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NMSU Dance Program

Welcome Message

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Welcome to the NMSU Dance Program!

The dance program is dedicated to fostering dynamic and well-rounded dance artists. We provide a transformative learning environment where students hone their skills in diverse performance practices, discover their unique choreographic voices through innovative creation, and develop the pedagogical expertise necessary for effective dance education. Our mission is to inspire artistic excellence, critical thinking, and a lifelong commitment to the art of dance.

With a curriculum spanning technical, artistic, and academic domains, our program delivers a comprehensive and enriching experience, equipping students for the opportunities ahead. We are embarking on a transformative period of growth, and we welcome you to join us on this journey. NMSU Dance is committed to fostering an inclusive environment for every aspiring artist.

Contact us today for program and curriculum details, to arrange a campus visit, to take a class, or to schedule your audition.

Ryan P. McMullen

NMSU Dance Program Coordinator

rpmc@nmsu.edu

575-646-2070

Upcoming Performances

Poster for NM State “Fusión de Frontera” dance concert featuring a performer in a deer headpiece holding red maracas, with dates Apr 23–25, 2026 and showtime 7 PM.
Future NMSU Dance Performances 

Efforescence 
Artist Talk and Performance by Samantha Hernandez 
May 6th, 2026 at 6:00pm
Rentfrow Hall Studio Theater

Re-Humanization
Independent Dance Concert by Graven Babe
May 8th, 9th, 2026 at 7:00pm
Rentfrow Hall Studio Theater 

The Collection Showcase 
May 11th, 6:00pm
Rentfrow Hall Studio Theater

Ignite Your Inner Dancer Summer Camp!
Cohosted by NMSU Dance Program and NMSU Stem Summer Outreach 
June 1st-12th 
Rentfrow Hall
All students from Gadsden Independent School District (GISD), Hatch Valley Public Schools (HVPS), and Las Cruces Public Schools (LCPS) exiting grades 4-7 by June 2026.
For more information or help with registration, please contact the STEM Outreach Camps Team at stemoutreachcamps@nmsu.edu or 575-646-1397.

Welcome to the NMSU Dance Program


Mission Statement

The New Mexico State University Dance Program is dedicated to fostering a vibrant artistic community where students develop exceptional skills in performance, discover their unique choreographic voices through innovative choreography, and acquire the pedagogical expertise necessary for impactful teaching. We aim to inspire, educate, and contribute to the cultural landscape of New Mexico and beyond.

 

Program Learning Outcomes:

The NMSU Dance Program will:

1. Offer a well-rounded curriculum in dance technique and theory to provide students with a breadth of knowledge and experience.

2. Help students develop skills beyond dance technique in the areas of composition, pedagogy, communication, and critical reasoning.

3. Provide students with interdisciplinary and co-curricular opportunities, including performances, in support of the values and skills necessary in the field of professional dance.

At the completion of this program, NMSU Dance students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate mastery of the technique, composition, and pedagogy of multiple styles of dance at the advanced level.

2. Understand the anatomy of the human body and its application to both somatic and artistic practices in professional dance and dance education.

3. Contextualize the significant developments and people in the history of Western classical dance as well as practices in dancing cultures around the world, recognizing the impact of the past on the present and valuing the place of the arts and arts education on the modern world.

4. Make connections in the knowledge and skills gleaned from their education in dance to related fields including kinesiology, theatre, design, media, and entrepreneurship.

5. Practice effective and responsible communication, self-assessment, engagement with a community, and advocacy for social justice in demonstration of their personal values.

Dance Program Policies:

· Any NMSU student may be a dance major in the BA program. All students should audition for placement before admission to the program.

· All dance majors must audition for at least 1 performance opportunity every year in which they are enrolled in major’s courses. Dance minors should audition during at least 2 years.

· All dance majors should enroll in at least one dance technique class every semester in which they are full-time, degree-seeking students.

· All students in dance technique, regardless of major, must receive instructor approval to advance to the subsequent level of any technique class, regardless of grade. If sufficient progress is not made, students will be advised to repeat the level for credit.

· Requirements within the dance major must be passed with at least a C- in order to count toward the degree.

Poster for NM State “Fusión de Frontera” dance concert featuring a performer in a deer headpiece holding red maracas, with dates Apr 23–25, 2026 and showtime 7 PM.

To buy tickets for the show, visit https://nmsudepartmentofdance.ludus.com/index.php?show_id=200527188 

 

Future NMSU Dance Performances 

Efforescence 
Artist Talk and Performance by Samantha Hernandez 
May 6th, 2026 at 6:00pm
Rentfrow Hall Studio Theater

Re-Humanization
Independent Dance Concert by Graven Babe
May 8th, 9th, 2026 at 7:00pm
Rentfrow Hall Studio Theater 

The Collection Showcase 
May 11th, 6:00pm
Rentfrow Hall Studio Theater

Ignite Your Inner Dancer Summer Camp!
Cohosted by NMSU Dance Program and NMSU Stem Summer Outreach 
June 1st-12th 
Rentfrow Hall
All students from Gadsden Independent School District (GISD), Hatch Valley Public Schools (HVPS), and Las Cruces Public Schools (LCPS) exiting grades 4-7 by June 2026.
For more information or help with registration, please contact the STEM Outreach Camps Team at stemoutreachcamps@nmsu.edu or 575-646-1397.