Senior Dance Students Gain Professional Experience in NYC, Los Angeles and Las Vegas

The senior dance class of 2025 had incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experiences in New York City, Los Angeles and Las Vegas over winter break. Eleven senior dancers traveled to New York City from Dec. 14, through Dec. 20, and took classes from several teachers throughout the city and saw shows like Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, “Back to the Future,” “Sunset Blvd.” and the “Radio City Christmas Spectacular.” The most notable experience was a private masterclass with Princess Grace Award Winner, Maleek Washington, and Broadway performer Jōvan Dansberry.

Eleven senior dancers traveled to Los Angeles and Las Vegas from Jan. 2 to Jan. 12, and took classes from several notable Los Angeles teachers including a private masterclass with Taylor Swift dancer Natalie Lecz and a private aerial class in Las Vegas with Cirque du Soleil’s performer in “O,” Sarah Sporich. The seniors also had the opportunity to see a performance of “O” where they received a private backstage tour from Sporich. Also in Vegas, the seniors spent time with Aubrey Lawrence ’15 (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance, Bachelor of Arts in English) and Courtney Friedersdorf ’18 (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance), getting to know what life would be like living and working professionally in Vegas, receiving valuable life advice, networking and making connections.

These senior development trips were made possible by student fundraising and the curation of Auxiliary Adjunct Assistant Professor of Dance Tiffanie Carson, M.F.A. If you’d like to donate to continue to support future trips, please visit the senior dance donation page.