Most recently, the department initiated a Great Works program to give students the opportunity to perform dances created by master choreographers. In the program s first year, ballet students learned George Balanchine s Valse-Fantaisie from former New York City Ballet principal ballerina, Victoria Simon. Marimba by modern dance master Lar Lubovitch was set on the students by former company member John Dayger for the same program. Donald McKayle staged his Rainbow Suite on 18 students as the Great Work for 1999. Other guest artists and companies have included Frank Chaves, Rick McCullough, Maureen Fleming, Mary Hinkson, David Howard, Martin Keogh, Urban Bush Women, Alwin Nikolais, Jan Erkert and Dancers, Kenneth Laws, Renee Redding-Jones, Patty Obey, Brian Jeffery, Billy Siegenfeld, Melissa Lowe, Jory Hancock, Claire Bataille, Mei Hsiu Chan, Shapiro and Smith, Second Hand Dance Company, Kevin Magee, and Susan Van Pelt.
Students also have the opportunity for hands-on experience.
Area dance studios regularly employ dance students as teachers, and area schools and community groups often engage dance majors to choreograph musicals.