DEPARTMENT OF THEATRE AND DANCE

CHAIR: JAMES R. MILLER

NAVIGATION: Dance Major BA | Dance Major BFA | Dance Minor BFA | Course Descriptions |

The performing arts require the collaborative efforts of many talented individuals. Every dramatic, musical, or dance performance by a talented artist on stage or screen requires years of training and practice. Just as important to each performance are the individuals who work behind the scenes to make it happen. The stage make-up artists, costume designers, sound technicians, scene designers, and directors all play vital roles in any theatrical effort. The Department of Theatre and Dance provides an opportunity for every individual who is interested in the performing arts to explore their talents and find their niche.

Dance Program

PROGRAM COORDINATOR: DANA E. NICOLAY

FACULTY: Gratz, Pontius

‘The Dance is the mother of the arts.’ — Curt Sachs

Dance is the most ephemeral and immediate of the arts. It exists in the moment of its performance and is then gone. To be successful, a dancer must learn to be totally focused in the moment of the dance. This requires extraordinary awareness, sensitivity, imagination, and discipline. A dancer must approach both herself and her field with curiosity, diligence, excitement, and honesty. In the process, the dancer finds a vibrant, energizing life of experiences, while developing skills, interests, and personal qualities that can lead to a variety of satisfying careers.

The Dance Program provides a supportive environment and a performance-oriented curriculum of sufficient scope and depth to allow graduates to discover this life. Through the exploration of movement as an expressive language, and the training of the body as the instrument of that language, the dance curriculum balances rational and intuitive qualities in the developing dance professional. Courses such as ballet and modern dance technique, choreography, body awareness, pedagogy, World Dance, and Dance History, give dance majors an awareness of the world that is both aesthetically sophisticated and academically sound. Graduates of the Dance Program have made careers in dance performance, dance education, arts administration and health-related professions.

The Dance Program offers the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Dance. Teaching certification is available with either option through the College of Education and Applied Science. Certification with either the BA or the BFA requires a designated 24-hour minor in preparation for a second teaching field.

The BFA curriculum is designed to lead to a performing career and is open by audition only. Auditions are held twice each year. BFA candidates must complete a minimum of 61 hours in Dance. The BA is more academically based and typically leads to a career in teaching. BA candidates must complete a minimum of 36 hours in Dance and must satisfy requirements for an official minor. No audition is required for acceptance into the BA program.

Facilities: The Dance Program is housed in spacious facilities that provide five large studios, a semiformal Dance Theater, costume construction and storage facilities, audio and video editing capabilities, a body conditioning studio and a dance library.

Scholarships: The Dance Program awards scholarships ranging from $500 to $1,500 per academic year. In addition the Mary Ella Montague Endowed Scholarship is awarded to the outstanding returning Dance major each year.

REQUIRED COURSES FOR MAJOR
All dance majors must repeat DNC 110 for four semesters. Bachelor of Arts Candidates must complete one semester each of DNC 333, 334, 430. Candidates for the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree must be registered in both ballet and modern dance technique each semester after the freshman year. They must also complete at least two semesters each of DNC 430, 433, and 434. DNC 333, 334, 430, 433, and 434 are open only by audition or permission of the instructor. Candidates for the BA must complete requirements for a minor field of study to graduate. The BFA does not require a minor.

Curriculum: Minor in Dance

A minor in Dance usually consists of three semesters of DNC 110 and DNC 172, 272, 276, and 6 hours from the following: DNC 374, 376, 388, 430,472, 474, 476. Dance minors must enroll in one technique class each semester. In addition to majors dance technique classes (DNC 233, 234, 333, 334, 433, 434), DNC 126 classes may also satisfy the dance technique requirement for dance minors. A minimum of 6 hours of technique must be completed which will count toward the minimum of 24 total hours in Dance.

DANCE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

DNC 110 DANCE WORKSHOP. This is a practical workshop in support of Dance Program concerts and activities. Duties include costume construction, backstage and front of house support, and audio/video recording and dubbing. Special seminars in areas such as diet and health, auditioning and career opportunities and options are also addressed. Credit 1.

DNC 124 FOLK DANCE FORMS. [DANC 1222] Dances indigenous to Europe, Mexico and the United States are studied in relation to their cultural derivations. Special consideration is given to dance as a cultural and recreational activity. Credit 2.

DNC 126 THEATRE DANCE FORMS. Specific theatrical dance forms such as ballet, jazz, modern dance, and Hip Hop are studied in specially dedicated sections. Credit 2.

DNC 127 IMPROVISATIONAL TECHNIQUE. This course explores concepts designed to employ movement and vocal skills that will enhance performance and creativity. Emphasis is on solo and group work that will help the student discover the diversity and range of the human instrument. Credit 2

DNC 172 DANCE AS ART. [DANC 2303] This course is a video survey of the vast range of theatrical dance that has taken place in the twentieth century. Forms and styles covered include ballet, modern/post-modern, jazz, musical theater, tap, contemporary dance, and dance for music video. Credit 3.

DNC 176 RHYTHMIC STRUCTURE OF MOVEMENT. [DANC 1301] A study is made of musical forms, rhythm and meter in relation to the needs of a dancer-choreographer. Credit 3.

DNC 228 BEGINNING SOMATIC TECHNIQUE FOR DANCERS. This is a somatic technique class designed for incoming Dance majors. It presumes no former somatic training, but requires basic body knowledge and movement skills. Majors only, non-majors with permission of the instructor. Credit 2.

DNC 232 SOCIAL AND FOLK DANCE FORMS. Social and folk dance forms of ethnic and social significance are studied and performed in relation to their cultural derivations and historical perspectives and their use in period theatrical/concert production. Special emphasis is placed upon the importance of ethnic art forms to contemporary society. Credit 3.

DNC 233 BEGINNING BALLET TECHNIQUE. This is a ballet technique class designed for incoming dance majors. It presumes no former ballet training but requires well-developed movement skills. Students who are not dance-majors must have permission of instructor or program coordinator to register. Credit 3.

DNC 234 BEGINNING MODERN DANCE TECHNIQUE. This is a modern dance technique class designed for incoming dance majors. It presumes no former modern dance training but requires well developed movement skills. Students who are not dance-majors must have permission of instructor or program coordinator to register. Credit 3.

DNC 272 HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF DANCE: 1700 TO THE PRESENT. A chronological survey is made of the history of dance from the 1700’s to the modern period. Special emphasis is placed on the philosophic relationship of dance to the various cultural epochs. Credit 3.

DNC 273 WORLD DANCE: EXPLORING CULTURES THROUGH THE DANCE EXPERIENCE. In this course, students re immersed in the dances of one world region for half a semester, and of another world region for the other half semester. Although comparisons between two cultures will become evident, the primary objective of the course is to expose the student to two different dance styles and to use dance analysis to identify and study cultural characteristics. Guest artists lead classes and demonstrations, which include live music, costumes, and terminology. Each time the course is offered, a different set of cultures is examined. Prerequisites: Junior level standing or permission of the instructor. Credit 3.

DNC 276 CHOREOGRAPHY I. The student learns to analyze the various components of design and to create basic dance studies which demonstrate understanding of dance as a craft and as an art. Prerequisites: DNC 176. A minimum of intermediate standing in ballet or modern dance, or permission of the instructor is required to register for this course. Credit 3.

DNC 333 INTERMEDIATE BALLET TECHNIQUE. This is an intermediate level ballet technique class which presumes substantial exposure to ballet dance training. Open by audition only. Prerequisite: DNC 233 or permission of the instructor. Credit 3.

DNC 334 INTERMEDIATE MODERN DANCE TECHNIQUE. This is an intermediate level modern dance technique class which presumes substantial exposure to modern dance training. Open by audition only. Prerequisite: DNC 234 or permission of the instructor. Credit 3.

DNC 374 PRINCIPLES OF DANCE TECHNIQUE. This course provides the student with an overview of the movement system emphasizing the subjective control experience in dance. Methods of tuning the system including body therapies, conditioning regimes, body awareness techniques, and dance training will be reviewed and compared. Prerequisites: PHY 135/115, BIO 245. Credit 3.

DNC 376 CHOREOGRAPHY II. The student develops extended dance works which demonstrate advanced understanding of dance as a craft and as an art. Prerequisite: DNC 176, 276 and/or permission of the instructor. Credit 3.

DNC 388 BUILDING DANCE IN THE COMMUNITY. This is a studio and outreach based course. Opportunities are given for learning ways to facilitate interaction with a community of non-dancers via interviews, improvisations, and movement development techniques. After adequate instruction, the course will proceed to a practicum experience with the community, resulting in choreographic explorations. Credit 3.

DNC 430 REPERTORY. The student is involved in rehearsals in which dance works by faculty and guest artists, as well as the great masters of choreography, are staged or reconstructed in preparation for major dance program performances Credit 3.

DNC 433 ADVANCED BALLET TECHNIQUE. This is a pre-professional level of ballet technique in which dancers will develop a high degree of technical ability and expressive range. Open by audition only. Prerequisite: DNC 333 or permission of the instructor. Credit 3.

DNC 434 ADVANCED MODERN DANCE TECHNIQUE. This is a pre-professional level of modern dance technique in which dancers will develop a high degree of technical ability and expressive range in the modern dance idiom. Open by audition only. Prerequisite: DNC 334 or permission of the instructor. Credit 3.

DNC 472 DANCE CRITICISM AND ANALYSIS Students will view outstanding examples of choreography, read the works of major dance critics, and further develop the tools needed to critically analyze choreography. Emphasis is on writing informed, insightful, analyses of the form, content, and effectiveness of choreographic works. Credit 3.

DNC 474 DANCE PEDAGOGY. This course acquaints students in dance with methods for teaching ballet and modern dance technique, and examines the curriculum for dance established by the National Standards for Arts Education for Grades K-12. Students gain theoretical and practical experience, focusing on the use of anatomically correct and systematic approaches to developing dance skills. Class structure, design of exercises, effective communication with students, and selection of appropriate musical accompaniment are examined. Credit 3.

DNC 476 CHOREOGRAPHY III. The student develops extended solo, duet, and ensemble works for performance in formal and informal concerts presented by the Dance Program. Prerequisite: DNC 176, 276, 376 and/or permission of the instructor. Credit 3.

DNC 492 SEMINAR IN DANCE. Opportunities are offered for thorough study of a variety of topics which students may choose in dance. Such topics as Historical Period Dance, Ethno-cultural Studies, Choreographic Projects, et cetera, are illustrative. Credit 3.

DNC 493 INDEPENDENT STUDY. Opportunities are offered for individual study of an approved problem in dance. Credit 3.