Art

Tour the Sharon Disney Lund School of Dance at CalArts

CalArts (California Institute of the Arts)
CalArts (California Institute of the Arts)•Mar 6, 2026

Why It Matters

By exposing prospective students to adaptable performance venues and hands‑on production training, CalArts positions its dance graduates to thrive in a competitive, interdisciplinary arts industry.

Key Takeaways

  • •Blackbox theater seats 130, reconfigurable for larger productions.
  • •Flexible studio spaces support ballet, hip‑hop, contemporary, and composition.
  • •Outdoor backyard used for site‑specific choreography and inspiration.
  • •Student production team gains hands‑on experience in sound and lighting.
  • •Interdisciplinary collaborations occur throughout campus, beyond dance facilities.

Summary

The video offers a guided walkthrough of the Sharon Disney Lund School of Dance at CalArts, led by program director Rosanna Tvarez. It showcases the campus’s performance and rehearsal spaces, highlighting how the school integrates academic training with real‑world production experience.

Central to the tour is the 130‑seat black‑box theater, whose movable seating doubles the performance area and doubles as a projection space for dance films. Adjacent studios feature natural light, views of California’s foliage, and host a range of classes—from ballet and hip‑hop to contemporary composition. An outdoor backyard extends the learning environment, enabling site‑specific work that leverages the region’s climate.

Student Macy, a second‑year BFA, demonstrates the production hub within the theater, pointing out the sound‑design workstation and lighting board where students collaborate on shows. She emphasizes the value of learning to communicate across technical teams and the hands‑on exposure that prepares graduates for professional stages.

The school’s flexible spaces and interdisciplinary ethos encourage students to experiment, transform venues, and stage intimate performances anywhere on campus. This model cultivates versatile creators who can adapt to varied artistic contexts, making CalArts a compelling incubator for emerging dance talent.

Original Description

The Sharon Disney Lund School of Dance at CalArts is a place to develop your individual artistic identity within a supportive, interdisciplinary, and experimental community. The school emphasizes using the body as a tool for exploration, and encourages students to build a unique creative voice through direct collaboration with faculty who are active professionals and peers from across the Institute.
About the Sharon Disney Lund Dance Theater:
The Sharon Disney Lund Dance Theater is a dedicated performance space built specifically for dance. It features a 50 x 70-foot stage with state-of-the-art, wall-to-wall L’Air sprung flooring covered with seamless black Lonstage.
The theater has retractable seating that can be configured for different production needs, typically holding 100–125 people but capable of expanding to 250. The theater’s cyclorama consists of a 20 x 40-foot white muslin bounce drop, a 20 x 40-foot black sharkstooth scrim on a traveler track, and black duvetyne side and top masking.
The space is also equipped with a full catwalk grid, a comprehensive sound system, a video projector, and a control booth with lighting and audio production.
About the Dance Studios:
The school has five dedicated studio spaces. The three largest studios are 36 x 50 feet each, featuring high ceilings, natural light, and sprung floors. They are equipped with wall-mounted and portable barres, pianos, and sound and video playback equipment.
A smaller fourth studio supports more intimate work, and a fifth studio, shared with the School of Theater, includes a marley-covered sprung floor specifically for composition classes.
Other facilities include:
• Pilates Studio: A fully carpeted studio with a mirrored wall and a full range of equipment, including reformers, trapeze tables, and a treadmill.
• Digital Lab: A computer lab with iMacs loaded with industry-standard software such as Logic Pro and Final Cut Pro for sound production and video editing.
• Dressing Rooms: Two secure, keycard-access dressing rooms with lighted mirror stations, showers, restrooms, and costume areas.
Learn about our Dance program: https://calarts.edu/dance
Learn more about our Dance facilities here: https://calarts.edu/dance/dance-facilities
See CalArts School of Dance content at: https://www.instagram.com/calarts.music
Follow CalArts on social:
#CalArts #SchoolOfDance #ModernDance #ContemporaryDance #DanceStudios #Choreography #DanceStudio #DancerLife

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