BFA in Dance | Course Descriptions
Chair: Jennifer Pontius (936) 294-1300
Faculty: Cindy Gratz, Dana Nicolay, Andrew Noble, Dionne Noble, Jonathan Charles Smith
Website: www.shsu.edu/dance
‘The Dance is the mother of the arts.’ -Curt Sachs
Mission
The Dance Department at Sam Houston State University delivers a dynamic, challenging experience that integrates creativity, performance and scholarly pursuits designed to prepare each student for a 21st century career in dance.
Academic Programs
Admission to the BFA is by audition only. These audition scheduled is posted on the dance program's website. Secondary Teaching certification is available in Dance through the College of Education.
Highlights
The Dance Program at Sam Houston State University:
- was identified as one of the ten top dance programs in the country by Dance Teacher Magazine.
- is housed in beautiful James and Nancy Gaertner Performin Arts Center including four large studios with sprung floors, a state of the art dance theater, 19-station Mac lab, fully equipped Pilates/conditioning studio, and spacious dressing rooms with showers.
- is an active member of the American College Dance Festival Association. Choreography created by students and faculty of the Dance Program has been regularly selected for Gala presentation. In 2010, we were invited to perform at the Kennedy Center National ACDFA conference.
- has alumni of the program performing with diverse professional dance companies, including Pilobolus, The Houston Met, Hopestone, NobleMotion Dance, and Blue Lapis Light.
-
regularly host a wide variety of guest artists, which have included Dominic Walsh Dance Theatre, Paul Taylor II, Houston Ballet II, The Dance Gallery, Jane Weiner, Ben Stevenson, Bill Evans, Rennie Harris, Marlies Yearby, Astrid von Ussar, and Charlotte Boye-Christenson.
Career Opportunities
- dance performance
- dance education
- arts administration
- health-related professions
Suggested Minors
- Business
- Secondary teaching
- Theatre
Student Organizations
Chi Tau Epsilon, the prestigious national dance honor society, recognizes, supports, and promotes superior achievement in dance and in the performing arts. Membership in the society is recorded on the student’s transcript. Each year, Chi Tau Epsilon is an active student organization, sponsoring the student choreography showcase, Dances @ 8, conducting recruitment workshops for the dance program, and sponsoring community support activities including Adopt a Highway, food drives, and participation in the Special Olympics. Chi Tau Epsilon also awards annual scholarships for outstanding choreographic and academic achievement.
Scholarships
The Dance Program awards numerous scholarships ranging from $500 to $ 3,000 per academic year. Approximately $25,000 in performance-based scholarships is awarded each year. In addition the Mary Ella Montague Endowed Scholarship is awarded to the outstanding returning Dance major each year and the Kelley Barber Award is given annually to a Dance major for outstanding performance. The Theatre and Dance Endowed and Nancy Gaertner Performing Arts Scholarship Applications are available online at https://www.shsu.edu/academics/fine-arts-and-mass-communication/scholarships.html and in the dance office.
Curriculum
Required Courses for Major
All dance majors must repeat DNC 110 <DANC
1101> for four semesters. Candidates for the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree must complete at least two semesters each of DNC 430 <DANC
4330>, 433 <DANC 4333>, and 434 <DANC 4334>. DNC 133 <DANC1333>, 134 <DANC1334>, 233 <DANC 2333>, 234 <DANC 2334>, 333 <DANC 3333>, 334 <DANC 3334>, 335 <DANC 3335>
430 <DANC
4330>, 433 <DANC 4333>, 434 <DANC 4334>. Students are placed in the appropriate level for ballet and modern when they audition for admission to the program. Ballet and modern techniques courses ( <1333>-<4333> and <1334>-<4334>) may be repeated up to four times with academic credit applied. BFA candidates enroll in two majors’ dance technique courses every semester. A minimum of 12 hours drawn from DNC 433 <DANC 4333>, 434 <4334>, and 435 <4335> must be completed. Initial placement level and promotions in the technique sequence are determined by the dance faculty. Students are promoted based on faculty assessment.
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Major in Dance
SHSU Course Number |
Hours |
Recommended Sequence |
Core Curriculum |
||
Component Area I (Communication) |
6 |
Freshman |
Component Area II (Mathematics) |
3 |
Freshman |
Component Area III (Natural Sciences):Any lab sciences from core |
8 |
Freshman, Sophomore |
Component Area IV (Visual/Performing Arts) |
3 |
Freshman |
Component Area IV (Literature or PHL <PHIL>) |
3 |
Senior |
Component Area IV (Cultural Studies) |
3 |
Junior |
Component Area V (Social/Behavioral Sciences) |
|
|
6 |
Freshman |
|
POL 261 <POLS 2301>, 200-level POL <2000-level POLS> |
6 |
Junior, Senior |
Behavioral Sciences |
3 |
Junior |
Component Area VI (Institutionally Designated Option |
1 |
Sophomore |
Major Core |
||
DNC 110 <DANC 1101>, 4 semesters |
4 |
Freshman, Sophomore |
| DNC <DANC 1201> | 2 |
Freshman, Sophomore |
3 |
Freshman |
|
3 |
Freshman |
|
3 |
Freshman |
|
3 |
Sophomore |
|
3 |
Sophomore |
|
3 |
Sophomore |
|
3 |
Sophomore |
|
3 |
Sophomore |
|
3 |
Sophomore, Junior |
|
3 |
Sophomore, Junior |
|
3 |
Junior, Senior |
|
3 |
Junior |
|
3 |
Junior |
|
DNC 430 <DANC 4330>, 1 semester |
3 |
Senior |
3 |
Senior |
|
3 |
Senior |
|
3 |
Senior |
|
| DNC 474 <DANC 4374> | 3 |
Senior |
3 |
Senior |
|
3 |
Senior |
|
3 |
Senior |
|
3 |
Senior |
|
Dance or Theatre electives |
6 |
|
Total Hours: 120 |
||
Notes:
**The total reflects DNC 172 <1372> satisfying three hours from Component Area IV.