Nov 09, 2024

2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Dance (B.F.A.)

Maurice Fraga, Associate Professor of Dance
Shingleton 26, (540) 665-4565, mfraga@su.edu

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance curriculum is designed to prepare both the student seeking a career in dance as a performing artist as well as the student seeking a career as a teacher/choreographer in a private studio setting.

Program Outcomes

Students completing the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance will be able to:

demonstrate an advanced level of technical skill and artistry in a variety of styles and performance settings;
improvise and compose dance in a variety of forms, employing a variety of methods and technologies;
demonstrate knowledge of dance history, aesthetics, pedagogy, production and science; and
demonstrate professional entrepreneurship and advocacy skills in preparation for their dance career.

Course and Credit Requirements

1st Year – Fall

CONS 105 ShenCommunity Credit(s): .5
DA 111 Modern Dance I Credit(s): 2 *
DA 121 Ballet I Credit(s): 2 *
DA 131 Jazz I Credit(s): 2 *
DA 143 Freshman Seminar Credit(s): 1
DA 153 Dance Production I Credit(s): 1
DAPE 152 Contact Improvisation Credit(s): 1 *
ENG 101 Composition Credit(s): 3 (Oral and Communicative Literacies Region)
FYS 101 Going Global First-Year Seminar Credit(s): 3

Total: 15.5 credits

1st Year – Spring

CONS 105 ShenCommunity Credit(s): .5
DA 112 Modern Dance II Credit(s): 2 *
DA 122 Ballet II Credit(s): 2 *
DA 132 Jazz II Credit(s): 2 *
DA 152 Contemporary Partnering Credit(s): 1 *
DA 386 Dance Ensemble Credit(s): 2
TH 113 Basic Acting for Non-Majors I Credit(s): 3 (Oral and Communicative Literacies Region)
Quantitative Literacy Region Elective Credit(s): 3

Total: 15.5 credits

2nd Year – Fall

CONS 105 ShenCommunity Credit(s): .5
DA Modern Dance Technique (DA 111 or DA 211) Credit(s): 2 *
DA Ballet Technique (DA 121 or DA 221) Credit(s): 2 *
DA 231 Jazz III Credit(s): 2 *
DA 241 Dance Composition I Credit(s): 2 *
DA 271 History and Philosophy of Dance I Credit(s): 3 ^(ALT) (Cultural Understanding Region)
DA 371 Dance Science: Kinesiology Credit(s): 3 ^(ALT)
DA 381 Dance and Music Credit(s): 3
DA 386 Dance Ensemble Credit(s): 2

Total: 16.5 credits

2nd Year – Spring

CONS 105 ShenCommunity Credit(s): .5
DA Modern Dance Technique (DA 112 or DA 212) Credit(s): 2 *
DA Ballet Technique (DA 122 or DA 222) Credit(s): 2 * or
DA Jazz Technique (DA 132 or DA 232) Credit(s): 2 *

DA 242 Dance Composition II Credit(s): 2 *
DA 386 Dance Ensemble Credit(s): 2
DA 472 History and Philosophy of Dance II Credit(s): 3 ^(ALT)
Natural Science Region Elective Credit(s): 3
Ethical Reasoning Region Elective Credit(s): 3
MUPP 233 Voice Class Credit(s): 1
or
Dance Technique Elective Credit(s): 1 *

THDP 131 Introduction to Stage Costuming Credit(s): 3

Total: 15.5 credits

3rd Year – Fall

DA Modern Dance Technique (DA 211 or DA 311 ) Credit(s): 2 *
DA Ballet Technique (DA 221 or DA 321 ) Credit(s): 2 *
DA Dance Technique Elective Credit(s) 1*
DA 341 Dance Composition III Credit(s): 2 *
DA 343 Junior Seminar Credit(s): 1
DA 371 Dance Science: Kinesiology Credit(s): 3 ^(ALT)
DA 386 Dance Ensemble Credit(s): 2
Natural Sciences Region Elective Credit(s): 3

Total: 16 credits

3rd Year – Spring

DA Modern Dance Technique (DA 212 or DA 312 ) Credit(s): 2 *
DA Jazz Technique (DA 232 or DA 332 ) Credit(s): 2 *
DA 260 Movement and Dance for Children Credit(s): 3
or
DA 262 Techniques for Teaching Dance Credit(s): 3
DA 342 Dance Composition IV Credit(s): 2 *
or
- Dance Technique Elective(s) Credit(s): 2 *
or
- Dance Ensemble Credit(s): 2
DA 386 Dance Ensemble Credit(s): 2

Total: 14 credits

Music Literature Elective (Creative Expression Sphere)

Select one course from:

MULT 255 History of American Popular Song Credit(s): 3
MULT 270 Introduction to Indigenous Music Cultures Credit(s): 3
MULT 271 Women in Music Credit(s): 3
MULT 272 Introduction to Performance Studies Credit(s): 3
MULT 273 History of Rock Music Credit(s): 3
MULT 274 Introduction to Music and Sound in Film Credit(s): 3
MULT 275 Western Art Music Appreciation Credit(s): 3

4th Year – Fall

DA 311 Modern Dance V Credit(s): 2 *
DA Jazz Technique (DA 231 or DA 331 ) Credit(s): 2 *
DA 386 Dance Ensemble Credit(s): 2
DA 443 Senior Concert and Seminar I Credit(s): 2 *
DA 453 Dance Lighting Design Credit(s): 1
ART 200 Art Appreciation Credit(s): 3 (Creative Expression Sphere)
Ethical Reasoning Region Elective Credit(s): 3

Total: 15 credits

4th Year – Spring

DA 312 Modern Dance VI Credit(s): 2 *
DA Ballet Technique (DA 222 or DA 322 ) Credit(s): 2 *
DA Dance Technique Elective(s) Credit(s): 2 *
DA 386 Dance Ensemble Credit(s): 2
DA 444 Senior Concert and Seminar II Credit(s): 1
Social and Behavioral Science Region Elective Credit(s): 3

Total: 12 credits

Degree Total: 120 credits

*Minimum grade of “C” required.

(ALT) Offered on alternating schedule; consult with advisor.

Majors must be enrolled in dance technique courses each semester in order to participate in dance ensemble performances. Students are placed at the appropriate technical level in each discipline, and evaluated each semester for advancement to the next level.

Majors must be dancing at the advanced technical level in modern (DA 311 /DA 312 ) and at least the intermediate technical level in ballet (DA 221 /DA 222 ) during both semesters of the senior year.

All 100-level technique classes are repeatable to four credits.

All 200-level technique classes are repeatable to six credits.

All 300-level technique classes are repeatable to eight credits.

Participation in DA 386 Dance Ensemble or one of the Dance production courses (DA 153 or DA 353 ) is required every semester of full-time enrollment. BFA Dance Majors are required to participate in all main stage productions of the Dance Division as either cast or crew.

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Dance (B.F.A.)

Program Outcomes

Course and Credit Requirements

1st Year – Fall

Total: 15.5 credits

1st Year – Spring

Total: 15.5 credits

2nd Year – Fall

Total: 16.5 credits

2nd Year – Spring

Total: 15.5 credits

3rd Year – Fall

Total: 16 credits

3rd Year – Spring

Total: 14 credits

Music Literature Elective (Creative Expression Sphere)

4th Year – Fall

Total: 15 credits

4th Year – Spring

Total: 12 credits

Degree Total: 120 credits