Creativity is encouraged and students have opportunities to present their choreography in formal and informal concerts in a variety of theater and alternative spaces on campus. Auditions are not required for admission to the program. Since the program emphasizes the creative process, students who opt to major in theater can do a senior thesis project. To date, all such projects have been an evening of choreography. Another dance option can be created through the Individual Interdisciplinary Majors program.
Students also do independent studies in choreography and dance education.
Studio courses include modern dance, ballet, African and hip hop. Advanced students teach jazz and beginning and intermediate ballet to their peers. Bates dancers have gone on to graduate school in dance as well as a variety of professions from professional dancers, teachers, writers, and historians of dance to doctors, lawyers, and careers in business, education, and social work. In addition to the director, guest faculty are brought in to teach and set pieces on the students so they can experience a variety of styles and points of view. Recent artists have included Michael Foley '89 and Gabe Masson, who danced with Doug Varone, Mark Dendy, and Doug Elkins.