Myrtle Clancy Knudson (she married in 1937) and Blanche Hayes later established a chapter of Orchesis (a Greek word which means "to dance"), which provided an organization where interested students could receive extra-curricular experience in dance techniques, performance, and choreography. The Utah Orchesis group was one of the first organizations of its type to be established west of the Mississippi. In 1931 the Spring Orchesis Concert was held in the recently completed Kingsbury Hall. Until 1931, all dance performances had been held outdoors. From this time, the Orchesis performances were staged regularly within the theatre.

In 1940 Elizabeth Roths Hayes joined the department to head the dance program. With a pioneering spirit, the young teacher form the East was determined to build a department according to her own vision. In 1941 major changes in the dance curriculum were inaugurated by Hayes. Many courses were added to the Physical Education curriculum. The class initiation and careful implementation by Elizabeth Hayes addressed the need to give professional preparation to prospective teachers in dance methods classes. This was a fruitful period in which the groundwork was laid for the teaching minor offered in dance through the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation in 1944-45.