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, 26 credits in Physical Practice, 7-8 credits in Creative Practice, 8 credits in Performance, 3 credits in Production, 21 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.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements | ||
| Composition I | 4-6 | |
| Advanced Composition | 3 | |
| 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 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Courses | 4 | |
| FAA 101 | Arts at Illinois | 1 |
| DANC 150 | The Green Room (variable & repeatable) | 3 |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Practice | 26 | |
| DANC 160 | Dancing Techniques I (variable & repeatable) | 4 |
| DANC 245 | Mindful Movement (repeatable) | 2 |
| DANC 256 | Choreographic Laboratory I | 1 |
| DANC 260 | Dancing Techniques II (variable & repeatable) | 5 |
| DANC 270 | Dancing in Community I & II (repeatable) | 3 |
| DANC 360 | Dancing Techniques III (variable & repeatable) | 2 |
| DANC 460 | Dancing Techniques IV (variable & repeatable) | 4 |
| Pick from the following Physical Practice electives: | 5 | |
| Lyric Theatre Dance | ||
| Musical Theater Dance | ||
| Dancing Techniques Elective | ||
| Choreographic Laboratory II | ||
| Physical Practice Study Abroad | ||
| Dancing in Community III & IV | ||
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Creative Practice | 7-8 | |
| DANC 259 | Dance Improvisation I | 2 |
| DANC 262 | Choreographic Process I | 2 |
| Choose from the following Creative Practice electives: | ||
| DANC 362 | Choreographic Process II (repeatable) | 4 |
| DANC 465 | Screendance | 3 |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 8 | |
| DANC 220 | Undergraduate Performance Practice (variable & repeatable) | 4 |
| DANC 232 | Repertory Company (repeatable) | 4 |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Production | 3 | |
| Choose from the following: | ||
| Production Practicum I | ||
| Production Practicum II | ||
| Dance Documentation | ||
| Production Practicum III | ||
| Production Practicum IV | ||
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Context | 20 | |
| DANC 162 | Viewing Dance | 1 |
| DANC 240 | Context | 3 |
| DANC 345 | Dance Anatomy and Kinesiology | 3 |
| DANC 350 | Teaching Dance | 4 |
| DANC 370 | Articulate | 1 |
| DANC 441 | Dance History Seminar | 3 |
| DANC 495 | Senior Career Seminar (repeatable) | 2 |
| Course in School of Art + Design, School of Music, or Theatre Department | 3 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Synthesis | 5 | |
| DANC 375 | Thesis Think Tank | 1 |
| DANC 498 | BFA Thesis Production | 2 |
| DANC 499 | BFA Thesis Project | 2 |
| Focused Electives | 5-7 | |
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
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | ||
| Foundation | 4 | |
| Physical Practice | 26 | |
| Creative Practice | 7-8 | |
| Performance | 8 | |
| Production | 3 | |
| Context | 20 | |
| Synthesis | 5 | |
| Focused Electives | 5-7 | |
| A minimum of 40 credits at the 300 or 400 course level are required | ||
| Total Hours | 130 | |
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 Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| Composition I or Language Other than English (3rd level) | 4 | Composition I or Language Other than English (3rd level) | 4 |
| FAA 101 | 1 | DANC 150 | 1 |
| DANC 150 | 1 | DANC 160 | 2 |
| DANC 160 | 2 | DANC 270 | 1 |
| DANC 270 | 1 | DANC 232 | 2 |
| General Education course | 3 | DANC 162 | 1 |
| General Education course | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| Free Elective course | 2 | ||
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Total Hours 31 | |||
| Second Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| DANC 150 | 1 | DANC 245 | 1 |
| DANC 256 | 1 | DANC 260 | 3 |
| DANC 260 | 2 | DANC 362 | 2 |
| DANC 270 | 1 | DANC 220 | 1 |
| DANC 259 | 2 | Production Course List course | 1 |
| DANC 262 | 2 | DANC 240 | 3 |
| DANC 220 | 1 | DANC 350 | 4 |
| DANC 232 | 2 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | ||
| Free Elective course | 1 | ||
| 16 | 18 | ||
| Total Hours 34 | |||
| Third Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| DANC 245 | 1 | DANC 375 | 1 |
| DANC 360 | 2 | Focused Electives | 3 |
| DANC 362 | 2 | Physical Practice course from '5 hours' list | 2 |
| Physical Practice course from '5 hours' list | 2 | General Education course | 3 |
| DANC 220 | 1 | General Education course | 3 |
| DANC 345 | 3 | General Education course | 3 |
| DANC 441 | 3 | Free Elective course | 2 |
| Free Elective course | 2 | ||
| DANC 370 | 1 | ||
| 17 | 17 | ||
| Total Hours 34 | |||
| Fourth Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | Second Semester | Hours |
| DANC 460 | 2 | DANC 460 | 2 |
| Production Course List course | 1 | Production Course List course | 1 |
| DANC 495 | 1 | DANC 495 | 1 |
| DANC 498 | 1 | DANC 498 | 1 |
| DANC 499 | 1 | DANC 499 | 1 |
| Physical Practice course from '5 hours' list | 1 | Course in School of Art + Design, School of Music, or Theatre Department | 3 |
| DANC 220 | 1 | General Education course | 3 |
| Focused Electives | 2 | General Education course | 3 |
| General Education course | 3 | ||
| General Education course | 3 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Total Hours 31 | |||
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:
- Dance with full mind-body awareness, energy, skill, musicality, passion, and imagination in African- and European-informed movement practices.
- 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.
- 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.
- Utilize technology and various media both as a creative tool and as a means for increasing positive visibility for dance.
- Articulate the socio-political, cultural, historical impact of dance and its potential to contribute to global dialogue and inquiry.
- Participate in and develop creative processes, conduct choreographic and performative research, and disseminate that research in theatrical events.
- Utilize various approaches to the body and understand the context in which those approaches were founded.
- 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
Admissions
Overview of the College of Fine & Applied Arts Admissions & Requirements
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Undergrad Admissions
admissions@illinois.edu