Dancers Get a Leg-Up at Manhattan

Manhattan College always has been committed to educating the underserved, those who might not have had the opportunity to attend college because of financial reasons. But now, the College is helping to prepare another group of underserved students achieve their goals of a degree. This group, though a tiny, unique demographic, consists of professional dancers who often can't devote the time to traditional programs of higher education.

And there's a program that is changing that. Liberal Ed ucation for Arts Professionals (LEAP), based at St. Mary's College, in the San Francisco Bay area, specifically is designed for current and former dancers and offers them a Bachelor of Arts. The program, which takes three to four years of part-time study to complete, was founded in 1999 and has since grown to include an outpost in Los Angeles, too. Due to popular demand, LEAP started a New York extension in cooperation with Manhattan College, which began in October 2007.

“It makes sense to be in New York,” says Mark Baird, LEAP program director. Baird, who is a former professional dancer and earned his degree in the program, worked closely with Dr. Mary Ann O'Donnell, dean of the school of arts, to get the program up and running at the College.

Manhattan might seem like an unusual partnership for a program geared toward dancers, especially with other colleges in the vicinity of the dance companies and without a reputable dance program. But the College and St. Mary's share a distinct core of values, which made Manhattan a natural choice for a collaboration.

“It's the Lasallian connection,” O'Donnell says. “The Lasallian issue of bringing education to those who might not have had the opportunity.

Professional dancers start at a young age, Baird explains, and join dance companies typically in their late teens. They can't afford to take time off to attend college during their prime dancing years nor do their rigorous schedules allow for a full load of coursework. However, they need to earn degrees and have career options for when they retire, an inevitable transition that typically happens between the ages of 30-35.

“It's always been impossible for professional dancers to go to college,” says Baird, who spends a lot of time traveling from coast to coast. “This gives them something to move on to afterward.”

LEAP mirrors what other students at St. Mary's and Manhattan are doing for their undergraduate degrees, with a few exceptions. While typical students are taking dance classes and participating in productions, the professional dancers, who come from ballet, modern jazz/tap and ethnic dance companies, as well as theater, TV and film already have done all that. So these students, in a sense, are testing out of those prerequisites and getting credit for their experience.

As part of a cohort, the students take one course per term, which meets 10 times. The courses, which include literature, philosophy, kinesiology and music, at Manhattan College correlate to the St. Mary's syllabus. In the fall, everyone took an English class with Zachary Snider, adjunct instructor of English at Manhattan, and, in the spring, they had music history with Dr. Mark Pottinger, assistant professor of music and chair of the College's fine arts department.

Pottinger, who was approached by O'Donnell, was excited to work with students who already have experience with music and was sold on the program when he heard them tell their stories at the College's orientation at the beginning of the fall semester.

“It's encouraging that they see education as an important part of their lives,” he says. “It's really exciting to realize it's a worthwhile program for us and them.”

In keeping with the program's focus on flexibility, the New York cohort of 21 students (there are 209 enrolled in the program altogether) takes classes at the Hotel Pennsylvania in midtown Manhattan on Sundays, from 6 to 10 p.m. Baird collaborates with company managers before hand and then coordinates with the professors and students to schedule classes. Other coursework, as well as academic services, is offered at the LEAP office in New Jersey.

For Austin Laurent, 24, a dancer with the New York City Ballet, this program “made a lot of sense.” He did some research before applying to LEAP but ultimately chose this program because it offered a flexible schedule and curriculum that was viable to what he wants to do.

He appreciates the different perspectives he gains from the classes, a break from the consuming world of ballet, and the balance that education brings to his life. He also realizes how important a college degree is in the “outside world.”

“There are multiple ways to look at a B.A.,” Laurent says. “It's a starting point, which is a great thing. But once you get a diploma, it opens up options.”

While they take the same core of classes, each student's course of study is individualized, Baird explains. So they can choose electives that correspond to their interests.

“The point of the LEAP program is to allow and encourage students to find new areas of passion,” he says. “They can really focus on something that is meaningful to them.”

For Heather McFadden, 36, a dancer in the Broadway play Phantom of the Opera, her goal is to someday teach at a university. She enrolled in the New York program after looking at other programs but thought LEAP sounded perfect. She likes the idea of being in class with other dancers and the realization that she is working toward an aspiration.

“The whole point is for us to be able to transition into something when we are done with dancing, she says. “I'm becoming a smarter person but also reaching my goal.”

McFadden also says the support and advice she gets from the LEAP staff helped her overcome her intimidation of returning back to school. She's even taking some additional online courses.

Baird adds that some LEAP graduates have gone on to graduate studies in areas such as art history, law and physical therapy.

Right now, though, the students that comprise the New York cohort are enjoying their Manhattan classes and being back in school.

“It's about balancing and focusing on something different,” says Maya Collins, 23, a dancer with the New York City Ballet. “I just want to get the most out of it that I can.”

And the faculty in the school of arts is happy to have them as students.””

It's a really remarkable group of people,” O'Donnell says. “It's a pleasure to have part of their educational experience to attend to. I'm delighted to count them as Manhattan students.”