Dance Major (BA, BS)

Description

The Department of Dance at SUNY Brockport seeks to provide a rigorous and nurturing environment for the development of artists, scholars, choreographers, and educators. We support creativity through conceptualization and performance. The Department of Dance comprises artists, scholars, and educators who train dancers on the graduate and undergraduate level for a wide variety of careers in the arts. Through consistent advisement and mentoring, the department supports students in identifying, pursuing, and achieving their unique career goals.

The department has some of the best dance facilities in the country, including its own fully equipped proscenium dance theater, a large-space studio theater, five studios, a body-conditioning lab, costume and scene shops, and computerized music and design studios. Faculty and professional staff are nationally and internationally recognized in their areas of expertise and are leaders in professional organizations such as CORD, NASD and NDEO.

Undergraduates with a strong foundation of dance training are invited to participate in the program by auditioning to enroll as dance majors or minors in the BA or BS programs, and are eligible to apply to the BFA program in the second semester. Additionally, the department offers two graduate degrees, and serves a large number of students through courses that fulfill General Education requirements.

Admission to the Program

All students wishing to major in dance must pass a department audition. Three auditions are scheduled each year.

Students may begin the dance major as freshmen, sophomores or juniors.

Note to transfer students: Transfer credits in dance are evaluated and accepted as fulfilling major requirements or dance electives as appropriate. A maximum of 18 credits may be transferred into the BA/BS dance major.

Program Requirements

Requirements for Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) Degree in Dance

Students in this degree program pursue either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree, and must complete the corresponding degree’s requirements. (See the BFA in Dance for the requirements of the BFA program.) Note: To ensure breadth of experience, required dance major courses can only be used to satisfy one Fine Arts Knowledge Area course requirement in General Education.

Careful planning of course sequences and consultation with faculty advisors is essential.

General Education Requirements (31-40* credits)

Major Department Requirements (39 credits)

Dance Technique (12 credits)

• DNS204 Experiential Anatomy and Conditioning
• DNS205 Modern Dance I
• DNS245 Modern Dance II
• Select 4 credits from the following courses:
  • DNS345 Modern Dance III
  • DNS445 Modern Dance IV
  • DNS253 Beginning Ballet
  • DNS353 Intermediate Ballet
  • DNS453 Advanced Ballet
  • DNS330 African Dance II
  • DNS433 African Dance III
  • DNS454 Dance Styles

Choreography (5 credits)

• DNS208 Dance Production Practicum
• DNS364 Dance Improvisation
• DNS306 Beginning Dance Choreography

Theory (12 credits)

• ONE of the following courses:
  • MUS300 Music for Dance
  • AAS232 African Music and Drumming for Dance*
• DNS206 21st Century Dance: Issues and Styles*
• ONE of the following courses:
  • DNS483 Children’s Dance I
  • DNS487 Dance Pedagogy Workshop
• ONE of the following courses:
  • DNS305 Kinesiology for Dancers
  • DNS375 Movement Analysis

Electives (6 credits)

• Students select six credits of additional upper division dance courses (numbered 300 or higher), excluding leveled courses in modern and ballet (e.g. DNS 205, 245, 345, 445; DNS 253, 353, 453) by advisement.

Note: Up to 19 additional elective dance credits may be taken to meet the 120-credit degree requirement for a Bachelor’s Degree.

* Denotes courses that meet both major and general education requirements

Electives (43-46 Credits)

Total Credits (120 Credits)

Additional Degree Requirements

• Grades of “C” or higher are required in all 39 required dance credits.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

1. Apply artistry through qualitative and rhythmic phrasing, dynamic range & individual expressivity.
2. Embody consistently clear physical knowledge, movement accuracy and technical expertise of contemporary dance idioms.
3. Create choreography that integrates imaginative and structural concepts.
4. Articulate an understanding of aesthetics through dance-making and/or oral and written forms.
5. Analyze human movement from varied theoretical and experiential perspectives.
6. Identify individual interests and abilities in order to situate within the larger dance field.
7. Exhibit appropriate professional conduct throughout choreographic process, performance, collaboration, and production.