The Dance Certificate is a 19-credit program, open to all students. Students who pursue a Dance Certificate often have a background in dance, but may not be seeking a degree in dance. Others are beginning dance students.
The program provides a foundation in contemporary dance practice and theory, as well as offering opportunities in a variety of movement, somatic, and creative practice courses including contemporary dance, ballet, movement analysis, improvisation, dance composition, as well as dance history. The certificate also offers students the flexibility of choosing among a wide variety of courses that may interest them, including hip-hop, African, Tai Ji, among others. Students may also participate in performance opportunities if they have an interest in performance.
Undergraduate students in good academic standing, with a cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher, may declare this certificate.
Students must meet with the dance certificate advisor to discuss their intention to pursue the certificate. Students will enroll in two semesters of dance technique and apply for admission to the Dance Certificate at the end of the second semester. Students intending to pursue the Dance Certificate should visit the School of Education's Certificate Programs page to complete the declaration form.
Course Requirements
The Dance Certificate requires the following course distribution for a minimum of 19 credits.
Contemporary Dance Technique and Theory
Select 6 credits from the following:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DANCE 111 | Contemporary Dance Technique and Theory I | 1-3 |
| DANCE 112 | Contemporary Dance Technique and Theory II | 1-3 |
| DANCE 211 | Contemporary Dance Technique and Theory III | 1-3 |
| DANCE 212 | Contemporary Dance Technique and Theory IV | 1-3 |
| DANCE 311 | Contemporary Dance Technique and Theory V | 1-3 |
| DANCE 312 | Contemporary Dance Technique and Theory VI | 1-3 |
Ballet Technique
Select 2 credits from the following:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DANCE 125 | Ballet Technique I | 1-2 |
| DANCE 126 | Ballet Technique I-B | 1-2 |
| DANCE 225 | Ballet Technique II | 1-2 |
| DANCE 226 | Ballet Technique II-B | 1-2 |
| DANCE 325 | Ballet Technique III | 1-2 |
| DANCE 326 | Ballet Technique III-B | 1-2 |
Additional Techniques
Select 2 credits from the following. Students may also select from Additional Techniques workshops listed under DANCE 110 Workshop in Dance Activity or DANCE 560 Current Topics in Dance: Workshop .
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DANCE 110 | Workshop in Dance Activity (Hip Hop) | 1-2 |
| DANCE 110 | Workshop in Dance Activity (Tai Ji) | 1-2 |
| DANCE 116 | Workshop in World Dance | 2 |
| DANCE 118 | African Dance | 1 |
| DANCE/ASIAN AM 121 | Asian American Movement | 3 |
| DANCE/THEATRE 218 | African Dance Performance | 2 |
| DANCE/AFROAMER/MUSIC 318 | Cultural Cross Currents: West African Dance/Music in the Americas | 3 |
| DANCE/FOLKLORE/THEATRE 321 | Javanese Performance | 2 |
| DANCE/FOLKLORE/THEATRE 421 | Javanese Performance Repertory | 2 |
Additional Required Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DANCE 131 | Somatic Theory and Practices | 2 |
| or DANCE 157 | Introduction to Movement Analysis | |
| DANCE 156 | Movement as Material Through Improvisation | 2 |
| DANCE 255 | Movement Composition for the Performing and Visual Arts | 2 |
| DANCE 265 | Dance History I: Western Theatrical Dance from the Renaissance through the 1920s | 3 |
| or DANCE 365 | Dance History II: Directions and Issues of Contemporary Dance | |
Certificate COMPLETION REQUIREMENT
This undergraduate certificate must be completed concurrently with the student’s undergraduate degree. Students cannot delay degree completion to complete the certificate.
- Demonstrate technical specificity, musicality and artistic confidence in ballet and contemporary dance techniques through sequenced skill level progressions.
- Recognize, identify and embody a wide range of somatic theories and practices and produce work investigating its impacts and uses in contemporary dance as practice.
- Demonstrate an intermediate level of contemporary dance literacy and artistry.
- Develop and practice vocabulary and methodology for analyzing and discussing dance in performance and historical contexts and begin to respond critically and thoughtfully to dance scholarship.
Information about faculty, staff, and other contributors to the Department of Dance can be found on the department's website.