Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance
The Department of Dance offers curricula leading to bachelor of fine arts (BFA), bachelor of arts (BA) or bachelor of science (BS) degrees. The goal of the department is to provide comprehensive dance training within the liberal arts framework of the university. The study of dance involves intellectual, artistic, and physical development. The Department of Dance emphasizes all three areas of growth, a commitment made possible by the breadth of its curricular offerings and the depth of faculty expertise.
Facility with oral and written communication is one goal of a liberal arts education. Therefore, dance majors pursue a course of study to acquire a firm intellectual grasp of the theoretical, historical, and creative forces that shape dance as an art form.
Dance, unique in that it is also a physical form of communication, requires continual experience in its technical foundations. Students are expected and encouraged to experience a variety of forms of dance training and idioms. Production and pedagogy are also integral to the undergraduate core, because many students find careers in theater and teaching.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Technique 1 | 42 | |
| Contemporary I | ||
| Contemporary II | ||
| Contemporary III | ||
| Ballet I | ||
| Ballet II | ||
| Ballet III | ||
| Hip Hop I | ||
| Hip Hop II | ||
| Hip Hop III | ||
| African I | ||
| African II | ||
| Special Studies: [Topic] | ||
| Special Studies: [Topic] | ||
| Special Studies: [Topic] | ||
| Advanced Movement Practice (Three Times) | ||
| Performance | 27 | |
| Dance Loft Performance | ||
| Student Dance Concert Performance | ||
| Workshop: [Topic] | ||
| Dema African Performance Ensemble: [Topic] (Three Times) | ||
| DAN 480 Faculty Dance Concert Performance | 2 | |
| Student Dance Collective: [Topic] (Three Times) | ||
| Creative Practice | 14 | |
| Dance Improvisation: [Topic] | ||
| Contact Improvisation: [Topic] | ||
| Dance Composition I | ||
| Dance Composition II | ||
| Student Dance Concert | ||
| Dance Composition III | ||
| Theory | 50 | |
| First Year Seminar: [Topic] (Three Times) | ||
| Screendance: History and Theory | ||
| Looking at Dance | ||
| Dance Production I | ||
| DAN 256 Dance Somatics | 3 | |
| Musical Elements of Dance | ||
| Anatomy of Human Movement | ||
| African Dance Aesthetics | ||
| Dance Production II | ||
| Dance Kinesiology | ||
| Senior Seminar: [Topic] (Three Times) | ||
| Dance and Power | ||
| Contemporary Issues in Dance | ||
| Music for Dancers | ||
| Teaching Dance | ||
| Internship: [Topic] | ||
| Total Credits | 138 | |
| 1 | 18 credits minimum in upper division. 6 courses minimum per idiom in DANC. |
All courses listed are required unless noted as Electives e.g. DANC 199 Special Studies: Topic, DANC 399 Special Studies: Topic, and DAN 410 Loft.
All Technique courses must be taken in sequence. Students can test out of a level through a Placement Class, but must meet the same number of credits in the dance Technique category in that same idiom e.g. African, or Ballet etc.
Performance courses; DAN 480 Dance Repertory, DAN 481 Repertory Company: Rehearsal, and DAN 482 Repertory Company: Touring must be taken in that sequence.
The Creative Practices must be taken in sequence in this order; DANC 171 Dance Improvisation, DANC 271 Contact Improvisation, DAN 351 Dance Composition 1, DAN 352 Dance Composition 2, DAN 452 Dance Composition 3, and DAN 412 Student Concert.
There is some flexibility within the Theory courses, but the following courses must be taken in sequence (*see Course-to-Course Pre-requisites listed previously):
History and Culture; DAN 251 Looking at Dance is a pre-requisite for DAN 453 Dance and Power and DAN 454 Contemporary Issues in Dance,
Science and Somatics; DAN 260 Anatomy of Human Movement is a pre-requisite for DAN 360 Dance Kinesiology,
Music; DAN 252 Fundamentals of Rhythm is a pre-requisite for DAN 458 Music for Dancers,
Production; DAN 255 Dance Production 1 is a pre-requisite for DAN 355 Dance Production 2.
No tracks or concentrations.
Electives: BFA in Dance majors can take DANC 199 and DANC 399 Special Studies: Topic, which might include dance techniques outside the core curriculum e.g. hip-hop, Salsa, Partnering, Pointe, or Conditioning. They can also take DAN 410 Loft, where they choreograph for semi-formal live performances offered twice per year under a faculty mentor. BFA in Dance students will also be provided a recommended list of elective course options outside the Dance department in such areas as; Music, Art, Theatre, Women and Gender Studies, and Journalism.