Department of Dance

www.dance.uiuc.edu/dance

9071/2 W. Nevada Street
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-1010
dance@uiuc.edu

The Department of Dance, an autonomous unit in the College of Fine and Applied Arts, offers a small, personalized program within the context of a large university setting. The resident faculty of eight full-time members is augmented by part-time faculty and artists-in-residence. The teaching staff includes ten graduate teaching assistants who teach dance in the general education program. Major enrollment numbers approximately 60 BFA candidates and 12 MFA candidates. The department is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Dance.

Program focus at the graduate and undergraduate levels is on the professional preparation of performers, choreographers, and teachers with a breadth of understanding in the discipline. Two degree programs are offered: bachelor of fine arts and master of fine arts. The choreographic and performance emphasis is in contemporary dance; ballet is included as an integral component of training. Classes in pointe, jazz, and tap, are offered in the major curriculum. The field of dance science is addressed through courses in movement fundamentals/dance kinesiology, and the Alexander Technique.

The performance component of the department is housed in the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, utilizing the exceptional performing, production, and teaching resources of this world-class facility. Additional studio and classroom facilities and the faculty and administrative offices are housed in two adjacent buildings in close proximity to the Krannert Center. Four department concerts per year are produced in the theatres of the Krannert Center, including two concerts of student choreography. The resident lecture-demonstration company performs in community schools, and additional performing opportunities are provided in concerts presented in the dance studio/theatre, in operas and music performances, in University and community musicals, and in regional and national college dance festivals.

Curriculum in Dance

For the Degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance

The BFA curriculum in dance is an intensive program of study for the dedicated student, offering concentration in the areas of technique, composition, and performance. The curriculum also includes requirements in production, improvisation, music theory and literature for dance, teaching, history, movement sciences, , and repertory. Electives may be taken in ballet, modern, tap, and jazz; yoga, Alexander Technique, partnering and Laban movement analysis,; Labanotation; video choreography; choreographer-composer workshop; and independent study.

Program requirements include core daily technique classes consisting of three modern and two ballet classes per week each semester in residence, plus elective technique classes for a minimum of one additional credit hour per semester. A minimum of two courses in alternative dance forms (jazz, tap, ballroom, etc.) is required. Technique placement is assigned by the faculty, and majors must achieve the advanced technical level in modern and the intermediate level in ballet for a minimum of two semesters prior to graduation. The improvisation/composition sequence consists of a minimum of 11 hours of studio courses culminating in the performance of a senior choreographic project. A minimum of six hours of credit is required in performance/repertory courses. The curriculum includes as much as 20 hours of credit in professional electives, which may be taken in professional dance courses and/or related arts and sciences.

Evaluation of majors is an ongoing process. Continued enrollment in the program is contingent upon satisfactory performance. A student is expected to maintain a minimum 2.75 grade point average in all professional course work and a 3.0 cumulative average in studio classes in order to remain in good standing in the department.

It is possible for transfer students to complete degree requirements in a three-year period contingent upon prior completion of general education requirements and the fulfillment of the advanced technique requirement for two semesters prior to graduation.

A total of 130 hours is required for this degree.

Hours	General Education
4-6	Composition I*
6	Humanities and the arts¹
6	Social and behavioral sciences¹
6	Natural sciences and technology¹
3	Quantitative reasoning I
0-3	Quantitative reasoning II
6	Cultural Studies, Western and non-Western
0-12	Foreign Language
31-33	Total

*Advanced Composition is fulfilled by DANC 440 and 441

Hours	Professional Courses in Dance
32	Technique (minimum number of hours):
	DANC 160 Beginning Modern Tech Core
	DANC 161 Beginning Modern Tech Elect
	DANC166–Beginning Ballet Tech Core
	DANC 167 Beginning Ballet Tech Elect
	DANC 260–Intermediate Modern Tech Core
	DANC 261 Intermediate Modern Tech Elect
	DANC 266–Intermediate Ballet Tech Core
	DANC 267 Intermediate Ballet Elect
	Danc 360 _Int/Adv Modern Tech Core
	DANC 361 Int/Adv Modern Elect
	DANC 366–Int/Adv Ballet Tech Core
	DANC 367 Int/Adv Ballet Elect
	DANC 460 Advanced Modern Tech Core
	DANC 461 Advanced Modern Tech Elect
	DANC 466 Advanced Ballet Tech Core
	DANC 467 Advanced Ballet Tech Elect
	Four credit hours per semester, to include core technique classes each semester in residence, consisting of three modern and two ballet classes per week (3 hours of credit), plus elective technique courses for a minimum of one additional credit hour per semester.
	A minimum of two courses (two credit hours) in alternative dance forms (jazz, tap, ballroom, etc.) is also required.
2	Improvisation:
	DANC162–Improvisation I
	DANC 163–Improvisation II
9	Composition:
	DANC 262–Composition I
	DANC 263–Composition II
	DANC 362–Composition III
	DANC 499–Senior Thesis Project
6	Production:
	DANC 131, 231, 331 and 431 –Production Practicum (one hour per laboratory for a total of four hours)
	DANC 175–Production in Dance
6	Music for dance:
	DANC 268–Music Theory for Dancers
	DANC 269–Music Literature for Dancers
3	Dance education:
	DANC 450–Teaching Workshop
3	Current issues and topics:
	DANC150–Orientation to Dance
	DANC 495– Senior Career Seminar
6	Dance history:
	DANC 440–History of Dance I
	DANC 441–History of Dance II
6	Repertory and performance:
	Performance Practicum: Choose from DANC 220, 221, 222, 223, 420, 421, 422, 423 (1-2 hours per dance)
	DANC 435–Dance Repertory (2-4 hours)
4	Dance sciences:
	DANC 445–Dance Kinesiology and Somatics
77	Total

Hours	Electives²
18-22	Recommended:
	Additional courses in ballet and modern technique: DANC 160, 161, 166, 167, 260, 261, 266, 267, 360, 361, 366, 367, 460, 461, 466, 467 (up to 16 additional hours may be counted toward degree requirements)
2	DANC 175–Production in Dance
9	DANC 199–Undergraduate Open Seminar
1	DANC 110–Beginning Jazz Technique
1	DANC 415–Tap Dance
3	DANC 232–Lec Dem in the Community
3	DANC 340–Dancing Black Popular Cult
1	DANC 400–Viewing Dance
1	DANC 401–Alexander Tech for Dancers
2	DANC 412–Theatre Dance I
2	DANC 413–Theatre Dance II
2	DANC 414–Musical Theatre Choreography
1-4	DANC 425–Dance Internship
2	DANC 464–Composer-Chor Workshop
1-2	Performance and repertory courses: Choose from DANC 220, 221, 222, 223, 420, 421, 422, 423 435³ (up to 10 additional hours may be counted toward degree requirements)
3	DANC 447– Labanotation I
8	DANC 451–Ind Study and Special Topics(May be repeated up to 8 hours)
2	DANC 465–Choreo for the Video Camera
1	DANC 410-Advanced Jazz Technique
3	ARTH 115– Art Appreciation
3	MUS 133–Introduction to World Music
2	MUS 170–Grp Instr Pno NonMus Maj I
2-3	MUS 181–Voice
3	THEA 170–Fundamentals of Acting, I
4	THEA 175–Fundamentals of Acting, II
2	THEA 391–Individual Topics: Costume Design for Dance
4	THEA 451–Stage Management
4	THEA 433–Business of Lighting Design
4	THEA 465–Musical Theatre History, I
4	THEA 466–Musical Theatre History, II
3	THEA 452–Theatre Management

1. See general education website for a current listing or requirements and courses that meet each category.
2. A minimum of eight hours must be in the area of professional electives. It is strongly recommended that dance majors consider professional electives outside the dance area itself.
3. A maximum of 16 hours may be accumulated toward degree requirements in DANC 220, 221, 222, 223,420, 421, 422, 423, 435