The old art museum was opened on Sept. 24 to the public for the first time since the 2008 flood as the new home of the dance department.

The space transforms the university’s former art museum into a renewed campus destination.

The University of Iowa Department of Dance has moved into a newly renovated facility at 150 N. Riverside Drive, the former art museum building, featuring five studios, digital arts and motion capture spaces, and an informal performance venue, with a dedication ceremony set for September 24, 2026. Department Executive Officer Jennifer Kayle called it "a brand new era," while Assistant Provost Andre Perry noted the location creates an "arts neighborhood" alongside the university's other arts programs.

The University of Iowa's Dance Department is moving from Halsey Hall to a renovated space in the former Museum of Art building, with an opening ceremony set for September 24, 2026. The new facility offers five studios, better flooring, climate control, and natural light, upgrades faculty say will expand the program's teaching capacity, even as some, like longtime staff and students tied to Halsey Hall, feel the loss of that history.

The International ScreenDance Festival celebrated its eleventh year at FilmScene at The Chauncey on August 29, 2026, showcasing 11 films from nine countries that blend choreography with cinematic techniques like editing and camera angles. The festival was founded by University of Iowa dance professor Eloy Barragán, who has directed it since its inception, and has been organized for the past five years by Emily Trapnell, a third-year Dance BFA student at the University of Iowa.

MFA student Yoshito Sakuraba looks beyond movement to explore what shapes the experience of dance.

CLAS's most popular articles from the summer of 2026 share a theme: people and ideas thrive with the right support. From humanities research funding to mathematics outreach, these stories show how expertise, mentorship, and community create new possibilities across CLAS and beyond.