Washington and Lee University
Major: Business Administration
Extracurricular Involvement:
Off-Campus Experiences:
Favorite Class: Dance 225-Intermediate Contemporary Modern Dance
Favorite W&L Event: Buffalo Creek Music Festival
Favorite Lexington Landmark: Chessie Trail
I had no idea what I wanted to major in when I started college. Everything intrigued me, but I did not have a clue what I really wanted to focus on for the next four years. During my freshmen year, I became very interested in the Williams School of Commerce and eventually declared myself a business administration major. I delved into business, accounting and economics classes, but something was missing. I needed a creative outlet.
As I registered for class sophomore year, I noticed that a completely new genre of courses in dance was being offered. Having grown up dancing, I was thrilled to see the University was finally offering classes in this field. I enrolled, but was also a little nervous. Would a college dance course be too challenging for me? I anxiously walked into my first day of class, not knowing what to expect. I was greeted with an incredibly welcoming, intelligent professor, Jenefer Davies, who described the books, exercises and techniques we would learn throughout the semester. I left class ecstatic, eagerly looking forward to our next meeting.
I joined the W&L Repertory Dance Company in January of my sophomore year. My schedule is now filled with classes and rehearsals, but I manage my work much more wisely knowing that I only have a limited amount of time to complete everything. The dance program has given me the opportunity to study--and occasionally interact with--influential choreographers of our time. The company has also allowed me to make friends that I would otherwise never have known; it has brought together a diverse group of people who share a common bond in their love of dance. The W&L Repertory Dance Company has accomplished a tremendous amount since its formation only a few years ago. Additional dance courses have been added to the curriculum, progress towards an official dance major has been made, and support from the community for the company has grown.
Dance is something that I truly love, and it has made my liberal arts experience at Washington and Lee especially robust. Without my involvement in dance, most of my days would consist of business courses in the Williams School. Dance has enhanced my creative processes, which has been greatly beneficial in all of my courses. The growing dance program has allowed me to continue a life-long interest, while simultaneously expressing myself and relieving stress. I look forward to rehearsals, to the challenge of perfecting someone's choreography. The unique balance I have found between my business major and dance classes has made my experience at Washington and Lee especially rewarding.
