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Bridging the Gap: Helping Students from Competitive Dance Training Backgrounds Become Successful Dance Majors

Correspondence: Karen Schupp, M.F.A., School of Dance, Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287-0304; karen.schupp@asu.edu. The first year of college is often the most difficult and challenging for students. In fact, as many as 31.8% of students at public four-year postsecondary institutions drop out prior to their sophomore year.1 To assist students, many institutions offer “First-Year Experience” courses, provide pamphlets outlining the differences between high school and college, and offer mentorship programs. For dance majors from competitive dance training backgrounds (i.e., those participating in state, regional, or national dance competitions through dance studios), this transition is further complicated by differences in dance styles and teaching methods used in postsecondary programs. There is little doubt that students’ sense of comfort and responsibility within their familiar competitive studio communities are substantial factors in their accomplishments as dancers, including their admittance into college dance programs. As more first-year dance majors are coming from competitive training backgrounds, exploring how dance educators can assist the transition into postsecondary dance communities is essential. This article examines the methods I use to help first-year dance majors from competitive training backgrounds expand their understanding of dance and learn to create a strong foundation for collegiate success. By acknowledging differences in dance backgrounds, carefully emphasizing the theory behind postmodern contemporary dance movement, gradually distributing responsibility of learning throughout the semester, and incorporating self-reflection in their first postmodern contemporary dance classes, dance educators can help students transition from competitive dance training backgrounds to postsecondary settings while also laying the groundwork for their future growth as dance artists.