Dance Company Information

In residence on the Essex campus, the CCBC Dance Company is under the Artistic Direction of Melinda Blomquist and Associate Director Kristi Schaffner.

The Company holds main-stage performances in the Fall and Spring. The company is also involved in community outreach with local schools. They provide special performances for middle schools and high schools as well as master classes and lecture/demonstrations.

The CCBC Dance Company has a guest artist residency each semester.

Guest artists have included:

Collaboration with Towson University Dance Program: MERGE - Bridging the gap between community college to university to professional.  Through faculty and guest artist works, CCBC and TU Dance Companies share the stage and build connections. 

Auditions

The CCBC Dance Company hold auditions the first Friday of classes each semester at 11:15 am in the Essex Campus Dance Studios. Once accepted, dancers must be concurrently enrolled in at least one modern or ballet technique course and DANC 240 Dance Workshop, which meets on Friday's from 11:15 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. 

Rehearsals for the CCBC Dance Company are typically on Monday's and/or Wednesday's from 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. in addition to the Friday class and rehearsal from 11:15 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Depending on the needs of a choreographer, rehearsals are also at other times as scheduled on an as needed basis each semester.  

Students should come to the audition prepared with availability information and ready to dance in dance attire. There is no need to prepare a solo or other movement combinations prior to the audition.  

Students can create choreography that is adjudicated to be included in the Fall and Spring concerts. 

American College Dance Association

The CCBC Dance Company participates in the American College Dance Association Conferences where students have the opportunity to take master classes with various dance artists and perform in concerts. CCBC has been selected for the Gala Concert in previous conferences. 

Past American College Dance Association conferences have been held at:
  • Wittenberg University — 2019
  • West Chester University — 2018
  • West Virginia University — 2016
  • Towson University — 2015
  • George Mason University — 2014
  • University of North Carolina Greensboro — 2013
  • James Madison University — 2012
  • Muhlenberg College — 2011
  • Mercyhurst College — 2010