Curriculum Detail

Dance

Dance at Kimball Union offers both a remarkable depth of training and opportunities for all abilities. Students learn through a wide range of dance techniques and use the creative process to help them explore and discover meaning and artistry.


Explore movement, relaxation, and creation through additional course and extra-curricular offerings such as yoga, improvisation, and choreography. With a curricular emphasis on technique and composition, students of any ability will grow and develop as artists. Through informal All School Meeting performances, and professional quality mainstage productions, dance at KUA is serious fun.

All dance courses count as a performing arts credit.

  • Advanced Dance

    (1 credit)

    This course is intended for the most motivated dance student who has completed all lower-level dance courses. It allows the student to continue the work they have already begun in Dance II and History and Composition and in Dance II: Technique & Composition, further developing their technical and choreographic skills. Students are challenged to find greater depth in their performance abilities and to choreograph larger and more complex projects. Students choreograph dances that are performed at the bi-annual concerts.

  • Dance Ensemble

    1/3 credit per year; Prerequisite: Dance Activity or Permission of the instructor)

    The dance ensemble works year-round to create works for the Fall and Spring Concerts, and other selected events. Students must have some prior dance experience and be interested in working collaboratively with a performance focus. As part of the preparation of works, there is some instruction in basic dance technique, but this is not the focus of the course. This ensemble explores complex choreography in a variety of dance styles. This class may be repeated for credit.

  • Dance I

    (1/3 credit) 

    This course is a practical introduction to dance and exposes students to a variety of dance techniques and styles, including ballet, jazz, modern, hip-hop, and social dance forms. Students increase their physical awareness and projection as well as understand the similarities and differences between the various styles. While primarily a technique class, students have some opportunity to investigate elementary dance composition as well. Students gain experience in artistic criticism by attending dance concerts and performances.

  • Dance II: Composition and History

    (1 credit; Prerequisite: Dance 1 or Permission of the instructor)

    This class focuses on composition and improvisation and is offered to students of any ability interested in the choreographic process. Through the use of history and critical text, film and live performance, students study a variety of choreographers to better understand different compositional techniques. Improvisation is used to develop varied movement vocabulary and understand complex spatial relationships. The class creates dances for presentation at the Fall and Spring Concerts. Attendance at specified performances is required.

    Offered every other year (offered 2026-27).

  • Dance II: Technique & Composition

    (1 credit; Prerequisite: Dance I or Permission of the instructor)

    This course further extends the knowledge and skills learned in Dance I. Focusing on the physicality of dance and technical aspects of various styles, students improve their own unique movement vocabulary. Students learn to develop and perform complicated movement and rhythm sequencing as well as explore more advanced concepts in partner work, weight sharing, and floor work. Students examine composition and improvisation techniques in class as they build towards a final performance.

    Offered every other year (offered 2025-26).

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Department Faculty

7 Campus Center Drive
Meriden NH, 03770
phone: (603) 469-2000
info@kua.org