Dance, BFA

for the degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance

The BFA program in Dance offers intense dance training, multicultural movement practices, and meaningful interactions with faculty that prepare students to enter the world of dance as professional dancers and informed citizens. Each year of the students’ education has a theme that designates a gestalt of competencies designed to progress yearly through the curriculum. First-years ACTIVATE (through technique classes, repertory and a first semester performance experience); sophomores DELVE (taking multiple physical practice, context and creative practice classes and being reviewed by a faculty committee); juniors ARTICULATE (with one semester spent abroad or on campus taking multi-disciplinary coursework); and seniors LAUNCH (taking career seminar, connecting with an alumni mentor, and producing their own work).

The BFA curriculum offers coursework in the areas of technique, composition, performance, theory, media, career preparation, improvisation, music studies, pedagogy, history, movement sciences, and repertory. Electives may be taken in a range of techniques, choreographic laboratory, and independent studies.

Specific Program requirement areas are as follows:

4 credits in Foundations, 23 credits in Physical Practice, 2 hours in Mindful Movement, 8 credits in Creative Practice, 8 credits in Performance, 3 credits in Production, 20 credits in Context, 5 credits in Synthesis, and 5–7 credits in Focused Electives.

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.

It is possible for transfer students to complete degree requirements in a three-year period contingent upon prior completion of general education requirements.

A total of 130 hours is required for this degree.

for the degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance

Graduation Requirements

Minimum hours required for graduation: 130 hours.
Dance coursework grade point average minimum: 2.75

University Requirements

Minimum of 40 hours of upper-division coursework, generally at the 300- or 400-level. These hours can be drawn from all elements of the degree.  Students should consult their academic advisor for additional guidance in fulfilling this requirement.

The university and residency requirements can be found in the Student Code (§ 3-801) and in the Academic Catalog.

General Education Requirements

Follows the campus General Education (Gen Ed) requirements. Some Gen Ed requirements may be met by courses required and/or electives in the program.

General Education Requirements
Composition I4-6
Advanced Composition3
Humanities & the Arts (6 hours)6
Natural Sciences & Technology (6 hours)6
Social & Behavioral Sciences (6 hours)6
Cultural Studies: Non-Western Cultures (1 course)3
Cultural Studies: U.S. Minority Cultures (1 course)3
Cultural Studies: Western/Comparative Cultures (1 course)3
Quantitative Reasoning (2 courses, at least one course must be Quantitative Reasoning I)6-10
Language Requirement (Completion of the third semester or equivalent of a language other than English is required)0-15
Foundation Courses4
FAA 101Arts at Illinois1
DANC 150The Green Room (variable & repeatable)3
Physical Practice23
DANC 160Dancing Techniques I (variable & repeatable)4
DANC 256Choreographic Laboratory I1
DANC 260Dancing Techniques II (variable & repeatable)5
DANC 270Dancing in Community I & II (repeatable)2
DANC 360Dancing Techniques III (variable & repeatable)2
DANC 460Dancing Techniques IV (variable & repeatable)4
Pick from the following Physical Practice electives:5
DANC 209
Lyric Theatre Dance
DANC 212
Musical Theater Dance
DANC 316
Dancing Techniques Elective
DANC 456
Choreographic Laboratory II
DANC 468
Physical Practice Study Abroad
DANC 470
Dancing in Community III & IV
Mindful Movement2
Choose from the following:
DANC 245Mindful Movement1
DANC 301Yoga Fundamentals1
DANC 401Alexander Tech for Dancers1
DANC 402Alexander Technique Practicum1
Creative Practice8
DANC 259Dance Improvisation I2
DANC 262Choreographic Process I2
DANC 362Choreographic Process II2
Choose from the following Creative Practice electives:
DANC 362Choreographic Process II2
DANC 465Screendance3
Performance8
DANC 220Undergraduate Performance Practice (variable & repeatable)4
DANC 232Repertory Company (repeatable)4
Production3
Choose from the following:
DANC 131
Production Practicum I
DANC 231
Production Practicum II
DANC 330
Dance Documentation
DANC 331
Production Practicum III
DANC 431
Production Practicum IV
Context20
DANC 162Viewing Dance1
DANC 240Context3
DANC 3453
DANC 350Teaching Dance4
DANC 370Articulate1
DANC 441Dance History Seminar3
DANC 495Senior Career Seminar (repeatable)2
Course in School of Art + Design, School of Music, or Theatre Department3
Synthesis5
DANC 375Thesis Think Tank1
DANC 498BFA Thesis Production2
DANC 499BFA Thesis Project2
Focused Electives5-7
Focused electives, chosen in consultation with an advisor. Additional courses in dance such as technique, mindful movement, performance, study abroad credit, collaborative performance, or coursework in performance/performance studies in the departments of Theater or Media & Cinema Studies or the Schools of Music or Art and Design.

Summary of Credits for the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance

General Education
Foundation4
Physical Practice23
Mindful Movement2
Creative Practice8
Performance8
Production3
Context20
Synthesis5
Focused Electives5-7
A minimum of 40 credits at the 300 or 400 course level are required
Total Hours130

for the degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts 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 and General Education Requirements page.

First Year
First SemesterHours
Composition I or Language Other than English (3rd level)4
FAA 1011
DANC 1501
DANC 1602
DANC 2701
General Education course3
General Education course3
 15
Total Hours 15
First Year
Second SemesterHours
Composition I or Language Other than English (3rd level)4
DANC 1501
DANC 1602
DANC 2701
DANC 2322
DANC 1621
General Education course3
Free Elective course2
 16
Total Hours 16
Second Year
First SemesterHours
DANC 1501
DANC 2561
DANC 2602
DANC 2592
DANC 2622
DANC 2201
DANC 2322
General Education course3
Free Elective course2
 16
Total Hours 16
Second Year
Second SemesterHours
DANC 245, 301, 401, or 4021
DANC 2603
DANC 3622
DANC 2201
Production Course List course1
DANC 2403
DANC 3504
General Education course3
 18
Total Hours 18
Third Year
First SemesterHours
DANC 245, 301, 401, or 4021
DANC 3602
DANC 3622
Physical Practice course from '5 hours' list2
DANC 2201
DANC 2463
DANC 4413
Free Elective course2
DANC 3701
 17
Total Hours 17
Third Year
Second SemesterHours
DANC 3751
Focused Electives3
Physical Practice course from '5 hours' list2
General Education course3
General Education course3
General Education course3
Free Elective course2
 17
Total Hours 17
Fourth Year
First SemesterHours
DANC 4602
Production Course List course1
DANC 4951
DANC 4981
DANC 4991
Physical Practice course from '5 hours' list1
DANC 2201
Focused Electives2
General Education course3
General Education course3
 16
Total Hours 16
Fourth Year
Second SemesterHours
DANC 4602
Production Course List course1
DANC 4951
DANC 4981
DANC 4991
Course in School of Art + Design, School of Music, or Theatre Department3
General Education course3
General Education course3
 15
Total Hours 15

Total Hours: 130

for the degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance

Upon graduation, new alumni of the Bachelor of Fine Arts program will be able to: 

  1. Dance with full mind-body awareness, energy, skill, musicality, passion, and imagination in African- and European-informed movement practices.
  2. Confidently teach a class that evinces deep physical and contextual understanding of a movement practice while paying attention to community building, safety, inclusiveness, and strategic educational engagement.  
  3. Communicate ideas about dance through physicality, written, and oral platforms, both in-person and online, in publication or publicity that evidence clarity and consideration of multiple perspectives. 
  4. Utilize technology and various media both as a creative tool and as a means for increasing positive visibility for dance. 
  5. Articulate the socio-political, cultural, historical impact of dance and its potential to contribute to global dialogue and inquiry. 
  6. Participate in and develop creative processes, conduct choreographic and performative research, and disseminate that research in theatrical events.  
  7. Utilize various approaches to the body and understand the context in which those approaches were founded. 
  8. Model good citizenship and community-building in their future environments. 

for the degree of Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance

Dance

Dance Department website
dance@illinois.edu

College of Fine & Applied Arts

FAA College Website

Admissions

Overview of the College of Fine & Applied Arts Admissions & Requirements
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Undergrad Admissions
admissions@illinois.edu