Faculty Profile: Carol Fike
Since coming to Alma in 1984, Carol Fike, professor of dance and director of the Alma College Dance Company, has developed and expanded Alma’s dance program along with enlightening the community and student body about dance appreciation. Her dedication and expertise has turned the Fall and Winter term dance concerts into huge campus and community events that are sold out well in advance.
“Over the years our reputation has grown and our work speaks for itself,” Fike said. “The company has gotten better and better. My philosophy is that everyone can dance and I love when they come and take my classes. Our focus is on the company, but we have hundreds of students that take the beginning classes each year.”
In addition to providing excellent dance concerts on campus, Fike expands exposure to dance by taking students to high-name recognition dance concerts within Michigan and, during Spring Term courses, to New York and London. Her interest in providing new dance experiences for students has been shown with the visitation of guest artists to work with the Dance Company. In turn, she has been a guest choreographer and performer at other colleges and universities.
“Our students benefit from outside professionals. They get used to having different teachers. In a small community it is important to bring in outside artists who are working and making it in the dance world,” Fike said. She continues to be interested in the creative process, encouraging students to find their own voices as they discover dance for themselves. “It has been a wonderful career, I love working with the students and really enjoy the process of creating dance. It’s not so much for the end product, it’s the process that’s genuine. I love the student interaction, that’s what has kept me going.”
Experienced in performing professionally in New York and London, she received her bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Brockport and her M.F.A in dance from the University of North Carolina, at Greensboro.
