An Iowa College in the Liberal Arts Tradition
Learning Goals
Luther's dance students become aware of themselves and others around them. They learn to navigate space, time, weight, and flow. As they collaborate with others, they develop body intelligence through somatic practices.
In our classes dance students learn how to access imagination. They become more innovative and creative. They find that communication consists of motion, words, and sensations.
Our students experiment outside of the classroom. We encourage them to develop their own research in artistry and movement.
Student Perspectives
Some recent graduates and current students have spoken about dance and their experiences during their journey at Luther.
Shaubhagya Khadka '20
"...different sensations were always present in my life but I had not noticed them at such depth before. This makes me realize that my body is an intelligent sensory organelle which is very receptive of its surroundings."
Nicole Niehaus '16
"I see that I can actually live through my body, other than how I intended. If we all seep, down deeply into ourselves, we may find a whole universe of different ways of looking at the world, at ourselves, our thoughts, feelings, actions, the weather, our peers… everything could be different. Listening and going in to the body really challenges everything you think you already know. Dance and movement analysis makes me break down my wall, and I see the world in a way I have never seen before."
Sara Maronde '15
"Not only do dance courses at Luther provide a pathway for experiential learning, but they allow me to engage in critical thinking at every moment. Movement is a process of change. By actively seeking a discipline that uses change as its fundamental basis for learning I am prepared to transfer my experience at Luther to face a global community with a fluid and adaptive mind frame."
