For the love of performing — UI senior reflects on lessons learned as a dance major

The Argonaut Lisa Nikssarian, a senior in the dance program at the University of Idaho, transferred from California and has since advanced her knowledge and passion for dance in Moscow.
Nikssarian said she has been dancing since she was four years old and it has been something she has always loved.
She chose to come to the University of Idaho because of the dance program and its emphasis on the science side of dance.
“I knew I wanted to be a dance major,” Nikssarian said. “What’s awesome about the dance program here is that it’s a bachelor of science, so it’s more kinesiology-based and focuses more on your body and technique.”
While the science is helpful and important, Nikssarian said it was the most difficult part of the major.
“The hardest part would definitely be all the science classes we have to take,” she said. “It’s a blessing and a curse, its hard but so helpful.”
Nikssarian said she considered following in her mother’s footsteps as a fashion major, but picked dance because she loved moving.
“Picking a degree and deciding what I want to do with my future, I could never see myself sitting in a cubicle in an office on a computer,” she said.
Nikssarian said the UI dance program is helpful not only because of the scientific aspect but also because of the opportunity to learn many genres of dance.
“I’ve grown as a dancer knowing the science behind it and focusing on the anatomy,” she said. “But I have also grown just by trying the different genres of dance.”
Since she came to UI, Nikssarian has been active in the Dancers Drummers Dreamers (DDD) concert held by the dance and music programs.
“I ended up transferring here halfway through my sophomore year and I didn’t know anyone but my teachers told ...


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