Student Success Stories
Get inspired by our recent students as they start inventing their futures. Learn more about their experiences here at Dal and Halifax's performing arts community.
Dr. Becca Babcock, Assistant Dean, Student Matters for the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) sat down for a conversation with students Kriti Maini and Jeremie Boudreau to learn about their programs, experiences, and favourite things about student life in the arts, social sciences and performing arts at ±«Óătv University and why they think students should consider applying to FASS at Dal.
August 27, 2024: A Q & A with 2024 alum Lucas Arab
Q: Most rewarding part of your time here at the Fountain School?
A: In my final year at the Fountain School, I was able to complete a professional mentorship where I was chosen to be the Assistant Set Designer on the Neptune Theatre and Mirvish production of Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead, starring Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan, working with set designer Andrew Cull. I had worked with Andrew at Neptune previously, and he was generous enough to trust me with such a large-scale assistantship.
I had the opportunity to oversee every element of the “page to stage” process, and even design a few small elements of the set myself. The show played in Halifax and Toronto, and was the most rewarding experience I have ever had working on a production. The opportunity was unique, challenging, fulfilling and put plainly, the coolest.
July 5, 2024: Alum Sophie Jacome returns (Dal Alumni Spotlights)
This past academic year, Jacome (BA'19) returned to the ±«Óătv's Sir James Dunn Theatre, where she spent so many hours as a student. This time it was as a playwright to work with Fountain School students on the stage production of Jacome's play Euripidaristophanize – a project that allowed her to tie in elements from her arts degree.
May 28, 2024 Grad profile: A dramatic awakening (DalNews)
Daniel onstage in DalTheatre's 2024 production Euripidaristophanize. (photo: Kate Hayter)
Daniel Nwobi graduates from Dal this week with a honours degree in theatre, which may seem a stretch from his interest in science and robotics while in high school in Nigeria.
“I wasn't a theater kid,” says Daniel. “I was very science-focused before I got to Dal, and had not done any acting.”
Daniel’s shift in focus began one day after watching the Marvel movie Antman (yes, the one staring Paul Rudd) and decided he wanted to become an actor.
May 28, 2024 Grad Profile Q & A with Nicole Regalado Santivanez
Nicole with Fountain School faculty Shannon Brownlee during our convocation reception.
Nicole Regalado Santivanez is a 2024 ±«Óătv graduate, receiving a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Cinema and Media Studies, and Creative Writing.
"I've always known I wanted to be in art and specifically in film. I did dance and theater when I was little and really loved the stage. But in high school I discovered I could write. My focus shifted from wanting to be an actress to wanting to be the one creating these different worlds in fiction and film."
May 28, 2024 Grad profile: Grad profile: Embracing her twin passions (DalNews)
Louisa performing in Dal's Historical Dress Presentation, 2024 (photo: Kate Hayter)
This May Louisa is receiving a Combined Honours bachelor’s degree in Costume Studies and Law, Justice & Society from Dal after starting her university journey in British Columbia.
“One day I saw the words Costume Studies on Dal’s website.”
Law school had been Louisa’s plan all through high school, so seeing Dal had a strong Costume Studies and Law program sealed the deal. Louisa called her Mama and said, “I think I’m transferring to Dal and moving across the country to Halifax.” Her mom replied, “Well yeah, it’s Costume Studies, you have to do that.” Together, they then enjoyed a back-to-school shopping trip to Fabricland while the reality of this big change set in.
May 28, 2024 Grad profile Q & A with Samantha Fullerton
Samantha performing in DalSymphony's 2024 Concerto Night (photo Kate Hayter)
After four years of intensive study at ±«Óătv’s Fountain School of Performing Arts, Samantha Fullerton is receiving her Bachelor of Music, with a concentration in Vocal Performance.
"I've been taking singing lessons since I was nine years old, but I've only been focused on classical singing, and more specifically opera, since I was in 9th grade. It was something I could see myself doing as a career."
"±«Óătv is one of the few programs that has undergraduate opera opportunities – that was one of the big draws I had to the program. I found that, particularly this past year, it gave incredible insight and experience into what an operatic career is like."
May 28, 2024 Grad profile Q & A with Emma Lamont
2024 Fountain School graduate Emma Lamont will spend her summer at , an award-winning professional theatre company in residence at the Ross Creek Centre for the Arts as their new production assistant, drawing on the skills and experience she gained at Dal’s technical theatre program.
"I've always been a big theatre lover. I grew up in a family of artists. From a very young age I was exposed to art in all sorts of ways, but especially theater. I've always been someone who likes to be around art as it's being created."