Major Requirements (Effective Fall 2004)

Goals | Certification Prerequisites | Honors College Program

Students may declare a major at any time during their college careers. Majors are placed in appropriate technique levels through a placement class. There are 71 credits of required courses and 24 elective credits. Electives provide for in-depth study in a related area outside or within dance. All dance majors must satisfy all general university requirements for in-depth study in a related area outside or within dance. All dance majors must satisfy all general university requirements.

 

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Goals for the Undergraduate Dance Major

- Explore the field of dance from a liberal-arts perspective

- Explore disciplined technique and creative processes involved in the artistry of dance

- Formulate an intellectual understanding of the historical, philosophical, and culturally
significant aspects of dance

- Develop a working knowledge of music and science as they relate to and enhance
the dance experience

- Develop an understanding of dance as a unique art form in conjunction with its
relationship to other art forms and disciplines

- Develop a level of competence in performance, creative, and theoretical aspects of
dance to pursue graduate studies or other professional goals

 

Technique - Depth
Subject/Number	Title	Credits
DAN 394	Modern Lab (3 terms)	6
DAN 396	Ballet Lab (2 terms)	4
	AND 3 additional terms of either idiom at DAN 300 level	6

Technique - Breadth (for specific courses see DANC offerings)

4 credits required, 2 studio offerings other than Modern and Ballet

Lower Division Theory
Subject/Number	Title	Credits
DANC 271	Dance Improvisation (2x)	2
DAN 251	Looking at Dance	4
DAN 252	Fundamentals of Rhythm	3
DAN 255	Dance Production	3
DAN 256	Body Fundamentals	3

Upper Division Theory
Subject/Number	Title	Credits
DAN 342^	Movement Theory and Notation	4
DAN 351	Dance Composition I	3
DAN 352	Dance Composition II	3
DAN 355*	Dance Production II	1
DAN 360	Dance Kinesiology	3
DAN 404*	Internship (2x)	2
DAN 408*	Workshop, Rehearsal & Performance	2
DAN 411*	Senior Project	3
DAN 453^	Ballet from Courts to Balanchine	3
DAN 454^	Evolution of Modern Dance	3
DAN 458	Music for Dancers	3
DAN 480	Dance Repertory	2
DAN 490	Dance Accompaniment (must be taken concurrent with DAN 491 - Teaching Dance)	1
DAN 491	Teaching Dance	3

Electives - 24 credits (the following are possible electives in Dance)
Subject/Number	Title	Credits
DAN 301	Movement Theory and Notation	4
DAN 401	Dance Composition I	3
DAN 405	Dance Composition II	3
DAN 406	Dance Production II	1
DAN 409	Dance Kinesiology	3
DAN 410	Internship (2x)	2
DAN 412	Workshop, Rehearsal & Performance	2
DAN 460	Senior Project	3
DAN 493	Ballet from Courts to Balanchine	3
* Preauthorization and contract are required. Open-ended, experimental and independent courses are acceptable electives. The first two are faaculty initiated whereas independent studies are student initiated. Prerequisites for generic course must be fullfilled. There will be a few additional changes. ^ Courses offered every other year.

The breadth requirement in dance technique is fulfilled by completing studio courses (DAN or DANC) in two idioms other than modern or ballet. Lower division breadth courses should be completed by the end of the sophomore year. Students with experience in any of these forms should enroll in the highest level that reflects their competence in each idiom. Decisions about the appropriate level are made in consultation with an adviser.

The technical requirements for ballet and modern are (1) dance majors must enroll in a ballet and modern technique course every term that they are in the program, (2) the minimum competency for graduation is two terms of ballet (DAN 396) and three terms of modern (DAN 394), and (3) during the last three terms before graduation, each major must complete an additional 6 credits of DAN 394 or 396 or higher with minimum grades of B-.

Students who enroll in a DAN or DANC course without completing the prerequisite (either a specific course or an audition) are asked to withdraw. Failure to do so results in a grade of F or N (no pass) for that course.

Required internships, performances, and senior projects can be satisfied in a variety of ways. Through consultation students and their advisers choose options for these requirements that allow the students to pursue personal interests.

With approval from their faculty adviser, dance majors can focus their 24 credits of elective work in one of three ways: (1) by completing an established minor or second major, (2) by concentrating on an area of emphasis within dance, or (3) by integrated interdisciplinary study.

University requirements for the B.A. and B.S. degrees are explained in the Registration and Academic Policies section of this catalog.

 

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Certification Prerequisites

Three requirements for the dance major are also prerequisites for admission to the Laban Movement Analysis Certification program sponsored by the Laban-Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies in New York City and the Integrated Movement Studies Program at the University of Utah. These approved courses are Body Fundamentals (DAN 256), Movement Theory & Notation (DAN 342), and Dance Kinesiology (DAN 360).

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Honors College Program

See the Honors College section of this catalog for specific honors college requirements. Departmental requirements for dance majors enrolled in the Clark Honors College include (1) 6 credits of independent study in choreography, ethnology, notation, or technical production leading to the senior honors thesis and (2) either a choreography (minimum of ten minutes) with written description and discussion or an honors essay on an approved research topic.