Apr 24, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Dance BFA


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Do you love that feeling when your body moves perfectly across the stage or studio? Do you stay awake at night thinking about how to choreograph routines? Do you want to spend your life performing, directing or teaching dance? 

If so, then majoring in dance might be right for you. It’s a program that will keep you on your toes-both literally and metaphorically. So if you want a lifetime of doing what you love (with people who love it as much as you do), then it’s time to take the next step.

Visit the Dance academic program page for more information about the academic experience, who you will learn from, opportunities outside of class and what you can do with this degree.

Visit the Theatre and Dance department page  for contact information, a brief overview of the department and the curricular options.

Admission Criteria


Admission for the Dance BFA major requires an audition. Please visit the Audition Registration to schedule an audition.

Course Requirements


Dance Core (81 credits)


Notes


*There is a course fee associated with Ballet and Modern courses

Total Credits Required for Major: 92


Additional Degree Requirements Include:


  • Additional coursework to fulfill UB Curriculum requirements 
  • Elective courses as needed to complete the 123 credit hour total

Total Credits Required for Graduation: 126


Total Credit Hours Required represents the minimum credits needed to complete this program, and may vary based on a number of circumstances. This should not be used for financial aid purposes.

Academic Requirements


  • Audition
  • Minimum GPA of 2.000
  • Minimum GPA of 2.500 in the prerequisite courses
  • A minimum grade of C+ is necessary in all required courses.

Transfer Credit Policy

Students will be placed in the appropriate level of technique courses based on this evaluation, which may not correspond directly to student’s academic year. A core requirement of the dance program is the students’ practical work on and in productions. As performers, students need to be in residence at UB in order to complete degree requirements.

Curricular Plan


A Curricular Plan provides a roadmap for completing this academic program and the UB Curriculum on time. Your actual plan may vary depending on point of entry to the university, course placement and/or waivers based on standardized test scores, earned alternative credit and/or college transfer credit.

First Year Fall


Total Credits: 17 or 18


First Year Spring


Total Credits: 14 or 15


Total Credits: 18


Second Year Spring


Total Credits: 19


Total Credits: 16


Third Year Spring


Total Credits: 13


Total Credits: 12-15


Total Credits: 13


Total Credits Required: 126


Note: Some classes may count toward both a major and UB Curriculum requirement.

Learning Outcomes


Diversified Technique Methodologies. Students will demonstrate:

  • Technical proficiency, rhythmic acuity moving musically and dynamically
  • Cognitive complexity in insightful use of dance vocabulary
  • A well developed sense of placement, elevation, control and style
  • A sense coordination, use of weight, directional focus
  • An understanding of musical accompaniment
  • Knowledge of the theory of diversified techniques
  • 23 Dance Technique courses, from lower to upper levels that include: Ballet (6 levels), Modern (6 levels), Jazz (6 levels), Tap (3 levels); Social Dance; Pas de Deux; and TH 108LEC - Basic Acting I  

Cultural & Historical. Students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate a knowledge of historical facts, as well as social and cultural issues that influenced development of dance as an art form
  • Discuss, articulate, express, and debate a variety of cultural movement contexts technically, historically, philosophically, and aesthetically
  • Examine and communicate the importance of dance history in relation to other arts, social! and political concerns that influenced the dancers and choreographers of the time
  • Discuss the role of dance in various cultures and historical periods
  • Research theoretical and interdisciplinary approaches to dance arts aesthetics

Choreography, Composition and Improvisation. Students will be able to:

  • Apply choreographic principles, processes, and structures to create original work that exhibits choreographic intent
  • Investigate and generate new movement solutions and constructively apply feedback to rework, revise, and refine choreography
  • Verbally articulate informed ideas about choreography and dance performance
  • Incorporate the process of movement exploration, concept development, manipulation of ideas, to generating original choreography for performance
  • Move spontaneously, without premeditated choreographing

Somatic Practices. Students will be able to:

  • Explain kinesiological principles of the human body
  • Assess and record anatomical strengths, weaknesses
  • Examine the function of dance science and its role in building technical and artistic proficiency in dance technique
  • Have a working knowledge of basic care for such injuries, and to correctly utilize conditioning practices
  • Relate the principles of dance science in relation to dance and healthful living

 

(HEGIS: 10.08 DANCE, CIP50.0301 Dance, General)

 

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