Dancing Into History: Jemma Van Jaarsveldt ’24
Written by Amanda Mathis
Jemma Van Jaarsveldt is making Converse University history this spring as the first student to graduate with a degree in Dance. A newly created major in fall 2023, this effort rests upon decades of a strong Dance Minor foundation. Anticipation for a Dance Major has been years in the making, commencing with Janis Dengler, Associate Professor Emerita of Health and Physical Education, who started the program in 1960.
The Dance Program began as a dance ensemble elective and has expanded to include many forms of artistic expression, including jazz, ballet, tap, modern, and dance for musical theatre. After leveraging the current facilities and programs, it became clear that Converse University would start a new chapter in the School of the Arts. Along with decades of alumni who enjoyed dance classes at Converse, this new opportunity excites the Theatre & Dance Department faculty, students, and future students.
Van Jaarsveldt was a junior with a minor in Dance when she learned that Converse was planning to expand the program to a major. That was all the incentive she needed to work quickly with the faculty and formulate a plan to become the program’s first graduate. Since Converse began the expansion, the program has grown to include 11 majors and 16 minors who have followed suit to declare a Dance Major.
“It is remarkable to think that we have our very first Dance Major graduate less than a year after announcing this program.”
Dr. Christopher Vaneman
“It is remarkable to think that we have our very first Dance Major graduate less than a year after announcing this program last August,” said Dr. Christopher Vaneman, Dean of the School of the Arts and Associate Professor of Flute. “This education addition allows our students to work at a higher level to advance to an MFA, which is the gateway to performance and teaching at a professional level.”
Solving the Puzzle
Allison Roux, Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre Dance, arrived at Converse in the fall of 2022. With dance enrollments increasing consistently every semester, Professor Roux knew that developing a Dance Major was the next step in evolving Converse’s programming within the School of the Arts, which currently offers theatre, music, and audio technology majors.
“When I arrived at Converse, it was clear that our Dance Minor was strong with talented students, and the people who came before me did the work to create that program,” said Roux. “This move to grow our program from minor to major depended on the support of our leadership, which was the piece that we needed to move forward.”
After multiple conversations with her colleagues at Converse, Roux realized that a Dance Major was possible for the University. Anticipation for a Dance Major has been decades in the making, and 18 months after the first conversation, a new major became a reality at Converse. “Converse Dance students are not only talented performers and choreographers, but they are interested in the world around them and can use dance to pursue their other interests, whether that’s social justice, other art forms, or interests outside of class. Our program is unique because we support the whole dancer, from their physical and mental health to their passion projects and artistic dreams.”
A New Opportunity For Students
Dean Vaneman praises the degree path as “a great opportunity for students who want to go into a variety of dance-related fields while also getting a first-rate liberal arts education.” Dancing at Converse University combines practical and theoretical dance studies, allowing students to explore technique, choreography, dance history, and the physical capabilities of the human body that prepare our students for a myriad of professions.
The University offers a B.A. in Dance and a Minor in Dance. The dance curriculum treats dance as an artistic discipline in studio and classroom work, including training in an intense studio program and the intellectual rigor and scholarly growth of preparing students for various professions through dance education with Converse’s Creativity That Works initiative. This program focuses on marketing for the arts, portfolio development, and career management; blending the student’s craft with interdisciplinary skills will give them an edge when they pursue jobs and opportunities in the art world.
“We value the individual students when they attend Converse,” said Dean Vaneman. “The Dance Major integrates seamlessly into our curriculum, meaning it is easy to pair with other majors and minors, such as an Arts Administration minor that will provide viability in the marketplace.”
The Dance program provides students with an inclusive, flexible environment to develop their physical and intellectual capabilities in dance. Converse faculty value individual mentorship, collaborative choreographic processes, and culturally engaged dance pedagogy. Training is rooted in healthy, sustainable techniques that support injury prevention and longevity.
“Any performance major, whether music, theatre, or dance, can be scary,” said Van Jaarsveldt. “You put yourself in a vulnerable position when you share your work. I chose Converse because this is a place where I’ve never felt that fear. I’ve only ever been encouraged by my peers and professors. I knew I would become the best artist I could be because I felt safe enough to grow.”
Open to all Converse University students, the Dance Major does not require an entrance audition. Students interested in declaring a Dance Major can find more details and instructions on the department website.
Join Us At Reunion
At our Annual Converse Reunion Weekend this year, the Dance Department is hosting a Studio Drop-In on Saturday, April 20, 2024, from 1:15 pm–2:15 pm in the Montgomery Student Center. Meet Allison Roux, Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre Dance, to learn about the new Dance Major and catch up with beloved Professor Emerita Janis Dengler.