Dance Major
Major Description
The Major in Dance is centered on the creative act—envisioning, making, and doing—to cultivate artistry and inspire personal and social transformation. It is an interdisciplinary, hands-on, and collaborative journey, demanding both physical and intellectual rigor. Our curriculum covers contemporary dance with a global lens, featuring historical and experimental approaches in Bharata Natyam, Ghanaian, Afro-Brazilian, ballet, Javanese, jazz, and hip hop, and contemporary dance. Students explore choreography, improvisation, pedagogy, research methods, dance ethnography, history, and techniques that embrace diverse learning styles.
Dance majors are driven by a passion for expressing themselves through movement. The artistic practice of dance requires physical strength, flexibility, endurance, and a dedication to refining their craft. Alongside their academic pursuits, they may have some performance experience or interests in other areas of dance, theater and arts production.
Dance majors develop keen intercultural competence and understanding of dance in its cultural manifestations, leading them to a deeper celebration of difference. They become articulate in movement, words and action, honing their skills to articulate original ideas and collaborate with fellow artists and scholars to create powerful original work.
Admission to the Major
In order to be admitted to the Dance Major a student must have completed, or be currently enrolled in, either Spring Dance Choreography Workshop (DANC250 Spring Semester) or Dance Tech Lab (DANC105). This requirement may be waived under special circumstances. Please contact the Department Chair with any questions.
Major Requirements
The Major in Dance Consists of 10.5-11.5 credits.
Choreography, 2 credits
Options include Solo Composition (DANC249), Improvisation (DANC354), Spring Dance Group Choreography (DANC250 Spring Semester), Winter Choreography Workshop (DANC250 Fall Semester). These courses can be repeated for credit.
Dance Tech Lab (DANC105), .5 credit
Dance Techniques, 2.5 credits
Advanced Dance Performance Practice (DANC435 or DANC445), 2 performance experiences
Can be repeated for credit.
Advanced Research in Dance 2 credits
At least one of these must be a hybrid course with a substantial written component. The second can be either another hybrid course, or an additional choreography course.
Applied Technical Practice (DANC444) .75 credits
Elective 1 credit
This can be any course that relates specifically to the student’s interests in dance and may be taken in or outside the Dance Department.
Student Capstone Research 1 or 2 credits (Project or Thesis)
Student Learning Goals
List of Learning Goals
- Develop intercultural competence and engage in cross-cultural inquiry through the study of diverse dance traditions.
- Explore the role of art in society, examining its cultural, historical, and social significance.
- Master the principles of dance-making, including choreography, improvisation, and public performance.
- Achieve technical proficiency and artistic expression in a diverse range of dance techniques, including Modern/Contemporary, West African, Bharata Natyam, Ballet, Hip Hop, Javanese, Black and other American vernacular forms, and partnering.
- Cultivate critical inquiry skills and embodied research methodologies in the field of Dance, through writing, choreography and performance.
- Engage in collaborative creative processes.
- Gain hands-on experience in performance production, technology and media.
Honors
Dance majors who wish to be candidates for departmental honors must complete senior research in the form of a thesis. Projects are not eligible for the award of honors. The student’s proposed research design will be revised and finalized in consultation with the student’s prospective tutor and should reflect the special interests and talents of the individual student. The award of honors or high honors is based on the scope and excellence of the thesis and on the student’s creative work.
To receive the award of honors, a thesis must follow these guidelines:
- The honors thesis typically consists of approximately 20 minutes of group choreography (usually two 10-minute dances) and an 80- to 100-page research paper situating the choreography within an aesthetic and historical context.
- It must involve enough work to warrant two credits.
Each honors candidate is required to make a commitment to candidacy in advance. The student must file a written statement of his or her intention to stand for departmental honors with both the department and the Honors College. The department will nominate candidates for departmental honors to the Honors College. Nominations will occur only if it appears reasonably certain that the candidate’s work will be completed on time and in the desired form. The department in cooperation with the Honors College will arrange suitable mid-April deadlines for performances and the submission of theses.
Each honors thesis will have two readers. One of these must be chosen from outside the Dance Department. The department will base its recommendation for departmental honors upon the readers’ written evaluations and joint recommendations.
Capstone Experience
All majors complete a capstone experience, either a one-semester senior project or a two-semester senior thesis.