Dance

• Faculty
• Course Work
• Undergraduate Programs
  • Writing-Intensive Requirement
  • Dance, B.F.A.
    • Degree Requirements
  • Dance, B.A.
    • Degree Requirements
  • Minor in Dance
• Graduate Program
  • Dance, M.F.A.
    • Admission Requirements
    • Degree Requirements

Faculty

Professor: Miller (chair)

Associate Professors: Carbonneau, Lepore, Studd

Assistant Professors: Price, Nicholas-Walker, Shields (on leave)

Visiting Assistant Professor: Joyce

Instructor: Willis

Adjuncts: Brammer, Sutherland, Yorkunas

Course Work

The Department of Dance offers all course work designated DANC in the "Course Descriptions" chapter of this catalog.

Undergraduate Programs

The Dance Department offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a Bachelor of Arts in Dance. Entrance to all dance degree programs is by audition. Information about the audition process, including dates and audition application, can be found on the department web page (dance.gmu.edu) or by contacting the department office at (703) 993-1114. Admission to the university is determined by the Admissions Office.

Writing-Intensive Requirement

The university requires all students to complete at least one course designated "writing intensive" in their majors at the 300 level or above. Students in the B.F.A. and B.A. in dance programs fulfill this requirement by successfully completing DANC 390 or 391.

Dance, B.F.A.

Because of the professional nature of the B.F.A. degree, the program requires completion of 126 credits of course work. The B.F.A. in Dance is a performance-oriented program designed to prepare students professionally as performers, choreographers, and teachers, as well as to prepare them for graduate study. Students in this program demonstrate significant technical mastery and devote a large portion of their college study to an intensive and comprehensive dance curriculum.s

The B.F.A. degree offers a general modern dance major that allows for concentrated study in performance, choreography, or teaching. Technical training includes ballet, jazz, world dance forms, and a strong emphasis on modern dance. Entrance into the B.F.A. program is by audition during the candidate's freshman year. Student progress in the B.F.A. program is assessed annually.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS			Credits
General Education			43
Foundation Requirements
	Written communication
		ENGL 101	3
		ENGL 302 Non-native speakers of English with limited proficiency in the language may substitute ENGL 100 for ENGL 101. A student must attain a minimum grade of C to have ENGL 100 or 101, and 302 fulfill degree requirements.	3
	Oral communication (see DANC 454)
	Quantitative reasoning		3
	Information technology		3
Core Requirements
	Literature		3
	Arts		9
		MUSI 101	(3)
		AVT/ARTH	(3)
		THR 210	(3)
	Natural science (must include one laboratory science)		7
	U. S. history		3
	Western civilization		3
	Global understanding		3
	Social science		3
Synthesis Requirement See Dance Major Core
Dance Major Core			80
	DANC 114 Rhythmic Analysis and Music Resources for Dance		3
	DANC 150 Dance Improvisation		3
	DANC 170 Introduction to Dance Production		1
	DANC 210 Dynamic Alignment		3
	DANC 251 Dance Composition I		3
	DANC 252 Dance Composition II		3
	DANC 270 Dance Production Lab		1
	DANC 325/425 Int./Adv. Modern Dance		18
	DANC 345/445 Int./Adv. Ballet		9
	DANC 360 Choreography		3
	DANC 362 Directed Choreography		1
	DANC 370 Dance Performance		4
	DANC 372 Advanced Dance Production		1
	DANC 390 Dance History: Pre-20th Century		3
	DANC 391 Dance History: 20th Century		3
	DANC 454 Teaching Principles of Modern Dance		3
	DANC 480 Introduction To Laban Movement Analysis		3
	DANC 490 Senior Dance Seminar		3
Dance Electives			12
	Chosen from: DANC 118 World Dance DANC 120 Special Topics in Dance DANC 131, 231 Beginning/Intermediate Jazz Technique DANC 161 Beginning Tap Dance DANC 225 Beginning Intermediate Modern Dance DANC 245 Beginning Intermediate Ballet DANC 314 Music Accompaniment for Dance DANC 325 Intermediate Modern Dance DANC 326 Dance Performance Practicum DANC 330 Dance/Movement Therapy I DANC 345 Intermediate Ballet DANC 350 Advanced Dance Improvisation DANC 362 Directed Choreography DANC 370 Dance Performance DANC 371 Residency Workshop DANC 399 Independent Study DANC 418 Global Dance Intensive DANC 420 Special Topics in Dance DANC 430 Dance/Movement Therapy II DANC 425 Advanced Modern Dance DANC 445 Advanced Ballet DANC 453 Teaching Creative Movement DANC 455 Teaching Practicum
Electives			3
TOTAL			126

Dance, B.A.

The B.A. degree is a 120 credit general program of dance study within a liberal arts degree framework.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS			Credits
General Education			61
Foundation Requirements
	Written communication
		ENGL 101	3
		ENGL 302 Non-native speakers of English with limited proficiency in the language may substitute ENGL 100 for ENGL 101. A student must attain a minimum grade of C to have ENGL 100 or 101, and 302 fulfill degree requirements.	3
	Oral communication		3
	Quantitative reasoning		3
	Information technology		3
Core Requirements
	Literature		6
	Arts* (3 credits from University General Education "Arts" courses plus any MUSI, THR, AVT, or ARTH		6
	Natural science (must include a laboratory science)		7
	U. S. history		3
	Western civilization		3
	Global understanding		3
	Social science		3
	Philosophy or religion		3
Synthesis Requirement See Dance Major Core
Other
	Foreign Language		0-12
		Elementary	(6)
		Intermediate	(6)
	A student must demonstrate intermediate-level proficiency in one foreign language. This requirement is fulfilled by completion of one foreign language course at the 202 level or higher, or by a satisfactory score on an approved proficiency test. International students should consult with the College of Visual and Performing Arts about a possible waiver of this requirement.
Dance Major Core			47
	DANC 114 Rhythmic Analysis		3
	DANC 150 Dance Improvisation		3
	DANC 170 Introduction to Dance Production		1
	DANC 210 Dynamic Alignment		3
	DANC 251 Dance Composition I		3
	DANC 252 Dance Composition II		3
	DANC 270 Dance Production		1
	DANC 325/425 Int./Adv. Modern Dance		6
	DANC 345/445 Int./Adv. Ballet		3
	DANC 370 Dance Performance		2
	DANC 390 Dance History: Pre-20th Century		3
	DANC 391 Dance History: 20th Century		3
	DANC 454 Teaching Principles of Modern Dance		3
	DANC 480 Intro. To Laban Movement Analysis		3
	DANC 490 Senior Dance Seminar		3
Dance Electives			4
	Chosen from: DANC 118 World Dance DANC 120 Special Topics in Dance DANC 131, 231 Beginning, Intermediate Jazz DANC 161 Beginning Tap DANC 225 Beginning Modern Dance DANC 245 Beginning Ballet DANC 314 Music Accompaniment for Dance DANC 325 Intermediate Modern Dance DANC 326 Dance Performance Practicum DANC 330 Dance/Movement Therapy I DANC 345 Intermediate Ballet DANC 350 Advanced Dance Improvisation DANC 362 Directed Choreography DANC 370 Dance Performance DANC 371 Residency Workshop DANC 399 Independent Study DANC 418 Global Dance Intensive DANC 420 Special Topics in Dance DANC 425 Advanced Modern Dance DANC 430 Dance/Movement Therapy II DANC 445 Advanced Ballet DANC 453 Teaching Creative Movement DANC 455 Teaching Practicum
Electives			12
TOTAL			120

Minor in Dance

The minor in dance consists of 21 credits selected from courses designated DANC. The program of study is designed by both the student and the dance faculty advisor and is approved by the entire dance faculty. Program approval takes into consideration the student's major area of interest and includes a combination of technique and theory courses in both upper- and lower- level designations.

Graduate Program

Dance, M.F.A.

The M.F.A. in Dance is a 60-credit program of study grounded in the modern dance genre that emphasizes performance, choreography and teaching. Candidates are expected to enter the program with advanced technical proficiency in ballet or modern technique and competence in choreography exemplified by a significant body of work. The curriculum allows for and encourages apprenticeships and internships, experimentation in academic pursuits, and the development of independent artistic projects.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

In addition to fulfilling the admission requirements for graduate study, the applicant must submit directly to the Dance Department a resume and a 10 minute VHS video that illustrates the applicant's choreography. All candidates must also demonstrate advanced technical proficiency through an audition. Contact the Dance Department at (703) 993-1114 for dates and times.

All candidates must satisfy the following prerequisites: advanced dance technique; improvisation; two semesters of dance composition; two semesters of dance history; rhythmic analysis or music for dance; anatomy/kinesiology; and, dance production. Prerequisite courses may be completed before or concurrent with graduate coursework and are usually fulfilled if the applicant has earned a B.A. or B.F.A. in Dance.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS			Credits
All students are required to take the following:
	DANC 501 Graduate Dance Seminar		3
A total of 18 credits of advanced dance technique:
	DANC 525 Advanced Modern Dance		9-12
	DANC 545 Advanced Ballet		6-9
	DANC 560 Advanced Choreography		6
	DANC 570/571 Advanced Performance/Residency Workshop		3
	DANC 580 Laban Movement Analysis		3
	DANC 598 Philosophy and Aesthetics of Dance		3
	DANC 615 Contemporary Trends		3
	DANC 627 Advanced Teaching Seminar		3
	DANC 680 Dance Management		3
	DANC 790 Internship		3
	DANC 799 Thesis		6
	Electives		6
TOTAL CREDITS			60

The university does not guarantee the availability of these courses every semester. Some are offered in alternating years.