New Dance Studio Awaits Record-High Class At Rider School Of Fine And Performing Arts

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ — Rider University’s School of Fine and Performing Arts will welcome its historically high incoming class with a new dance studio for the fall semester, the university announced on Wednesday.

“The decision to build a dance studio addressed the needs of our growing dance and musical theatre programs,” Westminster College of the Arts at Rider University Dean Dr. Marshall Onofrio said. “We are celebrating the tenth anniversary of the creation of the College of the Arts this year, so this studio could not come at a better time. Over the past 10 years, Rider has been very responsive in creating new facilities for our arts students.”

Barnes and Noble, the university’s bookstore, was recently able to release space to the university for academic needs. Due to the growth of the fine arts program, the university decided a new dance studio took priority.

The new 2,200 studio will accommodate more than 20 dance majors and 140 musical theater majors. It will feature an open dance room that accommodates around 20 people, an office for faculty, a lobby with lockers and two individual rehearsal spaces for voice students, among other amenities.

“We are very excited about the opening of the dance studio this fall,” Onofrio said. “The studio will allow us to continue to grow our program and deliver more dance courses in a safe environment.”

The new dance studio is one of the many upgrades and renovations occurring at Rider University this summer. Some other renovations happening around Rider’s campus include, among others:

• electrical upgrades to Hill Residence Hall, Ziegler Residence Hall and Gee Residence Hall;
• new ceiling, lights, floors and more on the first floor of Science Hall;
• a new recruiting lounge and academic support center in Maurer Physical Education Center;
• a new roof, interior and exterior painting on P.J. Ciambelli Hall; and
• a renovated Starbucks in the lobby of the Student Recreation Center.

“The more amenities and student conveniences that we can install, the better the atmosphere is for our entire campus community,” Rider University Vice President of Facilities and University operations Mike Reca said. “Part of Rider’s philosophy is to develop a living and learning community to ensure out students and faculty have a quality experience.”

For more information, visit www, rider.edu.

Patch file photo