How This Idea Came About in 2015
I am an MFA student in the new low-residency program at Saint Mary's College of California*. This week in our production practicum meeting, we were talking about dance reviews for graduate level performances – how often does this kind of writing happen, who writes the reviews, and how can this be a positive and productive piece of dance writing for dancers in a learning setting. How should these reviews differ from ones in the newspaper?
I got really excited and curious about this concept. I am taking on this website as an experiment. While I myself am a performer and teaching artist, I also am a dance writer and passionate about the numerous roles of writing – and writing on the internet – within the field of dance in 2015. Please join me on this adventure!
The intention of the website is to provide critical, stimulating, and inspiring dialogue around MFA dance performances at colleges and universities.
The 4-Fold Purpose of the Website
1. For MFA Students: This website will provide feedback, share audience experiences (intersubjectivity), and most importantly inspire MFA students to research, learn, grow, edit, and create.
2. For Emerging Dance Writers: Whether a college undergraduate/graduate student in English, Creative Writing, or Dance, the project provides an opportunity to write and publish online. New writers of all ages – not just students – can contribute to the site.
3. For Prospective MFA Students: The website will become a searchable resource as you research various MFA programs and opportunities.
4. For MFA Programs: MFA Dance in Review is a great way to widely share information about your program and to archive details about past performances that your own students can reference as they develop their future MFA concerts.
How to Submit Writing
The website will post any reviews of MFA performances within 2 months after a performance takes place. You can submit a review anytime of year.
All writing submitted must be edited and "print ready." Only 1 space between sentences please.
Writers should submit their review, 1-2 photos (with dancers' names and photographers' names), and a brief writer bio.
All submitted writing will be reviewed. Writing will not be accepted if the content is overly negative, counter to the mission of the website, or if the writing needs substantial editing.
For more information or to submit writing, please email Project Director Jill Randall at randalldanceprojects@gmail.com.
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*Please note that even though I am an MFA student at Saint Mary's College of California, this website is independent of the program. Content on the website does not represent the dance department at Saint Mary's College.
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MFA Dance in Review 
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