Dance Studies - Major

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 pedagogy, production/stage management, arts administration, dance therapy, dance history, dance criticism, 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 spirit of creative investigation, original research, and productivity are main themes - courses stress personal creativity, individual growth, and strong dance training, within a greater context of 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.

Dance - Minor

also available.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will possess the following competencies:

The ability to identify and work conceptually with the elements of dance.
An understanding of choreographic processes, aesthetic properties of style, and the ways these shape and are shaped by artistic and cultural ideas and contexts.
An acquaintance with a wide selection of dance repertory, the principal eras, genres, and cultural sources.
The ability to develop and defend critical evaluations.
Fundamental knowledge of the body and of kinesiology as applicable to work in dance.
An understanding of procedures for realizing a variety of dance styles.

Program Director

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

Dance Studies Program Requirements

Total credits required to fulfill major: 58

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 2.75 for General Requirements.

THA 090 - New Student Spotlight Credits: 0
MUS.Q 102 - Introduction to the Language of Music Credits: 3
DAN 260 - Integrated Somatic Anatomy and Kinesiology Credits: 3
DAN 499 - Senior Capstone Project/Comprehensive Credits: 0
*As part of DAN 499, successful completion of senior project is required for degree completion

Composition Requirements

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

DAN 310 - Dance Theory and Improvisation Credits: 2
Required co-requisite: DAN 310L Dance Theory and Improvisation Movement Lab Credits: 1
DAN 322 - Choreography I - Theories of Dance Composition Credits: 3
DAN 380 - Choreography II - Advanced Theories of Dance Composition Credits: 3

Technique/Studio Requirements

Students must earn a minimum GPA of 3.0 for Technical/Studio Requirements. In addition, students must complete at least three 300-level Technique courses to graduate as a Dance Studies major.

Ballet - Minimum 8 credits required from the following courses:
DAN 101 - Ballet Barre: Strength and Stretch Credits: 1
Required co-requisite: DAN 101L Ballet Barre Movement Lab: Strength and Stretch Lab Credits: 1
DAN 208 - Ballet I Technique Credits: 2
Required co-requisite: DAN 208L Ballet I Technique Movement Lab Credits: 1
DAN 308 - Ballet II Technique Credits: 2
Required co-requisite: DAN 308L Ballet II Technique Movement Lab Credits: 1
DAN 408 - Ballet III Technique Credits: 2
Required co-requisite: DAN 408L Ballet III Technique Movement Lab Credits: 1
DAN 205 - Open Ballet I Credits: 1
Required co-requisite: DAN 205L Open Ballet I - Movement Lab Credits: 1
DAN 305 - Open Ballet II Credits: 1
Required co-requisite: DAN 305L Open Ballet II Movement Lab Credits: 1
Modern/Somatics - Minimum 10 credits required from the following courses:
DAN 110 - Pilates, Placement and Conditioning Credits: 1
Required co-requisite: DAN 110L Pilates Movement Lab Credits: 1
DAN 212 - Modern I Dance Technique Credits: 2
Required co-requisite: DAN 212L Modern I Movement Lab Credits: 1
DAN 312 - Modern II Dance Technique Credits: 2
Required co-requisite: DAN 312L Modern II Dance Technique Movement Lab Credits: 1
DAN 412 - Modern III Technique and Theory Credits: 2
Required co-requisite: DAN 412L Modern III Technique Movement Lab Credits: 1
DAN 213 - Special Topics in Contemporary Dance Technique Credits: 1
Required co-requisite: DAN 213L Special Topics in Contemporary Dance Technique: Movement Lab Credits: 1
Elective Options - Minimum 8 credits required from the following courses:
DAN 102 - Afro-Caribbean Contemporary Dance Credits: 1
Required co-requisite: DAN 102L Afro-Caribbean Contemporary Dance Movement Lab Credits: 1
DAN 211 - Jazz Dance I Credits: 1
Required co-requisite: DAN 211L Jazz Dance I Movement Lab Credits: 1
DAN 311 - Jazz Dance II Technique Credits: 1
Required co-requisite: DAN 311L Jazz Dance II Movement Lab Credits: 1
DAN 209 - Tap I Technique Credits: 1
Required co-requisite: DAN 209L Tap I Technique Movement Lab Credits: 1
DAN 309 - Tap II Technique Credits: 1
Required co-requisite: DAN 309L Tap II Technique Movement Lab Credits: 1
DAN 307 - Forms of Social Dance and Partnering Credits: 1
Required co-requisite: DAN 307L Forms of Social Dance and Partnering Movement Lab Credits: 1
MTHA 313 - Musical Theatre Dance Credits: 1
Required co-requisite: MTHA 313L Musical Theatre Dance Styles and Auditions Movement Lab Credits: 1
MTHA 104 - Musical Theatre Dance Fundamentals Credits: 2
Required co-requisite: MTHA 104L Musical Theatre Dance Fundamentals Movement Lab Credits: 1

Theory Course Requirements

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

Complete 9 credits from the following courses:

DAN.Q 130 - Dance and Culture Credits: 3
DAN 315 - Introduction to Dance/Movement Therapy Credits: 3
DAN 333G - PII Anthropology of Dance Credits: 3
DAN 350 - Dance as Art - History and Aesthetics Credits: 3
DAN 355 - The Art and Theory of Dance Pedagogy Credits: 3

Performance/Production Course Requirements

Complete a minimum of five credits from the following courses:

THL Lab - Theatre Lab Dance Credits: 0-1
THA 150 - Technical Theatre I Credits: 3 / THA 150L Technical Theatre I Lab Credits: 0
DAN 242 - Dance Performance/Repertory Credits: 0 to 1 (repeatable)

Experiential Learning Courses/Senior Capstone

Complete a minimum of 3 credits from the following courses:

DAN 400 - (Dance) Performance and Collaboration Credits: 3
DAN 401 - Dance and Community Engagement Credits: 3

Dance Studies - Sample Program

Fall Semester Freshman Year	Credits	Spring Semester Freshman Year	Credits
DAN 212L Modern I Movement Lab /DAN 212 or DAN 312L Modern II Dance Technique Movement Lab /DAN 312	1-3	ENGW 102 Argument and Research	3
DAN.Q 130 Dance and Culture PEQ (1)	3	DAN 208L Ballet I Technique Movement Lab /DAN 208 or DAN 308L Ballet II Technique Movement Lab /DAN 308	3
DAN 205L Open Ballet I - Movement Lab /DAN 205 or DAN 305L Open Ballet II Movement Lab /DAN 305	2	DAN 310L Dance Theory and Improvisation Movement Lab /DAN 310	3
DAN 110L Pilates Movement Lab /DAN 110	1-2	DAN 242 Dance Performance/Repertory (or THL 242)	0-1
ENGW 101 Exposition	3	DAN 213L Special Topics in Contemporary Dance Technique: Movement Lab /DAN 213	1-2
ACS 101 Academic and College Success	1	DAN 260 Integrated Somatic Anatomy and Kinesiology	3
FYS - PEQ (2)	3	PEQ (3)	3
Audition for DAN 242 Performance Repertory	0
THA 090 New Student Spotlight	0
TOTAL CREDITS	14-17	TOTAL CREDITS	17-18

Fall Semester Sophomore Year	Credits	Spring Semester Sophomore Year	Credits
DAN 312L Modern II Dance Technique Movement Lab /DAN 312 or DAN 412L Modern III Technique Movement Lab /DAN 412	1	DAN 308L Ballet II Technique Movement Lab /DAN 308 or DAN 408L Ballet III Technique Movement Lab /DAN 408	1-3
DAN 205L Open Ballet I - Movement Lab or DAN 305L Open Ballet II Movement Lab	1	Technique Elective	1-2
THA 150 Technical Theatre I /THA 150L	3	DAN 350 Dance as Art - History and Aesthetics or DAN 333G PII Anthropology of Dance	3
DAN 322 Choreography I - Theories of Dance Composition	3	DAN 242 Dance Performance/Repertory (or THL 242)	0-1
MUS.Q 102 Introduction to the Language of Music	3	PEQ (6)	3
PEQ (4) science with lab	4	PEQ (7)	3
PEQ (5)	3	Integrative Studies (IS) course - 1	3
TOTAL CREDITS	18	TOTAL CREDITS	14-18

Fall Semester Junior Year	Credits	Spring Semester Junior Year	Credits
DAN 355 The Art and Theory of Dance Pedagogy or DAN 315 Introduction to Dance/Movement Therapy	3	DAN 213L Special Topics in Contemporary Dance Technique: Movement Lab /DAN 213 (or other Technique Elective)	2
DAN 312L Modern II Dance Technique Movement Lab /DAN 312 or DAN 412L Modern III Technique Movement Lab /DAN 412	1-3	Technique Elective	1-3
Technique Elective	1-2	THL or DAN 242 Performance/Repertory	0-1
DAN 380	3	Integrative Studies (IS) - 3	3
DAN 242 Dance Performance/Repertory	1	Elective	3
Integrative Studies (IS) course - 2	3	Elective	3
PEQ (8)	3	Elective	3
TOTAL CREDITS	15-18	TOTAL CREDITS	15-18

Fall Semester Senior Year	Credits	Spring Semester Senior Year	Credits
DAN 412L Modern III Technique Movement Lab /DAN 412	3	DAN 242 Dance Performance/Repertory (or THL 242)	0-1
Technique Elective	1-2	Technique Elective	2
DAN 401 Dance and Community Engagement	3	DAN 400 (Dance) Performance and Collaboration	3
Elective	3	DAN 499 Senior Capstone Project/Comprehensive	0
Elective	3	Elective	3
Elective	3	Elective	3
CME 050 Core Milestone Experience	0	Elective	3
TOTAL CREDITS	16-17	TOTAL CREDITS	14-15
*Note - all students must complete 60 credits of courses with the Liberal Arts designation*