The world is in love with dance. Whether it’s Hollywood’s “Dancing with the Stars” or the Broadway revival of “A Chorus Line,” people of all ages are fascinated with the fluid movements, beautiful costumes and fancy footwork involved I these performances.

There are those, however, who are not satisfied to sit in the audience and admire the dancers from afar. From a very early age, many are called to the stage as performers.

They learn the craft of dance from talented professionals and may choose to major in dance upon entering college, ultimately pursing a career in professional dance. Education, teaching and coaching are the components of the La Roche College Dance Department, and it’s a formula that provides a solid foundation for students.

“We nurture our students so they may develop their own talents,” said Gerard Holt, artistic director of the department, shown left working with LaRoche students. “Our goal is to help students grow in the field of dance, strengthening areas in which students already show great talent, and developing areas in which they may need to grow.”

The La Roche Dance Department prides itself on helping students to achieve goals  program, offering a bachelor of arts degree in professional performance and pedagogy. The college offers a dance major and a dance minor. The department focuses on classical ballet, but also offers a full range of dance elements, including modern technique, tap, jazz, ethnic, character and dance composition.

Helping the students every step of the way are faculty members who are former professional dancers and dance educators with extensive experience in their fields. “Our faculty members are committed to helping their students learn and grow, all in preparation for a professional dance role,” said Holt, himself a former professional dancer who began his career as a student at the Hartford Ballet. He also was a student dancer with The Dance Theatre of Harlem School, the School of American Ballet and the School of the San Francisco Ballet. Professionally, Holt was a member of the San Francisco Ballet, the Richmond Ballet, the State Ballet of Missouri (now Kansas City Ballet) and Ballet Met. He joined Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre in 1990 and was a featured performer. He joined La Roche in 2001.

Holt is proud of his dancers’ work – almost as proud as he is of their work ethic. He says he drives his dancers, smiling as he describes how the students will complain their way through strenuous practices, all the while knowing their efforts will pay off in the long run. The La Roche College Dance Theatre, featuring student performers, sponsors several programs each year for the public.

This April, for the second year in a row, the Dance Theatre will perform at the Byham Theater in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District. “The Spirit of Dance” highlights several dance styles – ballet, modern and contemporary – and features music ranging from Mozart to Mahalia Jackson. Holt choreographed many pieces within the show.

“For our students, and for us, the performance at the Byham is the culmination of a year of education, teaching and coaching,” Holt said. “Those are the basic elements within our program, and they are elements that serve us well. Our students come so far from one year to the next, from one semester to the next. It’s rewarding for them to grow, and it is just as rewarding for us, as instructors, to witness that growth.”

Dancers who graduate from the La Roche program have met with success in local and regional contemporary ballet companies. Some alumni have opened their own studios, gone on to become faculty at other colleges or remained to teach within the greater Pittsburgh area.

Students who would like to investigate the growing dance program at La Roche should apply to the college through the admissions area; La Roche does not hold open auditions. Following the application process, students should call the Dance Department and schedule an audition appointment. Entrance into the department is by audition only and is based primarily on the level of the student’s ballet technique. For more information, interested students may call La Roche at 1-800-838-4LRC or go to www.laroche.edu for application information.

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From little dreams to a career in dance

That first pair of pink “ballerina” slippers can be a magical step toward a career in dance. Little girls often show an affinity for dance in their early years and can pursue classes from their toddler years. Boys, too, dream of playing the handsome prince in “The Nutcracker,” and sweeping their partners off their feet.

At the La Roche College Academy of Dance, boys and girls from grades six through 12 can see their dreams come true. Instructors help young minds and bodies reach their dance goals by following the same philosophy that the college’s dance majors share.

“We see our Academy students as early talent who will one day enroll at La Roche and go on to obtain their degrees and pursue their dance career,” says Gerard Holt, Academy director. “Students at the Academy watch, learn and experience the college and the academic side of dance while providing performance experience and opportunity alongside college dancers.”

Generally, students begin the Academy each September and follow a course of study that takes them through the following May. Instructors cover ballet technique, point technique and jazz technique during that period of time.

“We believe that providing Academy students with a learning environment that features older, more experienced dance students is a tremendous benefit – for all parties involved,” Holt said.

To learn more about the La Roche College Academy of Dance, interested people may call 412-536-1184. To register in person, people may go to the Faculty Office in the Zappala College Center on the La Roche main campus, Babcock Boulevard, North Hills.

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