Dance
Performing Arts Building, Room A300
Phone: 703-993-1114
Web: dance.gmu.edu
Faculty
Elizabeth Price, chair
Professors: Lepore, Miller
Associate professors: Price (chair), Shields, Studd
Assistant professors: Dinapoli, Fang, Joyce
Adjuncts: Bush, Clancy, Goodson, Koucheravy, Lee, Lees, Reedy, Summerall
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 BFA and a BA. Entrance to either program 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 calling 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 major at the 300-level or above. Students in the BFA and BA in dance fulfill this requirement by successfully completing DANC 390 or 391.
Certification to Teach
This program is approved by the Virginia State Department of Education and administered through the College of Education and Human Development, which is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). To be considered for licensure in dance education, a student must successfully complete requirements for a BA or BFA in dance. In addition, students must meet the following requirements:
- Be formally accepted into the program by the Dance Education Committee. Before requesting an interview with the committee, students must complete 45 to 60 credits with a GPA of 2.80 or higher, and submit passing scores for the Praxis I tests (Reading Writing, Mathematics). It is strongly recommended that students take the Praxis I tests as soon as they have completed ENGL 302, a course in literature, and a course in mathematics.
- Earn no grade lower than a C in dance (see major curriculum) and in professional education courses (EDUC 300, 302; EDRD 300; DANC 453, 454).
- Maintain an overall GPA of 2.80 or higher in all dance course work at Mason and at all other institutions of higher learning combined.
- As dance elective options, complete DANC 118 World Dance, DANC 453 Teaching Creative Movement, and DANC 131 Beginning Jazz Technique or 231 Intermediate Jazz Technique.
- With committee approval, register for and complete EDUC 300 and 302 and EDRG 300.
- After completing all required course work and with committee approval, submit passing scores on the VLCA and complete a full-time 15-week student teaching internship (DANC 455) that includes experiences at both elementary and middle or secondary levels.
For some students, this course of study will require a postbaccalaureate year. Students may design a four-year plan, including summer study, with the assistance of an advisor in the department.
Dance, BFA
Because of the professional nature of the BFA degree, the program requires completion of 126 credits of course work. The BFA in dance is a performance-oriented program designed to prepare students professionally as performers, choreographers, and teachers, as well as 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.
The BFA degree offers a general modern dance major that allows for concentrated study in performance, choreography, or teaching. Technical training includes ballet, a strong emphasis on modern dance, and opportunities to study jazz and world dance forms. Entrance into the BFA program is by audition during the candidate's freshman year. Student progress in the BFA program is assessed annually.
Nonnative speakers of English with limited proficiency in the language may substitute ENGL 100 for ENGL 101. Students must attain a minimum grade of C in ENGL 100 or 101, as well as in 302, to fulfill degree requirements.
Chosen from the following:
- DANC 118 World Dance
- DANC 119 Dance in Popular Culture: Afro-Latino Dance
- DANC 120 Special Topics in Dance
- DANC 131, 231, 331 Beginning Jazz, Intermediate Jazz, Advanced Jazz
- DANC 161 Beginning Tap Dance
- DANC 225 Beginning Intermediate Modern Dance
- DANC 245 Beginning Intermediate Ballet
- DANC 314 Music Accompaniment for Dance
- DANC 318 Global Perspectives: World Dance Forms
- 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
Dance, BA
The BA degree is a 120-credit general program of dance study within a liberal arts degree framework.
Nonnative speakers of English with limited proficiency in the language may substitute ENGL 100 for ENGL 101. Students must attain a minimum grade of C in ENGL 100 or 101, as well as in 302, to fulfill degree requirements.
* See beginning of this chapter for foreign language requirement.
Choose from the following:
- DANC 118 World Dance
- DANC 119 Dance in Popular Culture: Afro-Latino Dance
- DANC 120 Special Topics in Dance
- DANC 131, 231, 331 Beginning Jazz, Intermediate Jazz, Advanced Jazz
- DANC 161 Beginning Tap
- DANC 225 Beginning Modern Dance
- DANC 245 Beginning Ballet
- DANC 314 Music Accompaniment for Dance
- DANC 318 Global Perspectives: World Dance Forms
- 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
Minor in Dance Appreciation
The minor (21 credits) offers students an opportunity to study a variety of movement styles and understand dance in its historical and cultural context. A maximum of 4 transfer credits maybe applied to the dance minor.
All minors must complete the following courses:
All minors must demonstrate a basic level of training in modern dance and ballet. Students must complete three of the following courses: 9
Substitutions may be proposed to department faculty for approval.
* DANC 118 fulfills the global understanding requirement. Students who choose to take this course twice for the minor must select two different world cultures.
Graduate Program
Dance, MFA
The MFA 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 professional competence in choreography exemplified by a significant body of work.
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 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 and kinesiology, and dance production. Prerequisite courses may be completed before or concurrent with graduate course work and are usually fulfilled if the applicant has earned a BA or BFA in dance.
Degree Requirements
All students are required to take the following:
Mason does not guarantee the availability of these courses every semester; some are offered in alternate years.