Dance
Performing Arts Building, A300
Phone: 703-993-1114
Web: dance.gmu.edu
Faculty
Elizabeth Price, chair
Professor: Miller
Associate Professors: Lepore, Shields, Studd
Assistant Professors: Dinapoli, Joyce, Price (chair)
Adjuncts: Bush, Clancy, Goodson, Koucheravy, Lee, Lees, Rossini, Summerall, Westaway
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 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 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. Additionally, 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 or 231 Jazz.
- With committee approval, register for and complete EDUC 300 and 302, and EDRG 300.
- After completing all required course work and with committee approval, 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 post-baccalaureate 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 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.
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.
Degree Requirements
| Credits | |
|---|---|
| General Education | 43 |
| Foundation Requirements | |
| Written communication | |
| ENGL 101 and ENGL 302 Non-native 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. |
6 |
| Oral communication (see DANC 454) | 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 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 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 |
| Dance Electives | 15 |
Chosen from the following:
|
|
| Electives | 3 |
| Total | 126 |
Dance, BA
The BA 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 and 302 Non-native 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. |
6 |
| 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 |
| Western civilization | 3 |
| Global understanding | 3 |
| Social science | 3 |
| Philosophy or religion | 3 |
| Synthesis Requirement (DANC 490) | 3 |
| Other | |
| Foreign language | 0-12 |
| Elementary | 6 |
| Intermediate Students 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 CVPA about a possible waiver of this requirement. |
6 |
| 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 Introduction to Laban Movement Analysis | 3 |
| Dance Electives | 7 |
Choose from the following:
|
|
| Electives | 12 |
| Total | 120 |
Minor in Dance Appreciation
The minor (total 21 credits) offers students an opportunity to study a variety of movement styles, and understand dance in its historical and cultural context. All minors must demonstrate a basic level of training in modern dance and ballet. A maximum of 4 transfer credits maybe applied to the dance minor.
| Required Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| DANC 101 Dance Appreciation | 3 |
| DANC 118 World Dance | 3 |
| Select three of the following: | 9 |
| DANC 125 Beginning Modern Dance | 3 |
| DANC 225 Beginning Intermediate Modern Dance | 3 |
| DANC 145 Beginning Ballet | 3 |
| DANC 245 Beginning Intermediate Ballet | 3 |
| Select 6 credits from the following: | 6 |
| DANC 118 World Dance | 3 |
| DANC 119 Dance in Popular Culture | 3 |
| DANC 131 Beginning Jazz | 3 |
| DANC 231 Intermediate Jazz | 3 |
| DANC 161 Beginning Tap | 3 |
| DANC 120 Special Topics | 1-3 |
| 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.
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 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 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:
| Credits | |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Mason does not guarantee the availability of these courses every semester; some are offered in alternating years.