The request to revise DANC 2125 and the Majors and Minor in Dance

http://dance.uncc.edu

 

The Department of Dance offers students rich dance experiences in state-of-the-art facilities, working with faculty who are innovative leaders in performance, choreography, dance scholarship, and teacher training.

 

Our mission is to contribute innovation and leadership to the field through creative/scholarly research, teaching, service, and community engagement.  Through comprehensive, innovative courses, we provide our diverse student body with an exemplary liberal arts education grounded in dance as a cultural practice, art form, and interdisciplinary subject.  We embrace and celebrate dance as a way of learning about ourselves and the world around us.  Committed to access, equity and inclusion, the dance program develops artists, educators, scholars, and arts-literate citizens who thrive in complex global environments and make sustained contributions to their communities.

 

Degree Programs

The Department of Dance awards a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance.  All students receive a well-rounded experience of dance while concentrating in one of two areas:  (1) Performance, Choreography, and Theory, or (2) Dance Education with preparation for North Carolina K-12 Fine and Performing Arts, Dance Teacher licensure.  A Minor in Dance is also available.  Additionally, in partnership with Charlotte’s professional dance company, Charlotte Ballet, the department offers a Professional Training Certificate in Dance for students specializing in ballet performance.  Any UNC Charlotte student may audition for this unique two-year certificate program.

 

Dance degree studies include courses in diverse dance practices, among them:  modern dance, ballet, vintage jazz, dance forms from West Africa and Latin America, improvisation, contact improvisation, choreography, performance, dance history, anatomy, ballet pedagogy, and music and writing for dance.  Specialized dance teaching methods, clinical experiences in area schools, and coursework in the College of Education are required for the Concentration in Dance Education.  In addition to taking core courses in their Dance concentrations, students fulfill the University’s General Education requirements and can select electives in areas of interest.  Specific course requirements and the attendance policy are listed on each course syllabus.

 

The unique research interests, expertise, and professional connections of our faculty provide extraordinary opportunities for students.  By audition, students perform in concerts featuring original works by faculty and guest choreographers, as well as re-staged masterworks.  In recent years, students have performed choreography by George Faison, Christal Brown, and Martha Graham in concert with the Martha Graham Dance Company and welcomed Jawole Willa Jo Zollar and the Urban Bush Women for a residency that led to a student performance of Zollar’s work.  A major National Science Foundation grant allowed students to join in groundbreaking research in dance and technology.  Artists touring Charlotte, such as dancers from Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, and Parsons Dance, conduct master classes on campus.

 

Students interested in dance scholarship receive mentoring in research, writing, and oral communication skills and have presented work at university symposia and regional and national conferences.  Faculty also nurture student choreographers, who may present their choreography on stage for credit.  Careful academic advising supports student success and guides those who want to double major.

 

Career Opportunities

UNC Charlotte dance graduates work as performers, choreographers, public school educators, dance studio owners/teachers, and researchers.  For some careers, students seek advanced training in graduate programs or apprentice with professional organizations.  Some students combine dance degrees with study in exercise science, journalism, athletic training, psychology, education, communication studies, women’s and gender studies, or business.

Dance, Performance, Choreography, and Theory, B.A

 

A Major in Dance with a Concentration in Performance, Choreography, and Theory leading to the B.A. degree requires 120 credit hours, including 53 56 credit hours of dance content coursework.

 

Additional Admission Requirements

 

The Department of Dance requires a placement audition before entering the program. 

 

Degree Requirements

 

To meet requirements for the Concentration in Performance, Choreography, and Theory, a second-year review must be passed in the third semester of study.  

 

General Education Courses (37 -43 credit hours)

 

For details on required courses, refer to the General Education program.  Both Writing Intensive (W) courses and the Oral Communications (O) course are fulfilled by courses in the major.

 

Foreign Language Courses (8 credit hours)

 

Select two semesters of the same foreign language with course numbers such as 1201 and 1202, or at least three years of the same language in high school.

 

All dance majors must demonstrate proficiency in the language of their choice through the 1202 level. Proficiency can be demonstrated in the following ways: (1) completing the required coursework at UNC Charlotte; (2) completing three years of the same foreign language in high school through level three; (3) achieving a satisfactory score on the foreign languages placement test (in Spanish, French or German); (4) through approved transfer or transient credit earned at other accredited institutions; (5) a combination of the above methods (e.g., placing out of or earning transfer or transient credit for 1201 and completing the 1202 course, completing 1201 and placing out of or earning transfer or transient credit for 1202).

 

Major Courses 56 credit hours

 

Foundation Dance Technique Courses (22  credit hours)

• DANC 1201 - Foundations in Dance (2 )

• DANC 1209 - Ballet for Majors IA (2)

• DANC 1210 - Ballet for Majors IB (2)

• DANC 1217 - Modern Dance for Majors IA (2)

• DANC 1218 - Modern Dance for Majors IB (2)

• DANC 2125 - African Dance (2)

• DANC 2209 - Ballet for Majors IIA (2)

• DANC 2210 - Ballet for Majors IIB (2)

• DANC 2217 - Modern Dance for Majors IIA (2)

• DANC 2218 - Modern Dance for Majors IIB (2)

• DANC 2226 - Vintage Jazz Dance (2)

 

• DANC 3210 - Ballet for Majors III (2) or

• DANC 3218 - Modern Dance for Majors III (2)

 

Creative Process Courses (5   11 credit hours)

• DANC 1280 - Improvisation (2)

• DANC 2016 - Choreographic Analysis (3)

• DANC 2216 - Choreography I (3)

 

• DANC 3227 - Ballet Pedagogy (3) or

• DANC 3230 - Choreography II (3)

 

Dance Theory Courses (15  credit hours)

• DANC 1201 - Foundations in Dance (3)

• DANC 2119 - Anatomy for Dancers (3)

• DANC 2251 - Lighting Design I (3)

• DANC 3221 - Dance History I (3) (W)

• DANC 3222 - Dance History II (3)

• DANC 4110 - Communicating Across the Dance Discipline (3)

 

Dance Theory and Creative Practice Courses (3 credit hours)

• DANC 2016 - Choreographic Analysis (3) or

• DANC 3227 - Ballet Pedagogy (3) or

• DANC 3230 - Choreography II (3)

 

Performance and Production Courses (4 credit hours)

• DANC 2401 - Production Practicum - Dance Running Crew (1)

• DANC 2402 - Performance Practicum (1)

• THEA 2401 - Production Practicum (1)

 

• DANC 2401 - Production Practicum - Dance Running Crew (1) or

• DANC 2402 - Performance Practicum (1)

 

Restricted Elective Courses (4 credit hours)

Among the possibilities for dance electives are: courses in the major curriculum that “may be repeated for credit,” non-major courses, and special topics courses including:

 

• Required Dance Technique courses that “may be repeated for credit”

• Non-major courses including:

DANC 1212  Ballet I  (2) 

DANC 1213  Ballet II  (2) 

DANC 1214  Modern Dance I  (2) 

DANC 1215  Modern Dance II  (2)

DANC 2222  Ballet III  (2) 

DANC 2224  Modern Dance III  (2) 

 

• Elective courses including:

 

• Danc 1108 -  Yoga (2)

• DANC 1109 - Pilates (2)

• DANC 2124 - Irish Traditional Dance (2)

• DANC 2125 - West African Dance (2)

• DANC 2126 - Tap Dance (2)

• DANC 2127 - Latin Dance Forms (2)

• DANC 2227 - Contemporary Jazz Dance (2)

• DANC 2403 - Dancing for Choreographers (2)

• DANC 3100 - Pointe (2)

• DANC 3229 - Contact Improvisation (2)

• DANC 4001 - Topics in Dance (1-3)

 

Unrestricted Elective Courses (13-27 credit hours)

As needed to reach 120 credit hours required for graduation. Students may choose to pursue a minor or a second major

As needed.

 

Degree Total = 120 Credit Hours

 

Grade Requirements

All dance content courses must be completed with no more than one grade of D and a major GPA of at least 2.75.  The student must also have an overall (cumulative) 2.5 GPA or above.  The Department of Dance requires a student review process, including a Sophomore Review held the third semester of study, for continued status as a dance major.

 

Honors Program

For details about the Arts + Architecture Honors Program, visit the AAHP program page.

 

Suggested Curriculum

For a suggested curriculum progression toward completing the major, please see the Academic Plan of Study available online at academics.uncc.edu.