Dance celebrates three decades, poised for the future
Last year marked big changes for Beloit College’s dance program, as its 30th anniversary coincided with the program’s integration with theatre and music into the college’s new Performing and Applied Arts major and with Professor Chris Johnson’s retirement from teaching dance.
Students in Gina T’ai’s Topics of Dance Entrepreneurship class planned and coordinated a three-day event in October to mark the anniversary and for alumni to reconnect, meet current students, and dance together. Over 60 alumni returned for the festivities, and more than 40 dancers participated in Johnson’s last jazz dance class in the Stack. The event also included an alumni dance performance with solo and group dances. Lily Watkins ’12, described the experience as “whimsical, nostalgic, and a little surreal.”
“I had many wonderful colleagues and partners in the program over the years.” Johnson recalls, “And when Gina came in, we were able to create a beautiful tapestry in our curriculum with our different areas of expertise to offer a breadth that you don’t find in a typical small college dance program.”
Johnson played a major role in creating the welcoming environment the dance program is known for. “She has a way of making every person in the room feel seen, and that’s powerful,” says Marcus Hayes ’99. A focus on social justice has always been a part of the dance program, according to Johnson. In 2002, students performed her piece “Wreath of Memories” at the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C. Though she is retiring from teaching dance, Johnson will continue to teach kinesiology in the Health & Society department.
An emphasis on each dancer’s individuality is important for both Johnson and T’ai. “It’s a culture that we’ve nurtured. We will push you and help you learn and you’re going to have to work hard, but we’re there to help and support,” says Johnson. This is evident in the dance performances that showcase student talent each year. “There’s no competition, it’s only support and love and meeting everybody where they are,” says T’ai.
This philosophy has helped to instill a love of dance in students. Emma Logas ’25 had former dance instructors preach “no pain, no gain,” a philosophy that T’ai and Johnson reject. “Before I came to Beloit, dance was a chore I didn’t enjoy, but it was all I knew so I continued,” says Logas. “Gina and Chris brought the love of dance back for me, so I will forever be grateful for that program.”
Students are optimistic about the merger with theatre and music. For Kateri Zitzelsberger ’26, the biggest adjustment is the variety of classes. “There are fewer classes, but they’re just as fun and they’re more packed, which is amazing,” she says.
The dance program has been a valuable experience for Beloiters who have gone on to a variety of careers, dance related and otherwise. “You learn so much as a dance major. All the skills they talk about in the corporate world — time management, communication, how to lead a group — you learn as a dance major [and these skills] can serve you well in a lot of different careers,” says Hayes. Maggie Koller ’06 agrees, noting that her work-study job in the department helped prepare her for jobs managing a studio and promoting concerts. Although this year looks different for dance, the traditions remain, poised to serve generations of dancers for years to come.
