Lisa Drew

About Lisa

Why did you choose this program?

I was drawn to HSU's dance department because I really wanted the experience of learning and growing in a smaller arts program. I knew that a smaller program would provide me with opportunities to grow my resume/CV while completing my education. Further, knowing that this program was interdisciplinary was a huge benefit, as it allowed me to really expand my potential as a choreographer.

How did this program prepare you for your job?

This program helped me realize my calling to become a dance educator. I always loved performing, but HSU's Dance Department exposed to me so many other facets of dance that I had no knowledge of or experience with. The opportunities to choreograph, cast, and design our own original works helped me understand the importance of intent behind dance-making and how to translate my own movement onto other bodies. I also got to work closely with several of the professors at HSU to expand my knowledge with dance science, somatic practices (mind-body connectivity), and teaching. After leaving this program, I was so inspired to keep learning and growing as an artist and educator that I decided to continue my education and received my Master of Fine Arts degree in Dance from Arizona State University. I truly would not have had the confidence to do so without my training at HSU.

What did you enjoy most about the program?

I most enjoyed the opporuntity to be fully emersed and involved in performance opportunities. Not only could students perform in mainstage productions, but we could also showcase our own choreography, design our lights and costuming, and even help with marketing and production. HSU's Dance Department truly prepares dance performers, choreographers, and educators for the realities of arts production post-college and helped me enter into future job interviews with a greater sense of confidence with these skills and experience.

What would you say to prospective students who are thinking about applying to this program?

HSU is such a great place to grow and become a unique artist, but HSU's dance program is truly a wonderful place to discover your true passions and expand your possibilities for your future. Many people say that you can't make a career out of the arts, but you absolutely can, and HSU is one of the best places to learn to do so. The small class sizes mean that you have immense opportunities to perform in productions, choreograph your own work, and collaborate with other fields—and these opportunities are definitely not as common at larger universities.