Dance (BFA)

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) encompasses extensive study in the four areas of the Dance curriculum, technique, performance, creative practice, and theory and requires 120-credit hours in Dance. It is designed for students who seek a professional career in the field of dance dance and plan to make it their primary focus in college. The BFA degree allows the flexibility to pursue a minor in another area of study and, depending on the number of credits earned prior to entering UO, a student might be able to double major. In addition to dance courses, there are classes required by the university (Core Education Requirements) that all students must take to graduate, which are outlined at this website.  The BFA requires an audition process. More information on the department and the audition process can be found at this website. 

Mission Statement

Our mission is to promote creative and expressive agency, cultural investigation, and historical inquiry in a welcoming and rigorous environment. The curriculum interweaves a multiplicity of movement practices, choreographic approaches, and theoretical lenses to embolden students to amplify dance as a vital signifier of the human condition. We believe in supporting students in meeting the physicality required to develop technical proficiencies, in finding the dedication needed to establish a self-reflexive creative practice, and in building confidence in the transformative possibilities of their artistic voice.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Synthesize a multiplicity of movement practices through immersion in diverse dance forms, performance, creative practice, and theory.
• Contextualize and understand dance as a vital signifier of the human condition through cultural investigation and historical inquiry.
• Cultivate a self reflexive creative practice
• Understand theoretically based aspects of dance including music, dance science (anatomy and kinesiology), history and culture, pedagogy, and production of dance.
• Communicate the social and cultural significance of dance through effective writing, speaking, embodied practice, and creative inquiry.

.

Courses required for a dance major must be taken for letter grades when that option is available. A grade of P* must be earned in courses designated pass/no pass (P/N) only.

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance

¹

Students must complete:

• 22 upper-division credits
• 4 courses in African
• 5 courses in Ballet
• 5 courses in Contemporary
• 4 courses in Hip Hop
• 2 courses in Diaspora
• 3 courses in Advanced Movement Practice (DAN 494)

²

DAN 408 may be substituted. Please contact your Dance advisor for more information.

³

3 credits in Fall, 2 credits in Winter, and 2 credits in Spring = 7 total credits.

⁴

1 credit in Fall, 1 credit in Winter, and 2 credits in Spring = 4 total credits

Four-Year Degree Plan

The degree plan shown is only a sample of how students may complete their degrees in four years. There are alternative ways. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best path for them.

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance