Dance

Undergraduate Programs

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance (132 units)

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance is designed to prepare students for professional careers as performers and/or choreographers. All students wishing to pursue the BFA in Dance must demonstrate strong technical skill and must audition after successfully completing the following course work with a grade of "B" or better: DANC 120; 6 units from DANC 152 and/or 252; 6 units from DANC 154 and/or 254; and one unit from DANC 181A, 181B, 381A, 381B. If students are within 3 weeks of completing the requirements, they may audition with a signed Grade In Progress form. Students may not apply after they have completed 90 units.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Majors will demonstrate proficient skills and technique in modern dance and ballet, with competency in jazz dance and/or other forms, enabling them to pursue professional dance careers.
2. Majors will demonstrate competencies in choreographic processes that support the development of creative and collaborative professional opportunities.
3. Majors will demonstrate substantial knowledge of the historical and scientific dimensions of dance, to give depth and perspective to the performance and pedagogical aspects of the dance discipline.
4. Majors will develop and demonstrate current methods and relevant strategies necessary to pursue professional careers in dance and dance-related fields.
5. Majors will demonstrate the skills necessary to analyze and review dance, both orally and in writing the history, concepts and aesthetic qualities of dance.
6. Majors will demonstrate selected practical skills in the production and technological aspects of dance.

Requirements

Composition (8 units):

Take all the following courses:

DANC 120 Improvisation (2)
Prerequisites: None
DANC 220 Composition I (3)
Prerequisite: DANC 120. Corequisite: DANC 131.
DANC 320 Composition II (3)
Prerequisite: DANC 220.

Theory (29 units):

Take all the following courses:

DANC 100 Orientation to Dance (1)
Corequisite: DANC 152 or 154.
DANC 131 Introduction to Music (2)
Prerequisites: None
DANC 161 Body Placement (2)
Prerequisites: Open to Dance Majors and Minors.
DANC 260 Functional Anatomy for the Dancer (3)
Prerequisites: DANC 161 or consent of the instructor.
DANC 261 Anatomy with Clay Laboratory (1)
Prerequisites: DANC 161 or consent of the instructor. Corequisites: DANC 260 or consent of the instructor.
DANC 262 Pilates I (3)
Prerequisites: DANC 260 or BIOL 208.
DANC 342 Global Cultures and Dance Traditions (3)
Prerequisites: None
DANC 442 Dance and Social Identity in the U.S. (3)
Prerequisites: None
DANC 445 Movement Analysis (3)
Prerequisites: Open to Dance Majors and Minors only.
DANC 470 Dance Pedagogy (3)
Prerequisites: DANC 312, or consent of instructor.
DANC 498 Senior Seminar in Dance (2)
Prerequisites: DANC 312, 314, 320, 442.

Select one of the following courses:

DANC 491A Design for Dance Lighting (3)
Prerequisites: Upper division standing or consent of instructor.
DANC 491B Design for Dance Costuming (3)
Prerequisites: Upper division standing or consent of instructor.

Performance/Crew (7 units):

Take two units from the following courses:

DANC 181A, 181B, 381A, 381B, 481A, 481B;

Take five units from the following courses:

DANC 180A, 180B, 295, 321, 380A, 380B, 480A, 480B, 495.

Technique (26 units):

Take eleven units from the following courses: (2 units must be earned from 312)

DANC 152, 252, 312, 412

Take eleven units from the following courses: (2 units must be earned from 314)

DANC 154, 254, 314, 414

Take two units from the following courses:

DANC 216, 316

Take two units from the following courses:

DANC 412, 414

General Education (3 units):

Take the following course:

DANC 373 Nonverbal Communication: Interaction of Mind and Body (3)
Prerequisites: GE Foundation requirements, completion of one or more Exploration course(s), and upper division standing.