Interested in the arts? In the first week you're here, Dartmouth will try to convince you that the college has endless resource to offer the arts-inclined student.
That's not far from the truth, but you're probably better off exploring those resources for yourself, instead of trying to glean anything from freshman orientation week -- during which you'll likely experience such sights as a self-respecting museum curator begging you to visit the Hood and free t-shirts with something along the lines of "dARTmouth" printed on them.
Take the initiative during orientation week -- get a feel for the arts Dartmouth has to offer on your own time. Here's a trail guide to get you started.
The Hop
Located on the south side of the Green, The Hopkins Center for the Performing Arts is the hub of artistic pursuits at Dartmouth. Inside are the drama, music and studio art departments, and the film department is nearby.
The Hop is where you'll go to see most films. How do you know what's playing? For your convenience, the Dartmouth Film Society prints up thousands upon thousands of fliers each term touting the latest film series. The series feature a good mix of recent hits, classics and obscurities you might not have had an opportunity to see before, all united by a single theme (for instance, this spring's films were all masterpieces of editing).
The films usually take place in Spaulding Auditorium, which also welcomes a steady flow of music performers. This past year audiences listened to artists from classical, jazz, choral, international and other realms.
The Moore Theater is where dramatic pieces are performed, often by Dartmouth's own Drama department -- recent shows include works by Shakespeare and Chekhov. Dance ensembles are another frequent visitor to Moore, both the Dartmouth Dance Ensemble and guests such as the Paul Taylor Dance Company.
Other destinations in the Hop include the small galleries, which house frequently rotated exhibits by students and visiting artists alike. In the basement, you'll find the music practice rooms and the music library, along with the student workshops.
The Hood
The Hood Museum of Art houses much of Dartmouth's collection of fine paintings, sculpture and other artwork. The exhibits range from Rembrandt to O'Keeffe to African folk art. Aside from the permanent installations, each term the Hood will create temporary exhibitions that touch on specific themes in art -- a "kinetic art" showcase was particularly well-received last winter.
Also in the Hood is Loew Auditorium -- or "Loews," as some misguided film professors and Hop staffers insist upon calling it. When classes are in session, the Loew features a movie every Thursday as part of term-long series that are similar in spirit to the more popular DFS showings but tend to show more obscure, hard-to-find films.
(The real fun in the Loew is sneaking something to eat or drink inside. If you do this in clear daylight, you will have a thrilling experience as one of the Hood guards swoop down from their museum above and rain hellfire upon you in the form of a stern reprimand.)
Outside Dartmouth
Moviegoers should be satisfied by the local theater options, for aside from the DFS and Loew series, you can check out nearly all the latest releases at movie houses nearby.
The Nugget is a short walk down Main Street in Hanover; it has four relatively small but comfortable theaters and is generally a good place to go to avoid noisy children and other disturbances you find in the usual multiplex.
A little farther away (about a 10-minute drive) is Sony Theaters in West Lebanon, which is the place to go when you want to see the latest Hollywood blockbuster, something the Nugget often lacks.
Getting Involved
Ready to show your talent? Dartmouth's countless students groups in the arts make it easy for you to make your own art.
First of all, if you like to sing, good lord have you come to the right place. To put it mildly, there are a great deal of a cappella groups, each with its own distinctive tone and reputation. These groups include, but are not limited to, three male groups, The Aires, The Cords and Final Cut; three female groups; The Decibelles, The Rockapellas and The Subtleties; and co-ed groups The Dodecaphonics, X.ado and Kol Koreh Bamidbar.
The Gospel Choir, Chamber Singers and the Handel Society provide some contrast with more traditional fare, and what college could be without a glee club? Our glee club provides musical fare at many traditional ceremonies and gives a concert each term.
It's hard to believe there'd be anybody left, I know, but there are plenty of Dartmouth students who are musically inclined despite a lack of singing abilities. These talented folks make up the Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra, the Wind Symphony, the Barbary Coast Jazz Ensemble, the Marching Band and other musical groups.
Dancers can check out the Dance Ensemble or less "official" groups such as Fusion, which combines tap and ballet, or Sheba, a popular hip-hop troupe.
Create a physical work of art in the aforementioned student workshops, which include facilities for pottery, jewelry and woodworking. Tutorials are held at the beginning of each term to get you acquainted with the tools you'll be using -- after that, your creativity leads the way.
There are a plethora of options for the performer, composer, crafter side of you, so explore them when you arrive on campus. And don't be afraid to jump right in -- this is the time and the place to do it.
