In speaking with LI’s dance teacher of twenty years, Rebecca McGregor, you’ll soon learn that dance education is more than learning routines and choreographies for performance. The dancers have to read, write, critique, analyze, evaluate, apply, understand, make connections, and create. The work in McGregor’s department is interdisciplinary, with other core subjects—English, math, science, and history—integrated into the art of dance. In life, these skills are necessary for success and ones students use every day through their arts education. It is through collaboration, goal setting, self-reflection, and evaluation students learn and improve these essential life skills.

Students taking dance at Lyndon Institute have more opportunities than just taking classes. They can work with guest artists, perform and teach at nearly fifteen local elementary and middle schools each year, as well as run after-school programs in the KESD, perform in talent shows, the big game halftime show, Open Houses and special events by invitation, and host numerous public events for dance enthusiasts like the annual VT State Dance Festival, a Student Dance Showcase, a Benefit Dance Recital, and the Winter and Spring Dance Recital. The curriculum addresses the foundational elements of ballet, modern, jazz, and composition, while allowing for student-created work and personalized learning plans within dance education. The curriculum also teaches students about injury prevention, holistic approaches to wellness and movement, anatomical alignment through imagery and physiological principles, and performance preparation. LI Dancers use solid frameworks set by the National Core Dance Standards. It is the only high school dance program in Vermont to have a National Honors Society for Dance Arts through the National Dance Education Organization.

If you are interested in seeing the learning the LI dancers have accomplished over the last four months, please join us for their Winter Dance Recital on the LI stage (Alumni Auditorium) Thursday, December 1st​ at 7:00 p.m. Admission is free or by donation. We welcome everyone to our performance. The choreographies being performed showcase the terminology, technique, and artistry the students study in ballet, modern, jazz, hip hop, tap, and compositional work from various units. All dances are collaborations between the LI dance teacher, Rebecca McGregor, and students in her dance classes. For more information about this show or the LI dance program, call (802) 535-3636.