Dance, BFA
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance (C90000BFA)
The BFA dance major is designed for the student who wishes to pursue professional training in dance through an emphasis in ballet and modern dance techniques. This program offers extensive training in technical, performing and choreographic skills and is supported by a core of coursework in dance history, pedagogy, and physical analysis. The BFA in Dance prepares students for performing, graduate studies in performance and choreography, fields related to dance such as arts administration, dance history, physical therapy, dance therapy, dance education, or dance ethnology, as well as teaching in private studios.
Placement into the dance program for the first year of study as a probationary dance major is by audition only. Promotion in levels of dance techniques is by receipt of a “B+” grade or better for one semester for advancement from Ballet IV to V to VI to VII to VIII respectively, and by receipt of a “B” grade or better for one semester in all other technique classes.
To be admitted to the BFA degree program in Dance in the School of Dance, Theatre, and Arts Administration, students must work for one year of study as a probationary dance major, demonstrate acceptable work habits, pass the Freshman Jury and Interview to gain admittance to the college and status as a BA in Dance major in preparation for auditioning for the BFA program at the end of the sophomore year. BFA students must maintain a 2.875 GPA in all dance classes for a total of two years and may be placed on artistic probation if they demonstrate less acceptable work habits. Full status must be regained to graduate. To graduate with the BFA in Dance, students must complete one full year of Ballet VIII with a minimum of “B” and be enrolled in a ballet technique class each semester until they satisfy their technique requirements and maintain an overall 2.875 GPA in all dance classes.
Requirements
Summary
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | 34 | |
| Ballet Technique | 28 | |
| Modern Technique | 12 | |
| Jazz and Tap | 2 | |
| Somatic, World Dance, and Other | 6 | |
| Dance Lecture Courses | 31 | |
| Dance Organizations | 5 | |
| Additional Major Electives * | 8 | |
| Total Hours | 126 | |
| * | This major requires a minimum of 126 completed credit hours. |
Recommended General Education Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree must complete three tiers of General Education coursework. Tiers I and II provide students with foundational skills and breadth of disciplinary knowledge. Tier III courses require students to integrate knowledge, understand diverse perspectives, and think critically about complex issues. Courses tagged for Tier III may also fulfill major or Disciplinary Area requirements. | ||
| Students are not required to enroll in the specific courses listed below. However, to facilitate successful degree completion, the academic department strongly encourages completion of the following recommendations. | ||
| Tier I: Academic Foundations | 12 | |
Quantitative Reasoning: 3 credit hours | ||
Speaking: 3 credit hours | ||
Writing: 6 credit hours | ||
| Tier II: Disciplinary Areas | 22 | |
Arts/Humanities: 9 credit hours | ||
Natural Sciences: 7 credit hours | ||
Social Sciences: 6 credit hours | ||
| Introduction to Psychology | ||
| Tier III: Tagged Courses | ||
Select one class from each of the following subcategories: | ||
Complex Systems | ||
Critical Thinking | ||
Domestic Diversity | ||
Global Diversity | ||
Review the General Education Requirements page for detailed course listings. | ||
| Total Hours | 34 | |
College of Arts & Sciences Requirement
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Students must also complete a minimum of 40 credits (excluding workshops) consisting of either: | ||
Upper-level (300/400) courses both in and outside of the student’s major; | ||
or other courses outside the major department approved by the student’s major department chair (permission should be obtained prior to enrollment); these may not include workshops | ||
Ballet Technique
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select 28 credits with two semesters of Ballet VIII | 28 | |
7900:xxx | Ballet | |
| Ballet VIII 1 | ||
| Ballet VIII 1 | ||
| Total Hours | 28 | |
| 1 | A grade of B or better must be earned. |
Modern Technique
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 7900:228 | Modern V | 3 |
| 7900:229 | Modern VI | 3 |
| 7900:328 | Modern VII | 3 |
| 7900:329 | Modern VIII | 3 |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
Jazz and Tap
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Choose one of the following for two credits: | 2 | |
| 7900:xxx | Jazz I-IV | |
| -or- | ||
| 7900:xxx | Tap I-IV | |
| Total Hours | 2 | |
Somatics, World Dance, and Other
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 7900:101 | Dance Somatics: Yoga | 1 |
| or 7900:102 | Dance Somatics: Pilates | |
| or 7900:104 | Dance Somatics: Gyrokinesis | |
| 7900:111 | Topics in World Dance | 1 |
| 7900:141 | Pointe I | 2 |
| or 7900:241 | Pointe II | |
| or 7900:334 | Pas De Deux I | |
| 7900:333 | Partnering | 2 |
| Total Hours | 6 | |
Dance Lecture Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 7900:103 | Orientation for Dance | 0 |
| 7900:115 | Dance As An Art Form | 2 |
| 7900:116 | Physical Analysis for Dance I | 2 |
| 7900:117 | Physical Analysis for Dnce II | 2 |
| 7900:274 | Digital Technology for Dance | 3 |
| 7900:316 | Choreography I | 2 |
| 7900:317 | Choreography II | 2 |
| 7900:321 | Rhythmic Analysis - Dance | 2 |
| 7900:361 | Learning Theory for Dance | 2 |
| 7900:362 | Instructional Strategies for Dance | 2 |
| 7900:416 | Choreography III | 2 |
| 7900:417 | Choreography IV | 2 |
| 7900:432 | History of Ballet | 2 |
| 7900:433 | Dance History: 20th Century | 2 |
| 7900:445 | Dance Philosophy and Criticism | 3 |
| 7900:471 | Senior Seminar | 1 |
| 7910:200 | BFA Audition | 0 |
| 7910:201 | Freshman Jury and Interview | 0 |
| Total Hours | 31 | |
Dance Organizations
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Select a minimum of five credits of the following: | 5 | |
| Dance Production Ensemble | ||
7910:xxx | ||
| Total Hours | 5 | |