Eastern University's Senior Dance Concert, "Hope Rising," is coming up this week (Friday through Sunday, February 3-5) and since the Dance Major was disbanded last year, the Department is determined to continue putting out kick-ass shows, despite the unfortunate situation it's experienced. I had the privilege of interviewing the head of the Department, Stephen Welsh, and a graduating senior, who's also my choreographer, Alex Roberts. Although one dancer has been in the field for a much longer time period, both have incredible knowledge of the art and what they hope to achieve in terms of where they see the Department.

1. What's the most rewarding part of being involved in the department as either the head professor or a dance major?

Stephen Welsh: I cherish the opportunity to encourage the artistic development of young minds, bodies and spirits as these special students pursue a solid academic background in this ever changing field. I enjoy preparing them not only as technical dancers but also as intentional choreographers and well-rounded scholars. Establishing a judgment-free environment that invites community building and praising the Lord through dance are essential to my position as program director.

Alex Roberts: I think the most fulfilling part of being a dance major is when you see your work come to life on stage for the public eye to see. You have spent blood, sweat, and tears as well as many many hours at night in rehearsals, creating this work of dance from your heart and body in order to get across a message to the audience. You have an idea, you imagine the dance in your mind, you create movement and put the movement on your dancers, you watch them work through it, and then you watch them perform your idea on stage. It is the feedback you get from friends, family, and other audience members that is truly rewarding. By your work, other people have been significantly impacted and brought to tears.

2. What's the most difficult part of being the head director or being a Dance Major?

SW: Watching the department shrink from three full-time professors to two and now to one has not been an easy undertaking. Not having a full-time colleague to brainstorm and troubleshoot with has been very challenging. The most stressful part of this transition has been overseeing the hiring of qualified adjuncts to maintain the same quality of dance education that majors have received here all along as we navigate the teach-out plan.

AR: The most challenging part of being a dancer, dance major, or an artist in general, is the pressure. Choosing to pursue art as a career is the most riskiest, challenging, and fulfilling quest you can embark on. You become self-critical and afraid every second that your work will amount to nothing. You get rejected over and over again but have to endure. There is the fear of injury as well. Dancers are like athletes and an injury could really set back your career. A dance major has its own unique difficulties as well such as time management. We spend our days in classes and nights in rehearsals causing sleep to get put on the back-burner so that we can get our assignments done.

3. If you could change one thing about the Dance Department what would it be?

SW: I would bring back the Major permanently.

AR: ...Well aside from changing the fact that the major in the dance department got cut, I would add another studio to the department. The studio that we have is the most used room in the entire university. The schedule for studio space is booked until nearly midnight every night aside from Friday and Saturday. It is very hard to find personal time in the studio and we can only have certain classes once every other semester due to limited space. It would also be very nice to have a studio that had windows for natural light and circulation.

4. How has the Department changed since cutting the Major?

SW: By not having other full-time faculty to teach these remaining majors and minors, the level of investment in each student’s progress is diminished. Adjuncts by definition cannot become as invested in the work and career trajectory of each student the way that full-time faculty can. Hiring guest artists and attending the American College Dance Association’s Conference are becoming prohibitively expensive.

AR: A lot has changed since the major was announced to be cut. First, our administrator was fired on the spot and professor Stephen Welsh was requested to resign, forcing Director Janine Bryant to run the department, administration, and classes on her own as well as be a mother, wife, and continue her doctorate degree. For those reasons, in order for Professor Welsh to stay, Director Bryant gave up her position and left to pursue an offer to help build Wolverhampton’s dance department in the UK. Stephen Welsh became the new Director of the dance department and a new administrator was also hired. Additionally, we were locked out of all of our files and databases as well as forced to move offices. Originally we were one of the five fastest growing majors but with the cut we lost enrollment, causing the department to receive less money. At the moment, getting back on our feet has been a long, slow process, especially with less money to pay qualified adjuncts and put on concerts with the same level of quality as they previously had.

5. Do you have a new perspective/opinion of Eastern since the Major was cut?

SW: I’m still concerned for the future of these majors and minors in the midst of a difficult and upsetting transition year. What once was a thriving Major on-par with other dance majors in the area yet with a Christ-centered approach, is now teetering on obsolescence.

AR: This alters my perspective of Eastern University tremendously. The task force put together last year consisted of members that represented every department except for the liberal arts department and inside sources explained to us that the majority vote of the task force was in favor of keeping the dance major. So why was our major cut if we were one of the fastest growing departments at the university and previously promised growth? We have had and still have many questions that could not be answered and we were silenced as a department. In a public discussion with President Duffet, we expressed to him our fears of having to transfer schools now and his response was that he would help us with the process of transferring. We felt [undervalued] and unappreciated and fearful of other small majors at EU will be treated. Many older adults who graduated from EU 35+ years ago reminisce about memories of Eastern being an active thriving liberal arts college that valued the arts and valued dancing. Dancing was a form of praise that was welcomed by all students. Today, Eastern is just barely making the mark to call themselves a Liberal arts school.

6. What can non-Dance Department students do to help your Department?

SW: By all means come see our shows and support the creative outpouring of these talented students. Contribute to all fundraising efforts so EU can continue to attend and be selected as feature performers at the American College Dance Association’s Conference in Maryland this year.

AR: There are many things students from other departments can do for us. Little things that can be done are actually huge things for us such as simply taking general courses such as Intro to Dance and Ballet Fitness as well as attending a dance concert. There will be concerts the weekend of December 9, February 3, and April 7. On Saturdays, dancers teach open dance classes in the studio at 12 for $3.00 to raise money to attend the annual ACDA conference. Other things can be done such as mentioning us on social media, joining dance clubs, attending performances of dance clubs such as Eastern Dance Ministry at chapel and Redefined hip hop at basketball games, and purchasing candy-grams on Valentine's day.

7. Most interesting thing you've experienced as (head of dept/dance major)

SW: Facilitating the growth and development of Samantha Ambrico in the areas of dancing, choreographing, performing, directing, scholarly writing and critical thinking with an emphasis on the therapeutic potential of dancing.

AR: The most interesting thing I have experienced as a dance major is how people respond to me when I say that I am a dance major especially when I also say that I am a psychology major. Most people do not understand what dance majors do and why one would major in dance. There is a misconception that we are not a real major because we only dance. That is false. Half of my classes are not even technique courses such as anatomy and kinesiology, human biology, and other history and education courses. Just like any other major, we have tests, papers, and books. Yes, dance majors have to read textbooks. We also spend a lot of time cultivating and creating new works like art majors would. Dance actually pairs very well with psychology and together one can become a dance therapist for those walking with psychological and physical illnesses. It also pairs very well with other courses such as exercise science but many do not understand that.

8. I know both of you are constantly choreographing and creating new pieces each semester. Where does the inspiration for your choreography come from?

SW: Depends on the year. My musical collaborator John Glaubitz has been accompanying my Advanced Modern Dance class for years and has composed numerous musical scores for my original choreographic works. He also greatly helps shape my concepts to enhance their audience appeal.

AR: I have been cultivating the idea for my senior thesis since freshman year but because I am very indecisive I did not decide on it until this past summer. I was influenced by Anne Hathaway’s character in "Les Miserables" because although "Les Miserables" is fictional, her story represents the many true stories of millions of people who have been trafficked, raped, and abused worldwide. It is often extremely hard to get out of those types of situations. 30,000 people trafficked for sex die [each] year from neglect, abuse, diseases, torture, and suicide. Every 6.2 minutes a rape is reported. One in five women will be raped. Violence against women is dehumanizing and is a civil rights and human rights issue, yet many remain silent and look away from this issue. My piece is to bring awareness [to] this issue and force people to look and understand what the effects of remaining silent have on a victim. My piece is called “Bring Her Home.”

9. Alex, you're in your final semester and for your culminating assignment, you choreograph a piece for the Senior Dance Concert.

AR: Yes, for the senior dance concert on the weekend of February 3, each senior for their senior thesis creates a concept and choreographs a 20-minute piece around their concept. It is a cultivation of their learning and training in their four years at Eastern University...Six [senior dance majors] will be showcasing their work in the February show...and Madison Ridgeway, [a Dance Minor] will also be represented in the senior dance concert.

10. Do you have any other advice to future dancers or your fellow choreographers or anyone who's interested in maintaining the Department?

AR: Please support Theatre and Music...by going to their productions for they were hit hard last year as well. If you support our department, please post about us with the hashtag #SaveEUDanceMajor #EasternUniversity #ArtsAtEastern

You heard it from the experienced. If you want to come out and support your fellow classmates and the arts, come see the Senior Dance Concert THIS WEEKEND!

The Senior Dance Concert is Friday through Sunday, February 3rd-5th at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday night and 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday afternoon. Show A is Friday night and Saturday afternoon and Show B is Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. If you want more details, go here. To purchase tickets, go here.