If you asked for American modern dancer Martha Graham’s opinion, she’d tell you that dance was the first art form. For the Performing Arts department at South Texas College, it would be the last piece to shimmy into place. STC has announced a brand-new dance degree allowing learners to brisé into high-energy careers.
Take student Arlet Juarez. Currently a business major, she plans to double up with dance in pursuit of a lifelong dream to open her own children’s studio in the Valley.
“It’s really exciting because at first, I wasn’t sure there was a degree for dance,” shares Juarez, who thought she would have to transfer to follow her passion.
“Finally, we have our dance major,” adds instructor Jose Zamora, who taught Juarez in high school and now works as an adjunct dance instructor at STC. Zamora grew up in the local dance community and is excited about having an accessible, local dance program in which to pass on his passion and expertise.
“There is a growing appreciation for the arts,” says the instructor. “It is no longer just the focus of entertainment. People see that there can be a lucrative career behind it.”
With the majority of the area’s high schools already offering robust dance programs, students like Juarez can now continue to follow their calling close to home.
“Our high school dance programs across the Valley are so phenomenal, and they produce very talented individuals,” explains Drama Department Chair Joel Jason Rodriguez.
The degree will help students set the stage for creative careers in dance companies and beyond, working as performers, choreographers or director’s assistants. Opportunities like these are on the rise in the RGV, which is quickly becoming a hub for art and culture in South Texas. The region staked its claim in 2017 with the debut of the McAllen Performing Arts Center, the most advanced such facility south of San Antonio, holding close to 2,000 seats.
There are also career paths in education from public schools to dance studios, with the additional possibility of students like Juarez opening their own spaces.
The College has an existing dance studio on the main campus, plus access to the drama department’s black box studio and main stage theater. The program is currently looking to collaborate with local dance studios to expand further and offer more practice spaces.
Performances are also on the docket, giving students the chance to cross over and collaborate with various departments. “There are myriad opportunities for performances that our community can really enjoy,” says Rodriguez. According to the veteran thespian, the latest performing arts program addition will open up exciting possibilities, particularly when it comes to musical productions. With the new dance degree, he says, “I think we’re going to feel complete.”
Sources:
2019 McAllen Economic Profile 2019, McAllen Chamber of Commerce
https://mcallen.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/city-of-mcallen-report-1.pdf