The Dance Program currently offers study in the following
areas of concentration:
Please take note! There is a New Graduation Procedure now in place.
Faculty member Cher Carnell is the Dance Program's Student Advisor.
Dance Major BA
Entry into the BA/BFA is by audition. Completion of the program is dependent upon successful progress through the curriculum and by recommendation of faculty members.
Click here for Dance Major Declaration Form.
The BA is a broadly based degree, with a Liberal Arts orientation and is designed for students with a general rather than career interest in performing or choreographing. Candidates of the BA will not be required to reach the advanced level of ballet technique or present a senior project in choreography or performance. BA candidates will focus on pedagogical and historic aspects of dance art and more generally on the performance/generative components. BA candidates will be encouraged to to demonstrate proficiency in pedagogy. To achieve this goal, the teaching endorsement will be a central component of the BA in dance.
2007 - 2008 (Declaration Year) Course Numbers and Requirements
Major BA in Dance 80 - 81 credits
See course catalog for full class descriptions. Download 2007-2008 BA course guide.
Technique Courses
111, 112, 113 BALLET I: LEVELS 1, 2 and 3 (2 each)
121, 122, 123 MODERN I: LEVLES 1, 2 and 3 (2 each)
211, 212, 213
BALLET II: LEVELS 1, 2 and 3 (2 each)
221, 222, 223 MODERN II: LEVELS 1, 2, and 3
(2 each)
321, 322, 323 MODERN III: LEVELS 1, 2 and 3 (3 each)
Choreography Series
242 CHOREOGRAPHY I (3)
342 CHOREOGRAPHY II (4)
*Students who wich to be considered for the BFA must take DNC 442 Choreography III
History/Culture/Aesthetics
231 INTRO TO DANCE (3)
232 MOVEMENT AND CULTURE (3)
431 HISTORY OF DANCE (4)
Performance
257 PERFORMANCE (3)
357 REPERTORY (variable 2-6)
Pedagogy
334 MUSIC AND MOVEMENT (2)
433 CREATIVE MOVEMENT W/LAB (4)
434 DANCE ARTS IN EDUCATION (3)
Dance Science
339 FUNCTIONAL ALIGNMENT (3)
340 ANATOMY FOR DANCERS (4)
Technical Theatre
THTR 210 INTRO TO DESIGN (3)
Select Two from:
DNC 254 DANCE PRODUCTION-COSTUMING (2)
DNC 255 DANCE PRODUCTION-LIGHTING (2)
DNC 256 DANCE PRODCUTION-STAGE MANAGEMENT (2)
Select One from:
THTR 213 INTRO TO LIGHTING (3)
THTR 216 INTRO TO COSTUMING (4)
THTR 314 STAGE MANAGEMENT (3)
Dance Major BFA
The BFA in dance is a professionally oriented degree, which presumes that students are seriously interested in the process of performing or choreographing and wish to make it their career. The BFA degree is a highly selective program which trains exceptionally committed, disciplined, and talented students to the level at which they might gain entry to a leading graduate, conservatory or MFA program, or directly enter one of the areas of the dancing profession.
The BFA program in dance is geared toward training concert performers and choreographers. In this capacity, the program exposes students to a wide rage of styles and techniques. This will be accomplished with resident faculty, guest artists at the cutting edge of the field and exposure to professional companies in residence. In order to develop into the most versatile performers possible, students will be saturated in improvisation, contemporary partnering, children’s movement theatre, experimental choreography, as well as musical and theatrical collaborations. Students will be given constant opportunities to consolidate their training in the yearly departmental repertory of productions—on campus and off.
Students accepted into the final year of the BFA program (on average 30 percent) will be individually prepared, by the professionally experienced teaching faculty, to enter national auditions for placement in major graduate (MFA) programs, and to work with professional companies.
The degree offerings of the department are designed that students who enter but do not complete the BFA program in dance can still graduate with a BA degree in the four-year undergraduate period.
2007 - 2008 (Declaration Year) Course Numbers and Requirements
Major BFA in Dance 106 - 109 credits
See course catalog for full class descriptions. Download 2007-2008 BFA course guide.
Technique Courses
111, 112, 113 BALLET I: LEVELS 1, 2 and 3 (2 each)
121, 122, 123 MODERN I: LEVLES 1, 2 and 3 (2 each)
211, 212, 213
BALLET II: LEVELS 1, 2 and 3 (2 each)
221, 222, 223 MODERN II: LEVELS 1, 2, and 3
(2 each)
321, 322, 323 MODERN III: LEVELS 1, 2 and 3 (3 each)
311, 312, 312 BALLET III: LEVELS 1, 2 and 3 (2 each)
421, 422, 423 MODERN IV: LEVELS 1, 2 and 3 (4 each)
345 FUNDAMENTALS OF CONTEMPORARY PARTNERING (2)
Choreography Series
242 CHOREOGRAPHY I (3)
342 CHOREOGRAPHY II (4)
442 CHOREOGRAPHY III (4)
401 CAPSTONE PROJECT-CHOREOGRAPHY (2) under advisement download guide
History/Culture/Aesthetics
231 INTRO TO DANCE (3)
232 MOVEMENT AND CULTURE (3)
431 HISTORY OF DANCE (4)
Performance
257 PERFORMANCE (3)
357 REPERTORY (variable 2-6)
402 CAPSTONE PROJECT-PERFORMANCE (2) under advisement download guide
Pedagogy
334 MUSIC AND MOVEMENT (2)
433 CREATIVE MOVEMENT W/LAB (4)
434 DANCE ARTS IN EDUCATION (3)
Dance Science
339 FUNCTIONAL ALIGNMENT (3)
340 ANATOMY FOR DANCERS (4)
Technical Theatre
THTR 210 INTRO TO DESIGN (3)
Select Two from:
DNC 254 DANCE PRODUCTION-COSTUMING (2)
DNC 255
DANCE PRODUCTION-LIGHTING (2)
DNC 256 DANCE PRODCUTION-STAGE MANAGEMENT (2)
Select One from:
THTR 213 INTRO TO LIGHTING (3)
THTR 216 INTRO TO COSTUMING (4)
THTR 314 STAGE MANAGEMENT (3)
Dance Minor
The dance minor is centered in modern dance and is focused on performance and choreography. Supporting courses are offered in classical ballet, dance history and cultural movement. In addition to regular technique and choreography classes, there is a tradition of offering one-time experimental courses such as: contact improvisation, partnering, technique for men, yoga and floor barre, movement analysis, dance for the disabled, and creative movement for children. Resident faculty are regularly supplemented by guest teachers with current professional standing.
2007 - 2008 (Declaration Year) Course Numbers and Requirements
Dance Minor 36 - 38 credits
See course catalog for full class descriptions. Download 2007-2008 Minor course guide.
Lower Division Required Courses
121, 122, 123 MODERN I: LEVLES 1, 2 and 3 (2 each)
211, 212, 213
BALLET II: LEVELS 1, 2 and 3 (2 each)
221, 222, 223 MODERN II: LEVELS 1, 2, and 3
(2 each)
231 INTRO TO DANCE (3)
242 CHOREOGRAPHY I (3)
257 PERFORMANCE (2)
Select One From:
DNC 254 DANCE PRODUCTION-COSTUMING (2)
DNC 255
DANCE PRODUCTION-LIGHTING (2)
DNC 256 DANCE PRODCUTION-STAGE MANAGEMENT (2)
Upper Division Required Credits
321 MODERN III - LEVEL 1 (3)
339 FUNCTIONAL ALIGNMENT (3)
Select One from the Following Courses* Under Advisement
232 MOVEMENT AND CULTURE (3)
311/312/312 BALLET III: LEVELS 1, 2 OR 3 (2 each)
340 ANATOMY FOR DANCERS (4)
342 CHOREOGRAPHY II (4)
434 DANCE ARTS IN EDUCATION (3)
442 CHOREOGRAPHY III (4)
THTR 210 INTOR TO DESIGN (3)
THTR 216 INTRO TO COSTUMING (4)
*Or electives under advisement.
Teaching Endorsement in Dance
The BA and BFA dance majors noted above lead to a baccalaureate degree without
teacher certification. To receive a recommendation for state of Washington teacher certification, students must also complete the teacher certification program offered by the Department of Secondary Education as 1) a part of the undergraduate baccalaureate degree, or as 2) a post-baccalaureate program or as 3) a part of the Master's in Teaching program. See the Secondary Education section of the WWU Course Catalog for program admission, completion, and teacher certification requirements.
Additional Teaching Endorsement
Students completing a teacher certification program and endorsable major in a subject other than Dance may qualify for an additional endorsement in Dance by completing requirements listed below. See the Woodring College of Education section of the WWU Course Catalog for more information on teacher certification programs and approved majors.
Explanation of Course of Study
Students of the Undergraduate Dance Program interested
in completing an additional endorsement are accepted
into the program by taking the placement class held prior to fall quarter each year (information on Dance home page).
Over the course of their studies they are prepared
to function in a variety of artistic roles: to perform
in public as dancers; to develop visual and aural perceptions; and to become familiar with and develop proficiency in
Modern and competency in Ballet techniques. Students
also have the opportunity to advance their choreographic
potential in studies that include traditional and/or
experimental approaches.
It is our aim to familiarize students with the historical and cultural dimensions of dance, including the works and philosophies of leading dancers and choreographers both in the past and present. We teach our students to understand and evaluate contemporary thinking about dance and related arts and to make informed assessments regarding quality works of dance. Our goal is to teach a physical and intellectual understanding of the language of movement art and to imbue students who complete the additional teaching endorsement with the ability to pass on that understanding to their students in the public schools.
The outcomes of the performance and choreographic aspects of these studies are measured by successful audition and performance in faculty-directed dance events. Throughout the process of such performances there is a critical evaluation of the student's work by the dance faculty and guest artists.
For students who complete the proposed configuration of courses for the additional teaching endorsement in dance, teaching potential will be critically measured in a student teaching practicum. The objectives of our pedagogy courses are to give students the tools for and practical experience in teaching movement. This involves two curricular frameworks.
1. DNC 433: Teaching creative movement and
2. DNC 434: Teaching formal techniques of ballet, modern and jazz dance
Finally, dance students are given experience in production elements unique to producing dance concerts. These courses provide them with basic crew training such as hanging lights, dressing a stage, installing and checking sound equipment and putting down a dance floor. Production courses teach students about organizing back stage and front of house activities and the safety issues involved in the use of theatrical equipment.
In order to receive an Additional Endorsement in Dance it is proposed the candidate will complete the following courses in the 6 designated areas:
2007 - 2008 (Declaration Year) Course Numbers and Requirements
Dance Teaching Endorsement 33 - 45 credits
See course catalog for full class descriptions. Download 2007-2008 Teaching Endorsemnt guide.
Technique Courses
111, 112, 113 BALLET I: LEVELS 1, 2 and 3 (2 each)*
121, 122, 123 MODERN I: LEVLES 1, 2 and 3 (2 each)*
221, 222, 223 MODERN II: LEVELS 1, 2, and 3
(2 each)
Supporting Courses
231 INTRO TO DANCE (3)
232 MOVEMENT AND CULTURE (3)
242 CHOREOGRAPHY I (3)
257 PERFORMANCE (2)
334 MUSIC AND MOVEMENT (2)
339 FUNCTIONAL ALIGNMENT (3)
Select Two from:
DNC 254 DANCE PRODUCTION-COSTUMING (2)
DNC 255 DANCE PRODUCTION-LIGHTING (2)
DNC 256 DANCE PRODCUTION-STAGE MANAGEMENT (2)
Teaching Methods and Field Experience
433 CREATIVE MOVEMENT FOR EDUCATORS W/LAB (4)
434 DANCE ARTS IN EDUCATION (3)
*May be waived by permission of instructor based on an audition or other evidence of dance skills or competencies associated with these courses.
Courses required for a state teaching endorsement must be completed with a grade of C (2.0) or better.
Graduation Procedure
The Registrar's Office no longer has Degree Applications or Degree Reapplications available for pick-up in our office. They are now available online. Please change your website, printouts and verbal information to reflect the information below. Thanks.
Applying for graduation - Go to the Registrar's Office homepage at:
http://www.wwu.edu/depts/registrar
- Under Credit Evaluation (Undergraduate) in the left-hand column, click on Degree Application.
- Click on Degree Application Form. If you have already submitted the Degree Application and are changing your quarter of graduation, click on Reapplication Form.
- Complete the form online, print the form and return it to the Registrar's Office with the required documentation. (The major and minor evaluation forms which the department completes are there as well.)
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