The School for Classical & Contemporary Dance (SCCDance) will celebrate its 75th anniversary this November, showcasing the program’s distinguished history, bright future and its role in cultivating artists and leaders in dance and beyond.
With an alumni network dating back to the 1950s, SCCDance graduates from each decade have contributed to diverse endeavors within and beyond the field of dance. We spoke with SCCDance alumna Bethany Kendrick ’23 about how her experiences at TCU have shaped her career and personal growth.
A Foundation of Creativity and Resilience
As a Ballet and Modern Dance major at SCCDance, Kendrick describes her time at TCU as transformative, building a strong foundation of work ethic and resilience that have been instrumental in her professional career as a company artist with Contemporary West Dance Theatre in Las Vegas.
Bethany Kendrick ’23
“The high expectations placed on students and faculty alike pushed me to perform at my best consistently,” Kendrick shared. “This rigorous environment prepared me for principal roles and shaped me into a confident, capable woman. The mentorship from the faculty instilled in me a sense of success and authority, opening doors to leadership positions within my profession. These experiences have prepared me not only for the challenges of dance but for any career path I choose to pursue in the future.”
Kendrick’s journey was shaped by personal challenges, including the impact of the pandemic and a broken foot. The pandemic forced her to adapt to remote learning, which sharpened her creativity and resilience. Meanwhile, her injury sidelined her physically but strengthened her focus on teaching, musicality and body awareness, as well as injury prevention. Both experiences, she said, deepened her love for dance and taught her adaptability and perseverance as a performer.
As a double major, choreography classes were a requirement, yet Kendrick initially struggled with feeling confident in her creative work. During one particularly frustrating day, she asked Professor Susan Douglas Roberts for a break. To her surprise, Roberts suggested they take a walk together.
As they walked in silence around Erma Lowe Hall, Kendrick eventually opened up, expressing feelings of inadequacy in choreography. She felt her knowledge and ideas didn’t match up to her peers, and she was taking too long to put movements together.
“Professor Roberts’ response has stayed with me to this day: ‘Bethany, this is where you choreograph from. Use what you have and what you know. It’s perfect for where you are now.’”