an authentic French
cafe.
Continued on oage six
Past and present members of the Meredith Dance Theatre perform “In All The
Empty Places,” a dance choreographed by Dance Instructor Alyson Colwell.
Photo cour^y of Office of PublteatlOM
Dancers (left to right) Marlly Maynard, Joan Certa-Moore and Alyson Colwell
perform “Each for the Other.” Cohfvell also choreographed the dance. Photo
courtesy of Office of Publleatlona
“Good Times Roll” for Parents’ Weekend
■by EBzabeth Almond
The good tin^ are gonna roll March 19-
20 v4wn the 1988 Parents' Weekend gets
underway!
An annual event Parents'Weekend offiers
a chance Ibr the families of Meredith stu
dents to come together ft)r a time of fun,
fellowshp, and tbrfonner Meredith Angels, a
time to reminisce about college d^
Scheduled acttvtties on Saturdeiy include
the annual Granddaughter's Qub Luncheon,
the Sentor Parents/Daughter Reception in
Cate Center, a performance by the Aqua
Angels, a Parent/Daughter Talent Show and
a Sock-Hop In the gym Saturday night
Dr. Bill R. Almond, Jr.. pastor of the First
Baptist Church In Reidsville. NC. will deliver
the message during the Family Worship to
be held Sund^ morning in Jones Chapel.
There will be two morning sente at 10 am
and 11 am. Dr. Almond’s daughters, Eliza
beth and Bec)^, are cunrently enrolled at
Meredith and his wife, the former Katherine
Allison Ratl^. graduated from Meredith In
1964. Dr. Almond also served on the Boanj
of lYustees until his term expired in
November.
After the moming worship services, Belk
Dining Hal! vyill host a family brunch. Mere
dith Perfbmns will present a special matinee
perfonrance of GodspeH SundJy afternoon
at 2 pm. Residence halls will be open from 1
pm to 5 pm Sunday afternoon.
Parents' Weekend began as Parent's Day
In 1967. Over 650 parents attended that
first year, prompting expansion of the pro
gram to cover a full weekend. In 1968, par
ents were Invited to attend their daughter's
Conttnued on page eight
"We will start next semester by offering
movement fundamentals and then in the
spring, prevention and care of athletic injur
ies. The following year, we will add more
classes." said Colwell.-
Colwell said she has high hopes for the
success ofthe new major. "Mydream would
be to have twenty students majoring in
dance." she said.
The flexibility of the major will allow
dance majors to minor in other areas such as
business management or prof^ional com
munications to supplement their degree.
"There are more career possibilities for
dance majors besides becoming a profes
sional dancer. A dance major can work in the
fields of arts management, theatre produc
tion. choreography, dance therapy, or teach
ing. The opportunities are out there." said
Colwell.
Experience is not a prerequisite for dance
majors. Colwell also encourages those stu
dents who have not had an extensive dance
background to major in dance.
"It takes a lot of discipline, as does any
major, and at times, it’s exhausting and
• ph^'sically taxing but if the wilt Is there, we
can provide the way." she said.
Colwell herself was a sophomore in col
lege when she decided she wanted a career in
dance.
"I had some dance when I was a child but
then I quit when I hit puberty. I didn't decide
to major in dance until I was a sophomore in
college. I started out majoring in political
science but when I took a dance class for a
P.E. credit. I knew that was what I wanted
to do.”
Colwell hopes to develop the major so
students can become certified to teach
dance. V\feli-educated. creative dance teach
ers are hard to find, she said.
"Children especially need a creative expe
rience to encourage them to dance, not the
^ical class where they are lined up at the
ban%. alt dressed alike, and all taught to
move alike. That's wrong, but unfortu
nately, most people that are exposed to
dance at an early age come av\/ay with ttiat
impression ... the teacher as well as the
student should alv\/ays be worMng on her
creativity in movement and as a dancer. The
teaching methods class we will offer viaII
promote creativity as well as the proper
basic concepts.” said Colwell.
in the future, Colwell hopes the n^)or will
grow so that Meredith will devek)p a reputa
tion like that of the UntversHy of Greens
boro, which has had a strong dance program
fbr nnany years. She enthusiastically encour
ages students to n^jor in dance.
"1 would like to see Meredith College
become a moving, progressive centerfOr the
arts, dance in particuiar.“ she said.
Students Interested In the new dance
major should contact Alyson Colv\«ll In the
dance department at 8338.
CARLYLE CAMPBELL LIBRARY
MEREDITH COLLEGE