For the student-led jazz dance group VAGUE, last week's December Dance Concert was not something to dance about. Along with the student-led dance groups Anokha and the Unity step team, the 12 members of VAGUE were one of five groups that failed to be selected to perform in the concert.
The Department of Theater and Dance states in its department guidelines that its main responsibility in selecting acts for the performance is "to create a lively, balanced, and diverse program from the audience perspective."
As the only jazz piece to audition for the concert, VAGUE members felt that they would have added both diversity and talent to the production. The group felt that their failure to be selected, in the words of co-captain Sheryl Stevens '07, demonstrated that "to the dance department, jazz does not represent diversity."
Co-captain Sarah Horn '07 felt that the inclusion of less skilled groups demonstrated the department's bias against jazz, citing how VAGUE also failed to be selected for the department's concert in the fall of 2005, "three people who had an idea of a dance but had nothing rehearsed" were chosen to perform.
Lecturer in Dance Performance Paul Sarvis, who helped to organize and select performers, said that VAGUE's exclusion from the concert was the result of increased interest in dance at Bowdoin and subsequent competition for spots in the performance. While he recognizes the talent and professionalism of VAGUE, Sarvis cannot guarantee a place to any auditioning group.
"VAGUE has been included in all but three or four dance shows over the past 12 years," Sarvis said. "And I have no reason to think that they won't be included in the future more often than not."
The members of VAGUE, however, feel that their exclusion from the performance has left them without a venue in which to perform. Problems with obtaining performance space for independent productions has made it difficult for the group to find a voice on campus. Horn said that in the spring of 2005, Theater and Dance Production Coordinator Joan Sand informed her and Stevens that Pickard Theater would be unavailable to the group for the rest of their time at Bowdoin.
As a result, VAGUE has received about $2,000 from the Student Activities Funding Committee (SAFC) to host a dance performance in Morrell Lounge at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday. SAFC will provide an additional $4,000 that will be used at a later date to make the floor of Smith Union safe for dancing.
VAGUE believes that difficulties stem from an overall prejudice against more traditional forms of dance within the department. The department does not currently offer classes in ballet, hip-hop, or jazz.
Raashi Bhalla '07, a senior tour guide, often faces questions from prospective students about the lack of ballet and jazz programs at Bowdoin.
"The fact of the matter is that students interested in dance cannot possibly be fulfilled with [what] the dance department offers," Bhalla said.
Horn said she feels that the department's prejudice extends to an overall discrediting of traditional forms of dance in the curriculum at Bowdoin. Stevens also mentioned how the hip-hop videos shown in dance classes often seem to illustrate the most sexist and objectifying forms of the genre.
"They teach that modern dance is the only form of dance that is not reflective of conservative views," Horn said. "But deep down inside, I think the department just doesn't like other forms of dance."
Given its limited resources, Sarvis said that the dance department has chosen to focus on modern dance because it "is most tied to a broad view of cultural history." In his classes, Sarvis stresses the connection between modern dance and literary and cultural trends.
The department has also made efforts to support other forms of dance. In place of formal classes in jazz or tap, Sarvis said that student groups receive generous budgets that often allow them to pay guest instructors as much or more as the department gives to visiting artists.
"Having a focus on modern dance," said Sarvis, "shouldn't be confused with devaluing or not supporting other forms of dance."