The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and Choreography requires a total of 120 credits, with 81 of those credits as the major core curriculum. Alongside general education courses, dance-focused academics and creative process classes (i.e. composition and choreography), dance majors are typically required to take two technique classes daily throughout the majority of their studies. The continuous study of modern/contemporary dance and ballet is a strong component of the curriculum. In addition, elective courses in partnering, jazz, hip hop, West African, contact improvisation, yoga, Pilates and other studio experiences are offered, rounding out a curriculum that also involves studies in anatomy and dance science, dance history, and music, among other areas. Within the major core there are opportunities for repertory experience and for independent study.
The dance major program is rigorous. Students’ technique placement within the required major courses is determined through departmental assessment and placement processes. Formal evaluation procedures include a placement class for entering students, juried examinations at the end of the first semester of the freshman and sophomore years and every semester of the junior and senior years. In the second semester of the freshman and sophomore years the jury is folded into a comprehensive career evaluation called the Freshmen Review and the Sophomore Readmittance Exam, respectively. These career evaluations are to assess each student’s progress in relationship to the standards of the program and progress toward degree completion. Students in the major program may be notified of probationary status after the Freshmen Review. All majors must pass the Sophomore Readmittance Exam in order to continue in the major. This exam stands on its own as a separate evaluation from course grades.
The VCU dance program provides abundant opportunities for students to interact with faculty and guest artists in academic, professional, creative and performance contexts. Within the School of the Arts, dance students have frequent opportunities to work collaboratively with other students in the arts. Possibilities include the visual arts, participation in multimedia events and productions outside the dance department. Any dance major or minor can perform in numerous formal concerts, informal showings and lecture-demonstrations produced by the department. Opportunities also are available for training in teaching, but students interested in earning state certification should consult their advisers.
Student learning outcomes
Upon completing this program, students will know and know how to do the following:
- Students should achieve proficiency in improvisation, composition, choreography and related art forms that encourage creativity and an individual point of view.
- Students should become proficient in modern dance technique and performance and a diverse range of other dance techniques in order to maximize their potential to become versatile dancers of technical excellence.
- Students should demonstrate a global and historical perspective of dance as an art form, with an emphasis on diverse contemporary approaches to dance making, research and performance.
- Students should demonstrate writing and critical-thinking skills.
- Students should demonstrate comprehensive and theoretical understanding of the field of dance.
Special requirements
An audition is required for acceptance into the dance program. Applicants must follow the admissions guidelines for arts students as described in the “Admission to the university” section of the bulletin.
To be eligible for graduation, dance majors must meet the proficiency requirements of having completed two semesters of level IV technique (DANC 401-DANC 402) or achieved an equivalent through departmentally approved summer study. In order to graduate, students must also complete a senior project, which is a practical presentation in creative work. Senior projects are approved in multiple stages by a review committee composed of full-time faculty members. Eligibility is based on the student’s overall academic record (credits earned, requirements met). Approval in stage one is based on the quality of the student’s written proposal; in stage two it is based upon evaluation/review of the student’s completed project proposed for presentation.
Degree requirements for Dance and Choreography, Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)
Course | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
General education | ||
Select 30 credits of general education courses in consultation with an adviser. | 30 | |
Major requirements | ||
• Major core requirements | ||
DANC 103 | Survey of Dance History | 3 |
DANC 104 | Survey of Dance History | 3 |
DANC 105 | Improvisation | 2 |
DANC 201 & DANC 202 | Modern Dance Technique II and Workshop and Modern Dance Technique II and Workshop | 6 |
DANC 260 | Dance Production Workshop | 2 |
DANC 301 & DANC 302 | Modern Dance Technique III and Workshop and Modern Dance Technique III and Workshop | 6 |
DANC 317 | Anatomy for the Dancer | 1 |
DANC 318 | Dance Science | 3 |
DANC 407 | Teaching Methods for Dance | 3 |
DANC 490 | Senior Project | 3 |
• Additional major requirements | ||
DANC 101 & DANC 102 | Modern Dance Technique I and Workshop and Modern Dance Technique I and Workshop | 6 |
DANC 107 | Music and Dance Forms | 2 |
DANC 162 | Rehearsal and Performance | 2 |
DANC 205 & DANC 206 | Composition and Composition | 6 |
DANC 303 | Choreography/Performance | 2 |
DANC 313 | Dance in World Cultures | 3 |
or DANC 413 | African American Presence in American Dance, Performance and Social Contexts | |
or DANC 415 | Black Performance Theory | |
DANC 401 & DANC 402 | Modern Dance Technique IV and Workshop and Modern Dance Technique IV and Workshop | 6 |
• Major electives | ||
Ballet technique (placement by department approval) | 16 | |
Ballet Technique I and Ballet Technique I Laboratory | ||
Ballet Technique I and Ballet Technique I Laboratory | ||
Ballet Technique II and Ballet Technique II Laboratory | ||
Ballet Technique II and Ballet Technique II Laboratory | ||
Ballet Technique III | ||
Ballet Technique III | ||
Ballet Technique IV | ||
Ballet Technique IV | ||
Ballet Technique III Laboratory | ||
Ballet Technique III Laboratory | ||
Ballet Technique IV Laboratory | ||
Ballet Technique IV Laboratory | ||
Creative practicum | 2 | |
Choreography/Performance | ||
or DANC 319 | Screen Dance | |
or DANC 360 | Lighting Design for Dance | |
or DANC 365 | Sound Design for Dance | |
or DANC 491 | Topics in Dance | |
Technique elective (select from list below) | 2 | |
Dance electives (select from list below) | 2 | |
Open electives | ||
Select any course. | 9 | |
Total Hours | 120 |
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.
Electives
Course | Title | Hours |
---|---|---|
Technique electives | ||
DANC/AFAM 121 | Tap Technique I | 2 |
DANC/AFAM 122 | Tap Technique I | 2 |
DANC 126 & DANC 127 | African-Caribbean Dance I and African-Caribbean Dance I | 4 |
DANC 141 | Ballroom Dancing | 1 |
DANC 142 | Ballroom Dancing | 1 |
DANC 191 | West African Dance Techniques | 2 |
DANC 213 | Beginning/Intermediate Pointe | 1 |
DANC 251 | Jazz Technique II | 2 |
DANC 253 | Pilates | 1-2 |
DANC 254 | Yoga | 1-3 |
DANC 255 | Hip Hop Dance | 2 |
DANC 256 | Hip Hop Dance | 2 |
DANC 315 | Contact Improvisation | 2 |
DANC 321 | Partnering | 2 |
Approved topics courses | ||
Dance electives | ||
ARTS 460 | Synesthesia: Exploring Process Across Disciplines | 2 |
DANC 230 | Dance in Hollywood | 3 |
DANC 408 | Children's Pedagogy | 2 |
DANC 455 | Dance Criticism | 2 |
DANC 460 | Business of Dance | 2 |
Approved topics courses |
What follows is a sample plan that meets the prescribed requirements within a four-year course of study at VCU. Please contact your adviser before beginning course work toward a degree.
Freshman year | ||
---|---|---|
Fall semester | Hours | |
DANC 101 | Modern Dance Technique I and Workshop | 3 |
DANC 103 | Survey of Dance History | 3 |
DANC 105 | Improvisation | 2 |
DANC 111 & DANZ 111 | Ballet Technique I and Ballet Technique I Laboratory | 3 |
UNIV 111 Play course video for Focused Inquiry I | Focused Inquiry I (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
General education course | 3 | |
Term Hours: | 17 | |
Spring semester | ||
DANC 102 | Modern Dance Technique I and Workshop | 3 |
DANC 104 | Survey of Dance History | 3 |
DANC 107 | Music and Dance Forms | 2 |
DANC 112 & DANZ 112 | Ballet Technique I and Ballet Technique I Laboratory | 3 |
DANC 162 | Rehearsal and Performance | 2 |
UNIV 112 Play course video for Focused Inquiry II | Focused Inquiry II (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
Term Hours: | 16 | |
Sophomore year | ||
Fall semester | ||
DANC 201 | Modern Dance Technique II and Workshop | 3 |
DANC 205 | Composition | 3 |
DANC 211 & DANZ 211 | Ballet Technique II and Ballet Technique II Laboratory | 3 |
DANC 260 | Dance Production Workshop | 2 |
General education course | 3 | |
General education course | 3 | |
Term Hours: | 17 | |
Spring semester | ||
DANC 202 | Modern Dance Technique II and Workshop | 3 |
DANC 206 | Composition | 3 |
DANC 212 & DANZ 212 | Ballet Technique II and Ballet Technique II Laboratory | 3 |
DANC 317 | Anatomy for the Dancer | 1 |
UNIV 200 | Advanced Focused Inquiry: Literacies, Research and Communication (satisfies general education UNIV foundations) | 3 |
General education course | 3 | |
Term Hours: | 16 | |
Junior year | ||
Fall semester | ||
DANC 301 | Modern Dance Technique III and Workshop | 3 |
DANC 303 | Choreography/Performance | 2 |
DANC 318 | Dance Science | 3 |
Ballet technique | 2 | |
General education course | 3 | |
Technique elective | 1 | |
Term Hours: | 14 | |
Spring semester | ||
DANC 302 | Modern Dance Technique III and Workshop | 3 |
DANC 313 | Dance in World Cultures (Performance and Social Contexts) (interdependence work culture elective) or African American Presence in American Dance, Performance and Social Contexts or Black Performance Theory | 3 |
Ballet technique | 2 | |
Creative practicum elective | 2 | |
General education course | 3 | |
General education course | 3 | |
Term Hours: | 16 | |
Senior year | ||
Fall semester | ||
DANC 401 | Modern Dance Technique IV and Workshop | 3 |
DANC 407 | Teaching Methods for Dance | 3 |
Dance elective | 2 | |
Open electives | 3 | |
Technique elective | 1 | |
Term Hours: | 12 | |
Spring semester | ||
DANC 402 | Modern Dance Technique IV and Workshop | 3 |
DANC 490 | Senior Project (capstone) | 3 |
Open electives | 6 | |
Term Hours: | 12 | |
Total Hours: | 120 |
The minimum number of credit hours required for this degree is 120.