Dance - Dance - Lewis & Clark
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Theatre
Students perform with Director of Dance Tiffany Mills' company. 

Students perform with Director of Dance Tiffany Mills’ company.

Students performing at Dance X, the fall dance show featuring Lewis & Clark dancers and choreographers.  
Students performing at Dance X, the fall dance show featuring Lewis & Clark dancers and choreographers. 

Academics
Dance
Dance
Our students are empowered to create and produce dance at the highest possible level. Our program focuses on artistry by helping you develop technique and skills with a somatic approach. You will also have direct ties to the vibrant dance scene in Portland, the
third most creative city
in America!
Majors
Art (Studio)
Art History
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Biology
Chemistry
Classics
Computer Science
Computer Science and Mathematics
Data Science
Economics
Environmental Studies
French Studies
German Studies
Hispanic Studies
History
International Affairs
Mathematics
Music
Philosophy
Physics
Political Science
Psychology
Religious Studies
Rhetoric and Media Studies
Sociology and Anthropology
Student-Designed Major
Theatre
World Languages
Minors
Art and Art History
Artificial Intelligence
Asian Studies
Chemistry
Chinese
Classics
Computer Science
Cybersecurity
Dance
Data Science
Earth System Science
Economics
Education
Entrepreneurial Leadership and Innovation
Environmental Studies
Ethnic Studies
French Studies
Gender Studies
German Studies
Health Studies
Hispanic Studies
History
Japanese
Latin American and Latino Studies
Law and Policy
Mathematics
Middle East and North African Studies
Music
Neuroscience
Philosophy
Physics
Political Economy
Political Science
Religious Studies
Rhetoric and Media Studies
Russian
Theatre
Why Choose a Dance Concentration or Dance Minor?
Dance is one of the most diverse and inclusive programs on campus. You are encouraged to experiment with new ideas and to investigate and invent authentic movement vocabulary. You will incorporate an understanding of kinesthetic functioning of the body and a consideration of the significance of body/mind integration to your learning. Our dance students graduate with the ability to think creatively and critically and live a life enriched by the performing arts.
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What You’ll Study
The dance program offers both a theatre major with a concentration in dance and a dance minor. As an integral part of a performing arts program, it requires courses in both dance and theatre. Our students develop technical and performance skills and study the aesthetics, history, and criticism of dance. From improvisational techniques to classical ballet, from modern and postmodern dance forms to sound body mechanics, strength, and flexibility, you will receive a thorough education in the physical arts. Participants in our classes and performances include students who have a range of experience, from years of formal training to no prior exposure to dance.
Many of our students earn course credit while on an overseas or domestic off-campus program. In addition to general cultural programs that are open to all students, the
England
and
New York City
programs incorporate dance study as part of the curriculum.
Outside the classroom, Dance Extravaganza and Dance Y offers students the opportunity to have their choreography fully staged for large audiences. We also sponsor numerous opportunities for students to engage with professional artists throughout the year, and we invite professionals from the community and around the globe to teach master classes each semester. Local choreographers or guest artists will sometimes invite students to intern or work closely with their companies as assistants or performers.
Curriculum
Connect With Lewis & Clark!
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Favorite Class



Queer Film and Television taught by Assistant Professor Melanie Kohnen



The class really resonated with me as a queer person because we are often erased in media, so the historical and cultural discussion raised in this class was refreshing. It was also very meaningful to be with people who had corollary experiences to mine.




Venus Edlin BA ’23


Major: Rhetoric and Media Studies

Minor: Dance







Favorite Class



Behavioral Neuroscience with Professor Yueping Zhang



This was the first class that I was able to get a taste of how to set up my own in-person study. This class really influenced my love for psychology, and is one of the reasons why I wanted to pursue a PsyD.




Lauren Satterwhite BA ’23


Major: Psychology

Minor: Dance and Rhetoric and Media Studies (double)







Favorite Class



Marketing Seminar with guest lecturers Amanda Hill and Gary Korotzer through the Bates Center for Entrepreneurship and Leadership




I thought marketing was unethical since I had a very narrow understanding of it. Throughout the course, I got acquainted with ethical marketing practices and it broadened my perspective. Currently, I am applying for marketing internships and want to find a way to connect it to my future career.




Katrina Kuzmina BA ’23


Major: Rhetoric and media studies

Minor: Entrepreneurial leadership and innovation, dance




Complement Your Education With One of These Majors
The most popular majors for our dance minors are
rhetoric and media studies
, and
theatre
What Students Are Saying About Lewis & Clark
LC Dance Company is a community I am currently part of. It’s very welcoming and fun. Surrounding yourself with other choreographers and dancers and being given space to collaborate is incredibly rewarding.
Katrina Kuzmina BA ’23
Rhetoric and media studies | Entrepreneurial leadership and innovation, dance | Moscow, Russia
More about Katrina
One of the most important things I learned at Lewis & Clark was to not be afraid of creating my own path. In my doctorate program, I intend to explore how dance may be used as the primary form of communication in a clinical therapy session.
Lauren Satterwhite BA ’23
Psychology | Dance and Rhetoric and Media Studies (double) | North Andover, Massachusetts
More about Lauren
I love that by minoring in dance I get a different type of learning, something kinetic and in the body. It helps break up the day, giving me energy to continue tackling my workload. It’s another outlet for creativity and communication which is so fulfilling.
Venus Edlin BA ’23
Rhetoric and Media Studies | Dance | San Jose, California
More about Venus
What Can You Do With a Dance Concentration and Dance Minor?
Our alumni use their dance concentration and dance minor to pursue a wide range of careers within the performing arts, academia, nonprofits, arts administration, and beyond. While some students pursue a studio practice, others apply their critical thinking, research and writing skills, creativity, and performing arts skills to many areas outside of dance.
Dedicated Faculty
Our expert professors are your expert mentors. You will learn directly from faculty (no graduate assistants here!) that are nationally recognized in their fields of study and who love to work with and learn from their students. Your professors will inspire you to be a thoughtful and passionate participant in a diverse world. Your small classes will support you as you explore new ideas, find your voice, and speak your truth.
Meet the Professors
From
Oregon ArtsWatch
, April 11, 2025
“…With this range of offerings, hooking into the community at so many points, Mills has provided a glimpse of the many vibrant possibilities for the future of dance at the college level in Portland.”
Invest in Yourself
A private liberal arts education is often
more affordable than you think
. Last year, Lewis & Clark distributed over $74 million in assistance from institutional, federal, state, and private sources. Additionally, we’re so confident that our first-year students will graduate with their bachelor of arts degree in four years that if you don’t, we’ll
cover the extra semester of tuition
Find Your People
The
LC Dance Company
is an entirely student-run organization that creates a safe space for students of all skill levels to move, create, and commune with other dancers. This includes contact jams, the Dance Y production, choreographic workshops, and access to the Portland dance community. Incoming students can take advantage of our
Creative PDX
New Student Trip, which gives them the opportunity to get to know the Portland arts scene and connect with the vibrant arts programs at L&C, all before classes start.
Where Lewis & Clark Will Take You
Lewis & Clark’s curriculum prepared me for graduate school. I intend to continue the work I started in my undergraduate thesis at a higher educational level, which would not have been possible without the connections and the resources I had available to me.
Lauren Satterwhite BA ’23
Psychology | Dance and Rhetoric and Media Studies (double) | North Andover, Massachusetts
More about Lauren
L&C prepared me for my graduate studies by offering multiple opportunities to conduct research and develop enriching relationships with faculty.
Sydney Owada BA ’19
English | Fresno, California
More about Sydney
L&C helped me practice and develop skills that I use in my post-graduate life. My experiences helped me grow my interpersonal communication and conflict resolution skills, which are some of the most important aspects of my current positions.
Venus Edlin BA ’23
Rhetoric and Media Studies | Dance | San Jose, California
More about Venus
Featured News
Finding Post-Grad Success
Graduating from Lewis & Clark College means you will earn a bachelor of arts degree that is grounded in critical thinking, written and verbal communication skills, teamwork, and problem solving—all of the essential qualifications you need to succeed in any career.
Read the story
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