The Department of Dance offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Dance Performance and Choreography, a BFA in Dance Production and Management, a BFA for the Professional Dancer, as well as minors and certificate programs in dance, dance production, and Pilates. A unique feature of the program allows students to train with equal emphasis in ballet, modern, and jazz dance technique, alongside the areas of dance design and production. A wide variety of courses in Pilates, composition and choreography, music theory, dance production and lighting, dance history, aesthetics, kinesiology, and world dance are required study for serious students of dance.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance, concentration in Performance and Choreography
The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree focuses on an in-depth curriculum of professional dance technique, choreography, and performance in preparation for a professional performing career in dance.
Bachelor in Fine Arts in Dance, concentration in Production and Management
Bachelor in Fine Arts in Dance, concentration in Production and Management degree empowers the dance major with a functional and practical understanding of the production “behind-the-scenes” workings of the dance theatre event. These students can go on to be dance company managers, lighting designers, costumers, scenic designers, dance studio owners, and company managers.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance, concentration in Dance for the Professional Dancer
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance, concentration in Dance for the Professional Dancer is for both current and former dance professionals who would like to make their experience count toward a degree in higher education. Professional dance experience means that the dancer must be or have been employed by a recognized professional dance company or a recognized professional stage show (such as Broadway or a Las Vegas Hotel Show) for a minimum of 5 consecutive years. Studio dance companies and competition performances do not count as professional experience. Freelance dancers/choreographers may be considered on the amount of recognized professional job experience. Professional BFA candidates can design their own program of dance study to fit their needs and interests with a wide variety of dance and liberal arts courses.
Minor in Dance
The minor in dance provides a 51ԹϺ student majoring in another area the opportunity to investigate the area of dance and design a series of classes that cater to the student’s areas of interest within the milieu of the dance art form.
Minor in Dance Production and Management
The minor in Dance Production and Management provides a student with the opportunity to develop design and management skills for dance and stage productions. Students will be able to choose courses that interest them in lighting design, costume construction, set design, video design, stage management and the business of dance. This minor is open to dance majors and non-dance majors. No dance background is required for this minor.
Minor in Pilates
Students enrolled within a degree program may elect to take the Minor in Pilates. The minor incorporates a professional internship with opportunities for employment in the global Pilates field as trainers, teachers, rehabilitation therapists, and practitioners. The minor requires more courses than the certificate, in order to incorporate a more complete approach to tactile cueing.
Certificate in Pilates Training
The program grants Pilates trainer’s certification allowing students employment opportunities in the global Pilates field as trainers, teachers, rehabilitation therapists, and practitioners.