Dance, BA
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts Major in Dance
The BA curriculum in dance is designed to provide an integrated and individualized approach to undergraduate studies of dance. The degree is designed for students who want to explore interdisciplinary approaches to art-making, and/or simultaneously pursue a minor or major in another discipline. Students will study core areas in Dance: Foundations, Physical Practice, Creative Practice, Performance Production, Context, and Synthesis. Students will identify at least one other key area of interest such as Psychology, Kinesiology, Theater Studies, Music, Anthropology, Business, Art & Design, Environment, Film, Gender Studies, Cultural Studies, etc., and will choose a Major, Minor or Focused Electives in this area of study under consultation with an advisor. Under the mentorship of a faculty member, students will propose a research project to the undergraduate committee for approval. This research will culminate in a BA Senior Thesis, evidencing a synthesis of their studies within dance and another area of study.
Students pursuing a Dance degree at the University of Illinois must first be admitted to the BFA in Dance (audition required). Once admitted, those desiring an interdisciplinary education may choose to apply for admittance into the BA in Dance, rather than continuing in the BFA.
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 dance coursework in order to remain in good standing in the department.
A total of 120 hours is required for this degree.
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts Major in Dance
Minimum hours required for graduation: 120 hours
Dance coursework grade point average minimum: 2.75
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Composition I | 4-6 | |
| Advanced Composition | 3-4 | |
| Humanities & the Arts | 6-8 | |
| Social & Behavioral Sciences | 6-8 | |
| Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures | 3-4 | |
| Cultural Studies: U.S. Minority Cultures | 3-4 | |
| Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Culture(s) | 3-4 | |
| Natural Sciences & Technology | 6-10 | |
| Quantitative Reasoning | 6-9 | |
| The Language Requirement may be satisfied by: | ||
-Successfully completing a third-semester college-level course in a language other than English; | ||
-Successful completion, in high school, of the third year of a language other than English; or | ||
-Demonstrating proficiency at the third-semester level in a language proficiency examination approved by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the appropriate department. | ||
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Courses | 2 | |
| FAA 101 | Arts at Illinois | 1 |
| DANC 150 | The Green Room | 1 |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Practice | 18 | |
| DANC 160 | Dancing Techniques I (variable & repeatable) | 6 |
| DANC 245 | Mindful Movement | 1 |
| DANC 260 | Dancing Techniques II (variable & repeatable) | 4 |
| or DANC 316 | Dancing Techniques Elective | |
| Choose from the following: | 7 | |
DANC 160 | Dancing Techniques I | |
| Lyric Theatre Dance | ||
| Musical Theater Dance | ||
DANC 245 | Mindful Movement | |
| Choreographic Laboratory I | ||
DANC 260 | Dancing Techniques II | |
| Dancing in Community I & II | ||
| Dancing Techniques III | ||
| Collaborative Performance | ||
| Choreographic Laboratory II | ||
| Dancing Techniques IV | ||
| Physical Practice Study Abroad | ||
| Dancing in Community III & IV | ||
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Creative Practice | 6 | |
| DANC 259 | Dance Improvisation I | 2 |
| DANC 262 | Choreographic Process I | 2 |
| DANC 362 | Choreographic Process II | 2 |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 2 | |
| DANC 232 | Repertory Company | 2 |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Production | 2 | |
| Choose two of the following: | ||
| Production Practicum I | ||
| Production Practicum II | ||
| Dance Documentation | ||
| Production Practicum III | ||
| Production Practicum IV | ||
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Context | 19 | |
| DANC 100 | Intro to Contemporary Dance | 3 |
| DANC 162 | Viewing Dance | 1 |
| DANC 475 | Dance Research Methods | 3 |
| Choose 12 hours from: | 12 | |
| Black Dances of Resistance | ||
| Undergraduate Open Seminar | ||
| Explore Music through Dance | ||
| Context | ||
| Dancing Black Popular Culture | ||
| Dance Anatomy and Kinesiology | ||
| Teaching Dance | ||
| Individual Study/Creative Investigations | ||
Additional study abroad hours, maximum 3, chosen in consultation with advisor. | ||
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Synthesis | 5 | |
| DANC 375 | Thesis Think Tank | 1 |
| DANC 496 | BA Senior Thesis Research | 2 |
| DANC 497 | BA Senior Thesis Symposium | 2 |
| Focused Electives in Secondary Area of Study | 15 | |
| Free electives as needed to total 120 hours minimum | ||
| A minimum of 40 credits at the 300 or 400 course level are required | ||
| Total Hours Required for the Bachelor of Arts in Dance | 120 | |
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts Major in Dance
This sample sequence is intended to be used only as a guide for degree completion. All students should work individually with their academic advisors to decide the actual course selection and sequence that works best for them based on their academic preparation and goals. Enrichment programming such as study abroad, minors, internships, and so on may impact the structure of this four-year plan. Course availability is not guaranteed during the semester indicated in the sample sequence.
Students must fulfill their Language Other Than English requirement by successfully completing a third level of a language other than English. See the corresponding section on the Degree General and Education Requirements page.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| DANC 150 | 1 | DANC 100 | 3 |
| DANC 160 | 2 | DANC 160 | 2 |
| Context course from 'choose 12 hours' list | 3 | DANC 162 | 1 |
| Comp. I or Language Other than English (3rd level) | 4 | Comp. I or Language Other than English (3rd level) | 4 |
| FAA 101 | 1 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| 14 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| DANC 259 | 2 | DANC 260 or 316 | 2 |
| DANC 131 | 1 | DANC 231 | 1 |
| DANC 232 | 2 | DANC 245 | 1 |
| DANC 262 | 2 | Context course from '12 hours' list | 3 |
| DANC 160 | 2 | Physical Practice course from '7 hours' list | 2 |
| Focused Elective in Secondary Area of Study | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | Free Elective course | 2 |
| 15 | 14 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| DANC 362 | 2 | DANC 375 | 1 |
| Focused Elective in Secondary Area of Study | 3 | Focused Elective in Secondary Area of Study | 3 |
| Physical Practice course from '7 hours' list | 2 | Focused Elective in Secondary Area of Study | 3 |
| DANC 475 | 3 | Focused Elective in Secondary Area of Study | 3 |
| DANC 260 or DANC 316 | 2 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| DANC 496 | 2 | DANC 497 | 2 |
| Physical Practice course from '7 hours' list | 2 | Physical Practice course from '7 hours' list | 1 |
| Context course from '12 hours' list | 3 | Context course from '12 hours' list | 3 |
| Context course from '12 hours' list | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | Free Elective course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 2 | Free Elective course | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 120 | |||
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts Major in Dance
Upon graduation the BA student will be able to:
- Dance with physical, technical and performance skills.
- Utilize knowledge of anatomical and somatic approaches in theory and practice.
- Engage in creative processes and collaborate across domains.
- Produce a capstone project that reflects synthesis of studies in dance and other fields.
- Employ diverse modes of thinking, both orally and in writing, to communicate ideas relating to dance and other fields.
- Demonstrate critical self-reflection, curiosity, self-motivation, and entrepreneurial spirit in creative processes and final products.
for the degree of Bachelor of Arts Major in Dance
Dance
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College of Fine & Applied Arts
FAA College Website
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