Performing Arts Building, Room A300
Phone: 703-993-1114
Web: dance.gmu.edu
Elizabeth Price, Chair
Professors: Lepore, Miller
Associate professors: Price (chair), Shields, Studd
Assistant professors: Dinapoli, Fang, Joyce, Reedy
Adjuncts: Bush, Clancy, Cronmiller, Goodson, Koucheravy, Lee, Lees, Nuamah, Summerall, Volberg, Willis
The Department of Dance offers all course work designated DANC in the Course Descriptions chapter of this catalog.
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.
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.
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:
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.
BFA-DANC
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. Students may request admission into the BFA program during the candidate’s freshman year. Student progress in the BFA program is assessed annually.
| Credits | |
|---|---|
|
General Education |
43 |
|
Foundation Requirements |
|
|
Written communication |
|
|
ENGL 101 and ENGL 302 |
6 |
|
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. |
|
|
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 |
|
Western civilization |
3 |
|
Global understanding |
3 |
|
Social science |
3 |
|
Synthesis requirement (DANC 490) |
3 |
|
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 Intermediate/Advanced Modern Dance |
18 |
|
DANC 345/445 Intermediate/Advanced 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 |
|
(meets general education oral communication requirement) |
|
|
DANC 480 Introduction to Laban Movement Analysis |
3 |
|
Dance Electives Chosen from the following:
|
15 |
|
Electives |
3 |
|
Total |
126 |
BA-DANC
The BA degree is a 120-credit general program of dance study within a liberal arts degree framework.
| Credits | |
|
General Education |
58-67 |
|
Foundation Requirements |
|
|
Written communication |
|
|
ENGL 101 and 302 |
6 |
|
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. |
|
|
Oral communication |
3 |
|
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 a laboratory science) |
7 |
|
Western civilization |
3 |
|
Global understanding |
3 |
|
Social science |
3 |
|
Philosophy or religion |
3 |
|
Synthesis requirement (DANC 490) |
3 |
|
Other |
|
|
Foreign language* |
0-9 |
|
Elementary |
6 |
|
Intermediate |
3-6 |
|
* See beginning of this chapter for foreign language 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 Intermediate/Advanced Modern Dance |
6 |
|
DANC 345/445 Intermediate/Advanced 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 Introduction to Laban Movement Analysis |
3 |
|
Dance Electives Choose from the following:
|
7 |
|
Electives |
6-15 |
|
Total |
120 |
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:
|
DANC 101 Dance Appreciation |
3 |
|
DANC 118 World Dance* |
3 |
|
All minors must demonstrate a basic level of training in modern dance and ballet. Students must complete three of the following courses: |
9 |
|
DANC 125 Beginning Modern Dance |
3 |
|
DANC 145 Beginning Ballet |
3 |
|
DANC 225 Beginning Intermediate Modern Dance |
3 |
|
DANC 245 Beginning Intermediate Ballet |
3 |
|
Students must choose two or more courses for a total of six credits from the following: |
6 |
|
DANC 118 World Dance |
3 |
|
DANC 119 Dance in Popular Culture |
3 |
|
DANC 120 Special Topics |
1-3 |
|
DANC 131 Beginning Jazz |
3 |
|
DANC 161 Beginning Tap |
3 |
|
DANC 231 Intermediate Jazz |
3 |
|
DANC 301 What Is Dance? |
3 |
|
DANC 318 Global Perspectives |
3 |
|
DANC 331 Advanced Jazz |
3 |
|
DANC 420 Special Topics |
1-3 |
|
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.
MFA-DANC
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.
In addition to fulfilling the admission requirements for graduate study, the applicant must submit directly to the Dance Department a résumé 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.
All students are required to take the following:
| Credits | |
|---|---|
|
DANC 501 Graduate Dance Seminar |
3 |
|
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 |
|
Mason does not guarantee the availability of these courses every semester; some are offered in alternate years. |