Kelly Zitka’s gigs once included dance numbers, not acting or singing. These days, Zitka is focusing on all three to extend her reach in New York City.
By Diamond Victoria
Launching from the classroom to the Big Apple, Meadows alumna Kelly Zitka knows that perseverance and a little spontaneity can help to find footing in the world of performance art.
The dance and business major now calls New York home, and is learning more about the world of dance theater through rigorous training and auditioning. Staying in New York for good, however, was never part of her original plan. But with growing insight into her art, Zitka is betting that risking uncertainty can pay off.
The blog OnStage ranked SMU Meadows School of the Arts’ division of dance number three in the list of the top 10 B.F.A. dance programs in the United States. Last year, our dance bachelor of fine arts program reached number seven on the same list.
In addition to campus facilities, students also have opportunities to dance in professional Dallas arts district venues such as the fabulous Winspear Opera House, Annette Strauss Square, Montgomery Arts Theatre at Booker T. Washington HSPVA and the new City Performance Hall. Features a partnership with Texas Ballet Theater, the largest, critically acclaimed, fully professional resident classical ballet company of North Texas, serving more than 100,000 individuals from diverse communities across North Texas.
The Division of Dance offers professional dance training within the context of a comprehensive liberal arts education. The goal is to develop the disciplined, versatile dance artist through a balanced study of ballet, modern dance and jazz dance techniques, complemented and reinforced by a broad range of theoretical studies and performance opportunities. The program provides an atmosphere in which students are nurtured and stimulated in their quest for artistic achievement, technical mastery and scholarly excellence.
One of the top universities offering both conservatory dance instruction and liberal arts education, the SMU Meadows Division of Dance develops disciplined, versatile artists through professional training in ballet, modern and jazz. Undergraduates can earn a B.F.A. in Dance Performance or a minor in Dance Performance.
Early in May, the SMU Division of Dance will present their annual spring show that features work straight from the student’s minds. It features works choreographed and produced by the senior class of 2017.
Before the show, check out this excellent teaser from former Meadows student Ace Anderson. The SMU Senior Dance Concert is five bucks for reserved seating, and students who are rushing may earn free admittance. The shows run Thursday, May 4 through Sunday May 7. Find our SMU Meadows calendar for complete listings.
