Oct 08, 2024  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

Dance Studies - Major


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The B.S. in Dance Studies is a degree with a rigorous foundation in both the arts and sciences. The program has a strong emphasis on both the “how” and “why” of dance, with a solid grounding in not only the physical, but also the cultural, historical, aesthetic, entrepreneurial, therapeutic, and theoretical functions of dance. The Dance Studies program prepares graduates for employment, graduate degrees, and/or certification programs in such areas as dance performance, choreography, dance education, production/stage management, arts administration, dance therapy, dance science/medicine, dance history, dance wellness, dance theory and research, somatic therapies, and movement analysis.

Emphasizing the development of the well-rounded dance artist living and working within a global and technological community, we are forwarding the concept of the “thinking dancer” through this program. The relatively small class sizes allow our professional faculty to work closely with each dancer, guiding them individually in their preparation and career pathway. The spirit of creative investigation, original research, and development of connections are main themes - courses stress personal creativity, individual growth, and strong dance training, within a greater context of collaboration and social awareness. The Dance Studies program will provide an excellent means of gaining in-depth knowledge of the art form and its related fields through multi-faceted training in performance, theory, wellness, interdisciplinarity, pedagogy, and current modes of research. The Dance Studies major can be easily paired with a minor or potentially another major in the student’s area of interest.

  also available.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will possess the following competencies:

  • Fundamental knowledge of biomechanics, injury prevention, somatic awareness and of anatomy as applicable to work in dance and with other bodies.
  • An inclusive and unbiased approach to understanding multiple techniques, their historical development, and training/pedagogical approaches for realizing a variety of diverse dance styles.
  • The ability to identify and work conceptually with the elements of dance, and realize their framework and application in creative, performance, therapeutic, and educational realms.
  • Experience with differing choreographic processes, aesthetic properties of style, and the ways these shape and are shaped by pluralistic and cultural ideas and contexts.
  • An introduction to the intersections of dance with history, culture, science, art, politics, therapy, education, and technology, and how these are informed by issues of equity/power structures, and diversity.
  • The ability to develop and defend critical evaluations, collaborate and engage with multiple perspectives, self-reflect, and self-assess.

 

Program Director

Heather Roffe
Professor, Dance
Department of Theatre and Dance
Nazareth University
(585) 389-2163
hroffe4@naz.edu
 

Dance Studies Program Requirements

Total credits required to fulfill major: 57.5

Core Curriculum Requirements


All Nazareth students complete Core Curriculum coursework as part of their degree requirements. The Core provides a foundation in the liberal arts and sciences while guiding students to pose and explore their own intellectual questions. See Academic Policies and Procedures  for specific core curriculum requirements. 

General Requirements


Students must earn a minimum GPA of 2.5 for General Requirements.

Dance Composition/Choreography Requirements


Students must earn a minimum GPA of 2.75 for Dance Composition/Choreography Requirements.

Technique/Studio Requirements


Students must earn a minimum GPA of 2.75 for Technical/Studio Requirements. In addition, students must complete at least two 300-level Technique courses to graduate as a Dance Studies major. All technique courses are repeatable.

Theory Course Requirements


Students must earn a minimum GPA of 2.75 for Theory Course Requirements.

Complete 9 credits from the following courses:

Performance/Production Course Requirements


Students cast in DAN*242 or DAN*Lab must register for at least one dance/movement technique class concurrently.

Complete a minimum of 4 credits from the following courses:

Experiential Learning Courses/Senior Capstone


Dance Studies - Sample Program


Fall Semester Freshman Year Credits Spring Semester Freshman Year Credits
THA 001 Theatre & Dance Department Forum   0 THA 001 Theatre & Dance Department Forum   0
DAN 212 Introduction to Modern Dance   3 ENGW 102 Argument and Research   3
PEQ (1)  or other PEQ course 3 Afro-Diasporic/Fusion Technique Elective or DAN 308 Ballet II Technique   2-3
DAN 305 Open Ballet II   2 DAN 310 Dance Theory and Improvisation   3
DAN 110 Pilates, Placement and Conditioning   2 DAN 242 Dance Ensemble Performance/Repertory  or DAN LAB Dance Production/Performance   0
ENGW 101 Exposition    3 DAN 213 Special Topics in Contemporary Dance Technique   2
ACS 101 Academic and College Success   1 DAN.Q 130 Dance and Culture  PEQ (3) 3
FYS - PEQ (2) 3 PEQ (4) 3
Audition for DAN 242 Dance Ensemble Performance/Repertory   0    
DAN 090 New Student Spotlight   0.5    
TOTAL CREDITS 17.5 TOTAL CREDITS 16-17
 
Fall Semester Sophomore Year Credits Spring Semester Sophomore Year Credits
THA 001 Theatre & Dance Department Forum   0 THA 001 Theatre & Dance Department Forum   0
DAN 312 Modern II Dance Technique  or DAN 412 Modern III Technique and Theory   3 DAN 308 Ballet II Technique  or DAN 408 Ballet III Technique   3
DAN 205 Ballet Barre and Conditioning  or DAN 305 Open Ballet II   1-2 Afro-Diasporic/Fusion Technique Elective 2
THA 150 Technical Theatre I /THA 150L   3 DAN 350 Dance as Art - History and Aesthetics  or DAN 333G Anthropology of Dance   3
DAN 322 Choreography I - Theories of Dance Composition   3 DAN 242 Dance Ensemble Performance/Repertory  or DAN LAB Dance Production/Performance   0-1
PEQ (5) 3 DAN 260 Integrated Somatic Anatomy and Kinesiology   3
PEQ (6) 3  PEQ (7) 3
    Integrative Studies/DEIB (IS/DEIB) course - 1 3
TOTAL CREDITS 16-17 TOTAL CREDITS 17-18
 
Fall Semester Junior Year Credits Spring Semester Junior Year Credits
THA 001 Theatre & Dance Department Forum   0 THA 001 Theatre & Dance Department Forum   0
DAN 355 The Art and Theory of Dance Pedagogy  or DAN 315 Introduction to Dance/Movement Therapy   3 DAN 213 Special Topics in Contemporary Dance Technique   2
DAN 312 Modern II Dance Technique  or DAN 412 Modern III Technique and Theory   3 Afro-Diasporic/Fusion Technique Elective 2
Afro-Diasporic/Fusion Technique Elective 2 DAN 305 Open Ballet II   2
DAN 242 Dance Ensemble Performance/Repertory  (or THL 242) 0-1 DAN 242 Dance Ensemble Performance/Repertory  or DAN LAB Dance Production/Performance   0-1
 Integrative Studies (IS) course - 2 3 Integrative Studies (IS) - 3 3
PEQ (8) - science with lab 4 Elective 3
  4 Elective 3
    Elective 3
TOTAL CREDITS

15-16

TOTAL CREDITS 18-19
 
Fall Semester Senior Year Credits Spring Semester Senior Year Credits
THA 001 Theatre & Dance Department Forum   0 THA 001 Theatre & Dance Department Forum   0
DAN 412 Modern III Technique and Theory   3 DAN 242 Dance Ensemble Performance/Repertory  or DAN LAB Dance Production/Performance   0-1
Afro-Diasporic/Fusion or Ballet Technique Elective 2 Afro-Diasporic/Fusion, or Contemporary Technique Elective 2
Elective 3 DAN 400 Community and Collaboration in Dance   3
DAN 315 Introduction to Dance/Movement Therapy ,DAN 355 The Art and Theory of Dance Pedagogy  or DAN.Q 130 Dance and Culture   3 DAN 499 Senior Capstone Project/Comprehensive   0
CME 050 Core Milestone Experience   0 DAN 452 Senior Seminar in Dance   3
 DEIB Designated Course 3 DAN 308 Ballet II Technique  or DAN 408 Ballet III Technique   3
Elective 3  Elective 3
TOTAL CREDITS 17 TOTAL CREDITS 14-15
 
Note - all students must complete 60 credits of courses with the Liberal Arts designation

 

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