By Fatima Salinas 

After decades in Halsey Hall, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences' Department of Dance is preparing to move into its new home in the renovated and former University of Iowa Museum of Art this August. 

With years of planning and renovation, the new building offers updated studios, modern technology, improved accessibility, and welcoming spaces for students to learn, rehearse, and connect.  

“While Halsey Hall is a building with a rich history on our campus, it lacks a modern HVAC system and is not ADA accessible. The new building will provide well-lit, air-conditioned, state-of-the-art studios in which our students and faculty can pursue their artistry in safety and comfort," Joshua Weiner, associate dean for research and infrastructure, said. 

For Jennifer Kayle, department executive officer and professor, the move is about more than a new building. It's also about the future of the department. 

"The discipline of dance has over a century of history at the University of Iowa," Kayle said. "With this move into a gorgeous, state-of-the-art building, we are laying a foundation for the next hundred years." 

Students will have access to five dance studios, a digital projects lab, updated faculty offices, climate-controlled instructional spaces, and upgraded technology. Large projection systems and improved lighting will also support choreography that incorporates digital media and multimedia performance. 

"We've become much more involved in media production, photography, and technology over the years," said Alan Murdock, facilities and scheduling specialist for the Department of Dance. "Having those resources built into the studios gives students even more opportunities to explore new ways of creating work." 

The building also expands the spaces students have to study, rehearse, and spend time together between classes. Instead of relying on a small gathering space or a single study table in a busy lobby, undergraduate and graduate students will have access to lounge areas, commons spaces, warm-up areas, and additional seating throughout the building. A centralized office suite will also give faculty more opportunities to connect and communicate throughout the day. 

"Students will finally have spaces where they can stay in the building throughout the day instead of leaving between classes," said Maggie Vogel, CLAS's facilities manager. "That will make a big difference in building community." 

Kayle said the new building will help the department continue to grow while giving students more opportunities to learn and create. 

Located near the new School of Art, Art History, and Design, Department of Theatre Arts, and Hancher Auditorium, the building will also make it easier for students to work with other arts programs. The costume shop, which is housed in that building, will remain there, creating additional opportunities for collaboration between dance and theatre. 

Department leaders also believe the new building will help attract future students. 

"We want students to walk into a space that represents who we are today," Weiner said. "This building helps us do that." 

Construction on the project began in 2025 following nearly two years of planning and design. The approximately $12 million renovation was supported in part through the university's Public-Private Partnership (P3) initiative, which invests funding from the university's partnership with ENGIE into strategic campus improvements. 

For Murdock, who earned a bachelor of arts in dance at Iowa in 1986 before returning to the department this year, the move reflects how much the program has evolved. 

"I think it shows the university's commitment to the arts," Murdock said. "The program has continued to grow—not only in its facilities, but in the diversity of what students can study and the ways they can express themselves through dance." 

The move also comes during a milestone year for the department. In 2026, the Department of Dance celebrates the 50th anniversary of its Bachelor of Arts. The department will begin moving into the new building in early August, with classes starting there this fall. The move will be followed by a ribbon-cutting celebration and opportunities for alumni and community members to explore the new space.