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The Hartt School

Dance Performance

At a Glance

Emphasis is designed to prepare students for careers in dance as professional performing artists. Students in this program focus on technique, performance, and choreography while participating in some pedagogical training as well.

Full Time

About the Program

Hartt Dance

The dance performance program is designed to prepare students for lifelong careers in dance as professional performing artists, teachers, and creators. Students in this program focus on technique, performance, and choreography as well as pedagogical training. In addition, they partake of the considerable resources of academic excellence available through the University of Hartford. This program offers future dance performers the opportunity to develop their craft and artistry in a challenging yet nurturing environment while expanding their ability to function as engaged and educated citizens throughout their careers.

For more information, and to see a complete list of degree requirements, visit the Course Catalog.

Career Ready

While at Hartt, there are four concert series produced each year. Two series feature professional works by professional leading choreographers, past and present (Balanchine, Tudor, Limón, Graham, Cunningham, Lar Lubovitch, Pascal Rioult, Hope Boykin, etc.) Two are directed and produced by graduating seniors who create their own group works and commission solos for themselves from professional choreographers.

Graduates perform all over the world with top companies like Paul Taylor, Martha Graham, Repertory Dance Theater, Broadway, José Limón, Charlotte Ballet, Whim W'him, Boston Dance Theater, and more. Many are also employed in teaching jobs with prestigious programs such as Feld Ballets, New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theater and a host of top training programs.

Alexzander Larson

BFA, Dance Performance, 2022

Alexzander Larson (he/him), originally from Portland, Oregon, holds a BFA in Dance (’22) from The Hartt School. During this time, he had the privilege of performing works by José Limón, Merce Cunningham, Lar Lubovitch, Gabrielle Lamb, Jaclyn Buglisi, and Sir Richard Alston to name a few. In 2022 he was the inaugural recipient of the Merce Cunningham Trust’s Barbara Ensley Award. Alex has had the pleasure of dancing with Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company, Des Moines Metropolitan Opera with choreographer Issac Martin Lerner, Suzzanne Ponomarenko Dance, Cornfield Dance, Matthew Westerby Dance, and The Merce Cunningham Trust. He is currently a dancer with The Metropolitan Opera Ballet in NYC.

Hartt truly prepared me for my life as an artist post-graduation. I have so much gratitude for the faculty at Hartt. Their knowledge and generosity is rare; you won’t find it just anywhere!

Success Stories

Our people, thriving as creatives. At The Hartt School, we all live and breath the creative process. Read about some of our recent students' success stories here.

Dance Faculty

Stephen Pier
Professor of Dance; Division Director of Dance
Dance

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Katie Stevinson-Nollet
Professor of Dance
Dance

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Hilda Morales
Assistant Professor of Dance
Dance

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Nina Watt
Associate Professor of Dance; Accompanist Coordinator
Dance

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Debra Collins Ryder
Dance Faculty
Dance

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Katrina Hawley
Dance Faculty
Dance

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Sarkis Kaltakhtchian
Dance Faculty; Artistic and Education Director
HCD Dance
Dance

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Nelly Lugo-Larcheveque
Dance Faculty
Dance

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Tim Melady
Dance Faculty
Dance

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René Olivier
Dance Faculty
HCD Dance
Dance

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Ralph Perkins
Director of Theatre Dance
Theatre

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Kim Stroud 
Dance Faculty
Dance

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Kathryn Swanson
Music Theory Faculty
Music Theory

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