Dance (BA)

Summary

Learn the depth and breadth of dance as you practice this art form in multiple ways. Balance your artistic experiences with practical applications to enter the dance world after graduation. Be ready for a lifetime in dance to teach, perform, choreograph, write, and produce. Whatever your chosen path, emerge from the program with skills and abilities to think critically and act globally as high-quality dance artists. 

Catalog Year

2023-2024

Degree

Bachelor of Arts

Major Credits

52

Total Credits

120

Locations

Mankato

Update Your Major

Program Requirements

Required General Education

A survey of dance in all its vibrant forms intended to develop student understanding and appreciation for the significant role dance plays in world cultures.

Prerequisites: Consent

Goal Areas: GE-06, GE-08

Cross-cultural survey of dance from around the world with emphasis on historical, social, and cultural dimensions. Includes western concert dance as one among many other forms. Consent of instructor is required.

Prerequisites: DANC 120 or DANC120W

Goal Areas: GE-08, GE-11

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Performance scenes and exercises for the beginner.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-06

Choose 3 Credit(s).

Introduction to Western and non-Western visual arts and the variety of methods by which art is understood. These may include art appreciation, art criticism, the history of art, popular culture, and aesthetic awareness.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-06, GE-08

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Lecture-based survey of the Art and Architecture of both Western and non-Western countries from the thirteenth through twentieth centuries.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-06, GE-08

Major Common Core

Fundamentals of modern dance technique, including an improvisatory component. May be repeated. Consent of instructor is required.

Prerequisites: Consent

Goal Areas: GE-11

Expanding knowledge and skill of ballet technique, with increasing development of centerfloor and across-the-floor variations, as well as emerging performance skills. May be repeated. Consent of instructor is required.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-11

Expanding knowledge and skill of modern dance technique, including floor work, elevations, inversions, and emerging performance skills. May be repeated.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-11

Study and practice of specific techniques to improve dancers' performance, health, and teaching. Consent of instructor is required.

Prerequisites: none

The study of dance making, dance accompaniment, and dance criticism through the creation of dance works. Consent of instructor is required.

Prerequisites: DANC 228, DANC 322. Consent

Exploration of a variety of improvisational techniques for beginning Dance Majors and Minors. May be repeated. Consent of instructor is required.

Prerequisites: Consent

Continuation of the principles and techniques of choreography with an emphasis on group forms.

Prerequisites: DANC 321

Rotation of a variety of topics in dance. May be repeated. Consent of instructor is required.

Prerequisites: Consent

Capstone experience for all dance majors. Individually paced and directed, this project can be: choreographic, performance, or written.

Prerequisites: DANC 484W

Historical survey of Western theatrical dance from the 1500's to the present. Also integrates reading and discussion about how class, gender, and race affected the development of concert dance history in the United States and Europe.

Prerequisites: DANC 120, DANC 225, DANC 226, DANC 228, DANC 321

Fundamental concepts of costume design and production for the Dance.

Prerequisites: none

Fundamental concepts of lighting design and production for the Dance.

Prerequisites: none

Fundamental concepts of sound design and production for the Dance.

Prerequisites: none

Choose 3 Credit(s). take 3 times

Repertory experience in performance of the choreography by a variety of dance artists. May be repeated. Consent of instructor is required.

Prerequisites: none

Major Restricted Electives

Choose 3 Credit(s). choose 2 areas

Acting in a mainstage or approved production. May be repeated.

Prerequisites: Consent

Goal Areas: GE-11

Work on stage or house management, or public relations. May be repeated.

Prerequisites: Consent

Goal Areas: GE-11

Serve as Dance Captain, to assist the Choreographer, for a mainstage or approved production. May be repeated.

Prerequisites: Consent

Work on stage crew in a mainstage production. May be repeated.

Prerequisites: Consent

Goal Areas: GE-11

Work on costumes or wardrobe crew in a mainstage production. May be repeated.

Prerequisites: Consent

Goal Areas: GE-11

Work on lighting crew in a mainstage production. May be repeated.

Prerequisites: Consent

Goal Areas: GE-11

Work on sound crew in a mainstage production. May be repeated.

Prerequisites: Consent

Goal Areas: GE-11

Major Unrestricted Electives

Choose 14 credits of Dance not from Common Core.

Other Graduation Requirements

Language (8 credits)

4-Year Plan

The 4-Year Plan is a model for completing your degree in a timely manner. Your individual 4-Year plan may change based on a number of variables including transfer courses and the semester/year you start your major. Carefully work with your academic advisors to devise your own unique plan.
* Please meet with your advisor on appropriate course selection to meet your educational and degree goals.

First Year

Fall - 16 Credits

Fundamentals of ballet technique, including knowledge and application of terminology. May be repeated. Consent of instructor is required.

Prerequisites: Consent

Goal Areas: GE-11

Fundamentals of modern dance technique, including an improvisatory component. May be repeated. Consent of instructor is required.

Prerequisites: Consent

Goal Areas: GE-11

Exploration of a variety of improvisational techniques for beginning Dance Majors and Minors. May be repeated. Consent of instructor is required.

Prerequisites: Consent

Elective Course in Major * 2 credits

General Education Course * 8 credits

Spring - 15 Credits

A survey of dance in all its vibrant forms intended to develop student understanding and appreciation for the significant role dance plays in world cultures.

Prerequisites: Consent

Goal Areas: GE-06, GE-08

Expanding knowledge and skill of modern dance technique, including floor work, elevations, inversions, and emerging performance skills. May be repeated.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-11

Fundamental concepts of sound design and production for the Dance.

Prerequisites: none

Work on stage crew in a mainstage production. May be repeated.

Prerequisites: none

Elective Course in Major * 2 credits

General Education Course * 6 credits

Second Year

Fall - 16 Credits

Expanding knowledge and skill of ballet technique, with increasing development of centerfloor and across-the-floor variations, as well as emerging performance skills. May be repeated. Consent of instructor is required.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-11

Repertory experience in performance of the choreography by a variety of dance artists. May be repeated. Consent of instructor is required.

Prerequisites: none

Work on costumes or wardrobe crew in a mainstage production. May be repeated.

Prerequisites: none

Elective Course in Major * 2 credits

World Languages Course * 4 credits

General Education Course * 6 credits

Spring - 15 Credits

Performance scenes and exercises for the beginner.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-06

Fundamental concepts of costume design and production for the Dance.

Prerequisites: none

Study and practice of specific techniques to improve dancers' performance, health, and teaching. Consent of instructor is required.

Prerequisites: none

Elective Course in Major * 2 credits

World Languages Course * 4 credits

General Education Course * 3 credits

Third Year

Fall - 13 Credits

Rotation of a variety of topics in dance. May be repeated. Consent of instructor is required.

Prerequisites: Consent

Repertory experience in performance of the choreography by a variety of dance artists. May be repeated. Consent of instructor is required.

Prerequisites: none

Work on stage or house management, or public relations. May be repeated.

Prerequisites: none

Elective Course in Major * 2 credits

General Education Course * 6 credits

Spring - 15 Credits

Cross-cultural survey of dance from around the world with emphasis on historical, social, and cultural dimensions. Includes western concert dance as one among many other forms. Consent of instructor is required.

Prerequisites: DANC 120 or DANC120W

Goal Areas: GE-08, GE-11

Diverse Cultures: Purple

The study of dance making, dance accompaniment, and dance criticism through the creation of dance works. Consent of instructor is required.

Prerequisites: DANC 228, DANC 322. Consent

Repertory experience in performance of the choreography by a variety of dance artists. May be repeated. Consent of instructor is required.

Prerequisites: none

Elective Course in Major * 3 credits

Other Graduation Requirements Course * 6 credits

Fourth Year

Fall - 15 Credits

Continuation of the principles and techniques of choreography with an emphasis on group forms.

Prerequisites: DANC 321

Investigation of concert dance history from diverse perspectives. Along with western European contributions, the legacies and traditions associated with the African diaspora, North American indigenous populations, vernacular and folk forms will also will be included. Sociopolitical ideologies of race, class, and gender will apply to this historical examination.

Prerequisites: DANC 225

Elective Course in Major * 2 credits

Other Graduation Requirements Course * 8 credits

Spring - 15 Credits

Capstone experience for all dance majors. Individually paced and directed, this project can be: choreographic, performance, or written.

Prerequisites: DANC 484W

Elective Course in Major * 4 credits

Other Graduation Requirements Course * 10 credits