Saint Anselm College is well known in the Manchester community for its participation and excellence in the arts. The Dana Center is home to the performing arts and has recently taken to expanding the repertoire of what is offered to the student body and local community.
The Dana Center partners with many campus institutions, namely the Chapel Arts Center, the Gregory J. Grappone Humanities Institute, the Aaron Tolson Institute of Dance, and the Abbey Players to encourage a passion for the arts within the Manchester community.
Joseph Deleault, the director of the Dana Center, says, “We offer music, theater, and dance across multiple disciplines and are an integral part of the liberal arts education.” A liberal arts education seeks to cultivate empathy within the student community and foster creativity and compassion upon their entering the workforce. Deleault believes that “the arts are essential for human development and growth, mentally and spiritually. Art is the universal language of the world, and we find a passion in the arts through the power of healing and imagination.” This season offers countless opportunities to “keep the campus abuzz with excitement for the arts.” Music fans will be excited to know that a popular artist is coming to campus this spring. Students are encouraged to follow updates from the Dana Center for future information.
One new development on campus is the Aaron Tolson Institute of Dance, a Manchester native known for his involvement in Broadway, the 1992 U.S. Olympic Trials, and being both author and television show host. Though talented, Tolson’s roots are humble. Tolson says, “I was a child actor. . .My sister was already a dancer and I was a ‘studio brother.’ I was the kid who was always there because I had to be. One week my mother told me I was going to start dancing. Then I did! At first, it was something I had to do. Then dance moved me in a way I never knew anything could.”
This new partnership between the Dana Center and the Aaron Tolson Institute of Dance can now bolster support for the arts at a time when a liberal arts education is declining in popularity. Prospective students, quality on-campus opportunities, and good entertainment are all on the docket for the future of Saint Anselm College. “I have the ability now to bring dance to southern NH in a way I never could have without Saint Anselm College. It’s a beautiful place to visit and a beautiful place to work,” Tolson says. However, he expects challenges along the way. “Anything worth doing does not come easy. We will take small steps to constantly work towards a very big goal.”
After a successful 75th season last year under new director Jesse Saywell, the Anselmian Abbey Players are planning to take the stage once again with shows like 12 Angry Jurors, Saywell Sings, and Guys & Dolls.
“On a personal level, Guys & Dolls was the first show I did as a college student, so it feels like a ‘full circle’ moment to be directing it now at Saint Anselm,” Saywell says.
“Last year I was determined to establish an inclusive culture and set a standard for the quality of shows that we’re going to produce,” he says. “This year my focus is on trying to broaden our audience, both on campus and in the surrounding community. The goal, of course, is to put on fantastic performances that showcase the incredible talent of Saint Anselm students.”
The Abbey Players partners with the Dana Center to offer accessible live theater on campus with plenty of opportunities for student engagement. Theater not only has a positive influence on students but on director Jesse Saywell as well. He says that “last year definitely reinforced my belief that theater has the power to have a positive impact on an entire campus.” Opportunities in the arts are available to students with no prior experience and are not limited to courses.
The essence of Saint Anselm is perfectly captured within the arts. Saywell says, “I’m not usually one that buys into catchphrases, but I can’t help but believe that the Abbey Players exemplify what it means to have ‘Anselmian Spirit.’”