About the Dance Program

Hope College is a four-year liberal arts college where academic excellence and vibrant Christian faith join together in a supportive and welcoming community.

  • A dancer performs barefoot on stage, wearing a black top and a flowing red shawl over a floral skirt. Stained glass windows in the background add vibrant colors to the scene. A grand piano and a bottle of water are visible to the side.
  • A group of dancers in purple costumes performing on a dimly lit stage with a smoky atmosphere. They are in dynamic poses, emphasizing movement and expression.
  • A group of five dancers from Hope College's dance program performing on stage, wearing matching black and white costumes. They are in a dynamic pose with arms extended, and a large yin-yang symbol is projected on the brick wall behind them.

Hope is the first private liberal arts college — and remains one of the very few — to have accredited programs in all four areas of fine arts: music, art, theatre and dance.

“We believe in the transformative power of dance. The dance department provides a space and curriculum that inspires students to grow in the four areas that make us human: artistry, intellect, physicality and spiritually.”
—Matt Farmer, Dorothy Wiley DeLong Associate Professor of Dance, Department Chair

  • A dancer wearing a striped shirt and high-waisted pants performs energetically on stage with a bright blue background, while another dancer in the background is blurred.
  • Silhouettes of dancers against an orange background, part of Hope College's dance program.
  • Two dancers perform on stage against a warm, solid background. The dancer in the foreground wears a vibrant pink outfit, while the dancer in the background wears a dark green outfit. Both are adorned with colorful accessories and are captured in a moment of expressive movement.

Dance Program Distinctives

Hope students are not only prepared with the skills needed to enter the professional field in a competitive, successful manner, but they are also given the opportunities to excel in their life of leadership and service in their local communities, their nation and the world.

WORLD-CLASS INSTRUCTORS

As successful directors, choreographers, performers, authors and educators, Hope’s professors of dance are masters in their artform — setting the tone for a welcoming, inclusive and diverse atmosphere.

CULTURE OF INCLUSION

The dance program fully supports students in their sense of belonging and purpose, empowering them to flourish at Hope College and throughout their future. Hope’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is infused into every aspect of the college.

PROFESSIONAL COMPANIES

The Department of Dance has a long history of providing training through pre-professional touring companies.

  • StrikeTime
  • AerialDanceTheatre
  • dANCEpROjECT
  • H2
  • InsyncDanceTheatre

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL, PERFORMANCE AND RESIDENCIES

Hope students travel to live, perform and connect with cultures outside of the United States, including:

  • Germany
  • Belgium
  • France
  • Spain
  • Mexico
  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Scotland
  • Singapore

DANCE 1–DANCE 48

First held in 1973, the annual dance concert is the showcase and highlight of performances for the Department of Dance, and includes faculty choreographed works and works from professional guest choreographers and artists.

GUEST ARTIST SERIES

Connecting students with professionals as a means of career preparedness, the Guest Artists in Residence teach department curriculum, set new choreographic works, and introduce students to their companies and professional networks for internships and placements.