For Polly Brandman, dance has been more than a hobby. It has been a lifestyle.
The adjunct professor at Drury has danced with the Toledo Ballet Company and co-founded the Wishbone Dance Theatre, a local modern dance company. Brandman has since turned to sharing her knowledge and world experiences with her students. She also has a passion for teaching and is now one of the lead professors of the Drury dance minor, which launched in 2013.
After her ballet class last week, The Scoop talked with her about the dance minor.
What is the dance minor?
The dance minor is offered within the Drury Department of Theatre. The curriculum of the dance program is designed to provide a focused, sequential introduction to the various aspects of dance while creating a vigorous, kinetic outlet for artistic expression. This minor will include the historical context of dance, the development of choreographic skills, and will result in a final performance presentation.
Why is a dance minor important?
Dance is emerging as a critical supportive element in several disciplines outside of conventional performance. Dance offers the connection to mind-body exercise and creative expression, and it is becoming recognized as a viable tool in education and therapy. With the increase in the focus on integrative approaches to healing, dance has emerged as a strong component in preventive, maintenance and rehabilitative health care. Therefore by Drury offering a dance minor, it opens up many opportunities to all the students.
How old is the minor?
The program is still fairly new, but it has been around for about two years. There are still several kinks that need to be worked out within the minor, but we are excited for this new endeavor.
What are the requirements of the minor?
The requirements for the minor are: Modern Dance, Ballet I, Dance Composition, History of Dance, and Dance Workshop. There are also additional hours required to complete the minor. Some of these classes include: Ballet II, Tap I, Tap II, Modern Dance II, Jazz Dance, Percussion Class, Music Theory I, Ear Training and Sight Singing I, Kinesiology, Costume Design, Stage Lighting, and Sound Designing.
What is your background in dance?
I began training in classical ballet in Toledo, Ohio, where I danced with the Toledo Ballet Company. I also studied modern dance and developed a profound interest in body mechanics and kinesiology. After completing a B.A. in French and classical languages (University of Toledo) and an M.F.A. in dance with a concentration in choreography (University of North Carolina at Greensboro), I arrived in Springfield in 1979 to become artistic director of Springfield Ballet. I left in 1985 and was on the faculty at Missouri State University and performed as a guest artist with Mid-America Dance Company of St. Louis. Along with Tracy Maxfield and Beckah Reed, I co-founded the Wishbone Dance Theatre, a modern dance company that performed in Springfield and toured in the Midwest. In addition, I am a licensed massage therapist and a certified instructor of Youn Wha Ryu martial arts and Tai Chi Chuan.
How many people are currently seeking the dance minor?
There are currently around 25-30 students enrolled in the dance minor. It is fairly new, so we are still trying to advertise the program, but the minor is growing every day.
Is there anything new happening with the dance minor?
The Drury dance minor is putting on the first student-choreographed dance concert on Sunday, May 10. There are six Drury students that are in the dance minor program that will be choreographing pieces for the concert.
