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Overview
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Learning Outcomes
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Requirements
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Curriculum Details
Program Purpose
The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Dance program seeks to instill a solid foundation and an excellent educational experience to prepare qualified and aspiring students for careers or advanced studies in Classical Ballet, Classical Chinese Dance or a related field.
Educational Objectives
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance program aims to:
- To enable students to develop a multifaceted physicality through systematic training in dance techniques as well as the ability to perform, create, educate, and administrate in the fields of Classical Ballet and/or Classical Chinese Dance.
- To equip students with professional experiences and the ability to apply professional knowledge and skills in practical problem solving and decision-making related to dance, along with a sense of teamwork, professional attitudes, and ethical judgment.
- To enable students to develop communication and critical thinking skills for life-long learning, the ability to appreciate the cultures, values, and arts of human traditions, and a respect for moral character.
Faculty
Program Learning Outcomes
After completing this program, students should be able to:
- Students can demonstrate the correct execution of dance movements in Classical Ballet and/or Classical Chinese Dance.
- Students can rehearse and perform expressively in front of a live audience.
- Students can use choreographic tools to create original dance works.
- Students will be able to explain and contextualize key concepts from dance-based pedagogy, kinesiology, arts administration, and dance history/cultural studies through discussions, essays, exams, and presentations.
- Students will exhibit a professional work ethic and practically apply knowledge from dance academic courses by completing projects and/or professional internships.
Admissions Requirement
Institutional-wide Admission Criteria
- Completion of high school or equivalent.
- Official Transcript: allow for evaluation of academic performance, relevant coursework, and overall readiness for college-level study.
- Personal Statement: helps reviewers understand the applicant’s motivations and aspirations to pursue the program of study.
- Letters of Recommendation: Letters of recommendation from teachers, mentors, or professionals familiar with the applicant’s abilities and potential, and additional insights into the applicant’s character, work ethic, and potential for success in the program.
Program-specific Criteria
In addition to meeting the general college admissions requirements, applicants to the undergraduate dance program (BFA in Dance) are expected to have a minimum of two years’ experience with ballet, classical Chinese dance, or other dance training.
In lieu of an in-person interview, applicants to the graduate dance program are required to submit a 5-minute audition video file of the applicant performing ballet, classical Chinese dance, and/or another dance form. The video must be made within six months of the date of application. Recordings must be unedited and clearly labeled with the applicant’s full name and a list of the repertoire performed therein.
Applicants may be invited to campus for a live audition if deemed necessary. The live audition consists of a condensed class dance technique and lasts for approximately one and a half hours. If the applicant passes the first part of the audition, he or she will be asked to perform a short solo dance piece that the applicant has learned or choreographed. The solo should be accompanied by music that is playable from an MP3 player or similar device.
Applicants will be assessed on their:
Applicants will be assessed on their:
- Potential for a career in dance
- Physique and body alignment
- Coordination and flexibility
- Rhythmic accuracy
- Ability to replicate movement combinations
- Respect for moral character and the commitment to learn ballet and classical Chinese dance in a holistic way.
Graduation Requirement
- Students must complete all the required credits in the Major Requirements, General Education Core and Free Electives with a minimum GPA of 2.0 in order to graduate.
- Students must also complete at least 41 courses designated as “LAS” or Liberal Arts and Science in accordance with New York State regulations.
Curriculum Overview
The curriculum for the BFA in Dance is a 124-semester credit program with three major components: major requirements, general education requirements, and free electives.
Curriculum Structure for BFA in Dance
| Area | Credits |
|---|---|
| Dance Fundamental Skills and Training | 14 |
| Dance History, Education & Administration | 19 |
| Concentration courses (Classical Ballet / Classical Chinese Dance) | 44 |
| Professionalism and Research | 6 |
| General Education Requirements | 37 |
| Free Electives | 6 |
| Total Required Credits for Graduation | 124 |
Major Required Courses for BFA in Dance (81 credits)
| Code | Course Title | Credits | Prerequisite(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dance Fundamental Skills and Training (14 cr) | |||
| DAB101R | Fundamentals of Classical Ballet I | 6 | Dept. Approval for (non-dance majors) |
| DAN101R | Fundamentals of Classical Chinese Dance I | 6 | Dept. Approval for (non-dance majors) |
| DAN121R | Introduction to Repertoire of Dance | 2 | |
| Dance History, Education, and Administration (19 cr) | |||
| DAN211 | History of Dance: East and West | 2 | |
| DAN212 | Dance Anatomy | 3 | |
| DAN331 | Dance Pedagogy I | 2 | DAN211 & DAN212 |
| DAN332 | Dance Pedagogy II | 2 | DAN331 |
| DAN334 | Composition I | 2 | |
| DAN335 | Composition II | 2 | DAN334 |
| BUS121 | Fundamentals of Arts Management | 3 | |
| MKT201 | Principles of Marketing | 3 | |
| Dance Professionalism and Research (6 cr) | |||
| DAN351 | Applied Experiential Learning Practicum | 2 | Dept. Approval |
| DAN451 | Senior Project | 4 | Completion of 85 credits |
| DAN461 | Senior Internship | 4 | Completion of 85 credits |
| Select one of the two concentrations | |||
| Concentration – Classical Ballet (42 cr) | |||
| Skills and Techniques | |||
| DAN201R | Fundamentals of Classical ballet II | 6 | DAB101R |
| DAB301R | Fundamentals of Classical Ballet III | 8 | DAB201R |
| DAB401R | Fundamentals of Classical Ballet IV | 8 | DAB301R |
| DAB102R | Ballet – Pointe & Partnering I | 2 | DAB101R or instructor consent |
| DAB202R | Ballet – Pointe & Partnering II | 2 | DAB102R |
| DAB302 | Ballet – Pointe & Partnering III | 2 | DAB202R |
| DAB103R | Character Dance I | 2 | |
| DAB203R | Character Dance II | 2 | DAB103R |
| DAB303R | Character Dance III | 2 | DAB203R |
| Repertory (5 cr) | |||
| DAB221R | Repertory and Rehearsal I: Classical Ballet | 2 | DAN121R |
| DAB321R | Repertory and Rehearsal II: Classical Ballet | 3 | DAB221R |
| Music (3 cr) | |||
| MUS140 | History of Music | 3 | |
| Concentration – Classical Chinese Dance (42 cr) | |||
| Skills and Techniques (34 cr) | |||
| DAN201R | Fundamentals of Classical Chinese Dance II | 6 | DAN101R |
| DAN301R | Fundamentals of Classical Chinese Dance III | 8 | DAN201R |
| DAN401R | Fundamentals of Classical Chinese Dance IV | 8 | DAN301R |
| DAN102R | Shen Yun I | 2 | |
| DAN202R | Shen Yun II | 2 | DAN102R |
| DAN103R | Chinese Folk and Ethnic Dances I | 2 | |
| DAN203R | Chinese Folk and Ethnic Dances II | 2 | DAN103R |
| DAN104R | Special Techniques in Chinese Dance I | 2 | DAN101R or instructor consent |
| DAN204R | Special Techniques in Chinese Dance II | 2 | DAN104R |
| Repertory (5 cr) | |||
| DAN221R | Repertory and Rehearsal I: Classical Chinese Dance | 2 | DAN121R |
| DAN321R | Repertory and Rehearsal II: Classical Chinese Dance | 3 | DAN221R |
| Music (3 cr) | |||
| MUS243 | History of Chinese Music | 3 | |
| Total Major Requirements | 81 | ||
General Education Curriculum for Dance Major (37 credits)
| Code | Course Title | Credits | Prerequisite(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| College Core (11 cr) | |||
| College Success (2 cr) | |||
| LAS102 | College Success | 2 | |
| LAS004 | Career Development | 0 | Required |
| College English (3 cr) | |||
| ENG101 | Effective English | 3 | |
| World Civilizations (6 cr) | |||
| CIV111 | Western Civilization | 3 | |
| CIV112 | Chinese Civilization | 3 | |
| CIV113 | World Civilization | 3 | |
| Breadth Distribution (18 cr) | |||
| Humanities (6 cr) | |||
| HUM125 | U.S. Society and Government | 3 | |
| HUM204 | Survey of Western Literature | 3 | ENG101 |
| HUM221 | The Making of the MOdern World | 3 | |
| HUM222 | Topics in Chinese History | 3 | |
| Writing and Rhetoric (3 cr) | |||
| ENG104 | Public Speaking | 3 | ENG101 |
| ENG201 | Academic Writing | 3 | ENG101 |
| ENG205 | Writing for Media | 3 | ENG101 |
| ENG221 | Debate and Argumentation | 3 | ENG101 |
| Quantitative Reasoning (3 cr) | |||
| MAT101 | Public Speaking | 3 | |
| STA101 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 | |
| MAT201 | Linear Algebra | 4 | |
| MAT104 | Applied Calculus | 3 | |
| MAT105 | Calculus I | 4 | |
| MAT106 | Calculus II | 4 | MAT105 |
| Social Sciences (3 cr) | |||
| ECO101 | Principles of Economics | 3 | |
| BMS135 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 | |
| SOC101 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 | |
| Values and Ethics (3 cr) | |||
| PHL130 | Philosophical Perspectives I | 1 | |
| PHL131 | Philosophical Perspectives II | 1 | |
| PHL231 | Philosophical Perspectives III | 1 | PHL130 & 131 |
| LAS005 | Self-cultivation Practice | 0 | |
| World Language and Literature (8 cr) | |||
| CLC111 | Elementary Chinese I | 4 | |
| CLC112 | Elementary Chinese II | 4 | |
| CLC211 | Intermediate Chinese I | 4 | |
| CLC212 | Intermediate Chinese II | 4 | |
| CLC311 | Advanced Chinese I | 4 | |
| CLC312 | Advanced Chinese II | 4 | |
| Total Required Credits | 37 | ||
Free Electives (6 credits)
Students are free to choose 6 credits from the following dance elective courses or any college level courses offered by the College.
Dance Electives
| Code | Course Title | Credits | Prerequisite(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAS102 | College Success | 2 | |
| DAN122 | Performing and Acting | 2 | |
| DAB141 | Introduction to Classical Ballet | 1 | |
| DAN141 | Introduction to Classical Chinese Dance | 1 | |
| DAB102R* | Ballet – Pointe & Partnering I | 2 (1cr per sem) | Instructor consent |
| DAN143R* | Modern Dance | 4 (cr per sem) | Instructor consent |
| DAN302R* | Shen Yun III | 3 (1.5 cr per sem) | DAN202R |
| DAN303R* | Chinese Folk & Ethnic Dances III | 2 (1 cr per sem) | DAN203R |
| DAN304R* | Special Techniques in Chinese Dance III | 2 (1 cr per sem) | DAN204R |
| DAB402R* | Ballet – Pointe & Partnering IV | 2 (1 cr per sem) | DAB302R |
| DAB403R* | Character Dance IV | 2 (1 cr per sem) | DAB303R |
| DAB421R* | Repertory and Rehearsal III: Ballet | 4 (2 cr per sem) | DAB321R |
| DAN421R* | Repertory and Rehearsal III: Classical Chinese Dance | 4 (2 cr per sem) | DAN321R |
| DAN434 | Beginning Choreography | 2 | DAN335 |
| DAN452 | Independent Study for Dance | 2 | Department Chair Approval |
| Or any other college level courses | |||
Dance Minor Curriculum (20 credits)
| Code | Course Title | Credits | Prerequisite(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dance Fundamentals (12 cr) | |||
| Dance Minor students are required to take 3 cr each of DAB101R and DAN101R | |||
| DAB101R* | Fundamentals of Classical Ballet I | 6 (3 cr per sem) | |
| DAB201R* | Fundamentals of Classical Ballet II | 6 (3 cr per sem) | DAB101R |
| DAN101R* | Fundamentals of Classical Chinese Dance I | 6 (3 cr per sem) | |
| DAN201R* | Fundamentals of Classical Chinese Dance II | 6 (3 cr per sem) | DAB101R |
| Dance Electives (8 cr) | |||
| DAN121R* | Introduction to Repertoire of Dance | 2 (1 cr per sem) | |
| DAN132R* | Modern Dance | 4 (2 cr per sem) | Instructor consent |
| DAB102R* | Ballet – Pointe & Partnering I | 2 (1 cr per sem) | DAB101R, or instructor consent |
| DAB103R* | Character Dance I | 2 (1 cr per sem) | |
| DAB221R* | Repertory and Rehearsal I: Ballet | 2 (1 cr per sem) | DAN121R |
| DAN102R* | Shen Yun I | 3 (1.5 cr per sem) | |
| DAN103R* | Chinese Folk and Ethnic Dances I | 2 (1 cr per sem) | |
| DAN104R* | Special Techniques in Chinese Dance I | 2 (1 cr per sem) | DAN101R, or instructor consent |
| DAN221R* | Repertory and Rehearsal I: Classical Chinese Dance | 2 (1 cr per sem) | DAN121R |
| DAN211 | History of Dance: East and West | 2 | |
| DAN212 | Dance Anatomy | 3 | |
| DAN331 | Dance Pedagogy I | 2 | DAN211 & DAN212 |
| DAN332 | Dance Pedagogy II | 2 | |
| DAN334 | Composition I | 2 | |
| DAN335 | Composition II | 2 | DAN334 |
| DAN434 | Beginning Choreography | 2 | DAN335 |
| DAN452 | Independent Study for Dance | 2 | Department Chair approval |
| Students may also select from any other higher level studio courses listed in the Dance Major curriculum | |||
| Total Required Credits | 20 | ||
* For studio courses labeled with “R”, students are eligible to receive credit(s) after 1 semester rather than to complete the required 2 semesters.
