Mar 19, 2025

2025-2026 Undergraduate Catalog

Dance BA

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Pursuing a degree in Dance at UB provides a rigorous and immersive academic and artistic experience. Both the BA and BFA programs are designed to enhance your technical precision, artistic expression, and choreographic skills while deepening your understanding of dance as both a discipline and a profession.

This comprehensive program cultivates both technical excellence and creative innovation, preparing students for professional success in performance, choreography, and dance education. As part of a vibrant community of dedicated artists and scholars, you will refine your craft, broaden your artistic perspective, and develop the critical and practical skills necessary for a dynamic career in dance. Take the next step toward transforming your passion into a profession.

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 BA major requires an audition. Please visit the Audition Registration to schedule an audition.

Major Requirements

Prerequisite Courses (16 credits)

TH 106LEC - Introduction to Entertainment Technology Credits: 3
TH 135LAB - Production Practicum Credits: 1 OR
TH 136LAB - Production Practicum Credits: 1
DAC 201LEC - Modern Dance 1 Credits: 3 *
DAC 210LEC - Tap Dance 1 Credits: 3
DAC 213LEC - Ballet 1 Credits: 2-3 * (3 credits required**)
DAC 263LEC - Jazz Dance 1 Credits: 2-3 (3 credits required**)

Dance Core (39-43 credits)

DAC 202LEC - Modern Dance 2 Credits: 2-3 * (3 credits required**)
DAC 211LEC - Tap Dance 2 Credits: 2-3 (3 credits required**)
DAC 214LEC - Ballet 2 Credits: 2-3 * (3 credits required**)
DAC 264LEC - Jazz Dance 2 Credits: 2-3 (3 credits required**)
DAC 330SEM - Global Dance Studies Credits: 3
DAC 345SEM - Modern Dance 3 Credits: 3 *
DAC 350LEC - Introduction to Movement Analysis and Somatic Practice Credits: 3
DAC 430LEC - Dance History Credits: 3
DAC 432LEC - Applied Kinesiology and Anatomy for Dancers Credits: 3
DAC 441SEM - Choreography 1 Credits: 3
DAC 454SEM - Teaching Methods in Dance Credits: 3
Two 200/300-level TH practicums Credits 1-2
Choose One of the Following
DAC 442SLB - Choreography 2 Credits: 3
DAC 445SEM - Advanced Choreographic Projects Credits: 1-3
Choose One of the Following
TH 108LEC - Basic Acting I Credits: 3
TH 203LEC - Visual Imagination Credits: 3

One Technique Sequence (9-12 credits)

Complete one sequence through level 6 in Ballet, Modern or Jazz:

Ballet*

DAC 341SEM - Ballet 3 Credits: 3
DAC 342SEM - Ballet 4 Credits: 3
DAC 421SEM - Ballet 5 Credits: 2-3 (3 credits required**)
DAC 422SEM - Ballet 6 Credits: 2-3 (3 credits required**)

Modern*

DAC 346SEM - Modern Dance 4 Credits: 3
DAC 410SEM - Modern Dance 5 Credits: 2-3 (3 credits required**)
DAC 411SEM - Modern Dance 6 Credits: 2-3 (3 credits required**)

Jazz

DAC 371LEC - Jazz Dance 3 Credits: 3
DAC 372LEC - Jazz Dance 4 Credits: 3
DAC 417LEC - Jazz Dance 5 Credits: 2-3 (3 credits required**)
DAC 418LEC - Jazz Dance 6 Credits: 2-3 (3 credits required**)

Notes

* A course fee may be associated with Ballet and Modern technique courses.

** Students who enter prior to 2025 take 2 credits.

Total Credits Required for Major: 64-71

Additional Degree Requirements Include:

Additional coursework to fulfill UB Curriculum requirements
Elective courses as needed to complete the 120 credit hour total

Total Credits Required for Graduation: 120

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 overall
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

YEAR 1

Fall Semester

UB Seminar Credits: 3
DAC 201LEC - Modern Dance 1 Credits: 3
DAC 210LEC - Tap Dance 1 Credits: 3
DAC 213LEC - Ballet 1 Credits: 2-3 (3 credits required)
DAC 263LEC - Jazz Dance 1 Credits: 2-3 (3 credits required)
TH 106LEC - Introduction to Entertainment Technology Credits: 3
TH 135LAB - Production Practicum Credits: 1

Total Credits: 19

Spring Semester

ENG 105LEC - Writing and Rhetoric Credits: 4
DAC 202LEC - Modern Dance 2 Credits: 2-3 (3 credits required)
DAC 211LEC - Tap Dance 2 Credits: 2-3 (3 credits required)
DAC 214LEC - Ballet 2 Credits: 2-3 (3 credits required)
DAC 264LEC - Jazz Dance 2 Credits: 2-3 (3 credits required)
200/300-level Practicum Credits:1 (minimum)

Total Credits: 17

YEAR 2

Fall Semester

DAC 345SEM - Modern Dance 3 Credits: 3
Dance Sequence (Level 3 Dance) Credits: 3 OR Elective Credits: 3 (available for Modern Dance students)
Pathway Credits: 3
Pathway Cedits: 3
Pathway Credits: 3

Total Credits: 15

Spring Semester

DAC 330SEM - Global Dance Studies Credits: 3
Dance Sequence Course (Level 4) Credits: 3
200/300-level TH practicum Credits: 1 (minimum)
Math & Quantitative Reasoning Credits: 4
Scientific Literacy and Inquiry 1 Credits: 3
Scientific Literacy and Inquiry Lab Credits: 1
Pathway Credits: 3

Total Credits: 18

YEAR 3

Fall Semester

TH 203LEC - Visual Imagination Credits: 3 OR TH 108LEC - Basic Acting I Credits: 3
DAC 350LEC - Introduction to Movement Analysis and Somatic Practice Credits: 3
DAC 441SEM - Choreography 1 Credits: 3
Dance Sequence Course (Level 5) Credits: 3
Science Literacy and Inquiry 2 Credits: 3

Total Credits: 15

Spring Semester

Dance Sequence Course (Level 6) Credits: 3
DAC 442SLB - Choreography 2 Credits: 3
Pathway Credits: 3
Communication Literacy 2: Credits: 3

Total Credits: 12

YEAR 4

Fall Semester

DAC 430LEC - Dance History Credits: 3
DAC 432LEC - Applied Kinesiology and Anatomy for Dancers Credits: 3
UBC 399MNT - UB Curriculum Capstone Credits: 1
Pathway Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 2

Total Credits: 12

Spring Semester

DAC 454SEM - Teaching Methods in Dance Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3
Elective Credits: 3

Total Credits: 12

TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED: 120

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

Learning Outcomes

Students will demonstrate: in studio classes and performances technical proficiency and performance ability in diverse/broad range of movement disciplines and styles. Students will be able to do the following:

Choreograph reflective principles, processes, and structures to create original work that exhibits choreographic intent.
Demonstrate Technical proficiency, rhythmic acuity moving musically & dynamically;
Demonstrate & develop instructional strategies for reaching the concepts of coordination, use of weight, directional focus;
Demonstrate & develop instructional strategies for teaching an understanding of musical accompaniment;
Demonstrate a knowledge of historical facts, social and cultural issues
Examine, research and communicate theoretical and interdisciplinary approaches to dance arts relation to other arts

(HEGIS: 10.08 DANCE, CIP: 50.0301 Dance, General)