Major Description

The Dance Department maintains high standards of artistic excellence within the framework of the liberal arts education. The theoretical orientation to dance is humanistic, encouraging students to question the nature of dance, the body, and the self relative to cultural context. Analytic and creative skills important to original work in all fields are cultivated―the ability to identify problems rationally and to discover imaginative solutions and the ability to define a personal practice with sharp observation, concentration, and craftsmanship. Two tracks are offered within the major. One focuses on choreography and performance, and the other emphasizes history and culture. These tracks are supported by the experimental dance and world dance curricula, respectively.

Major requirements:

Choreography/performance track course requirements. Six dance technique courses, including at least two upper-level II or III courses in at least two of the following technical traditions:

Modern Dance I (DANC211), Modern Dance II (DANC215), Modern Dance III (DANC309)
Ballet I (DANC202), Ballet II (DANC302)
Jazz Dance I (DANC208), Jazz Dance II (DANC213), Jazz Dance III (DANC308)
Tap Dance I (DANC204), Tap Dance II (DANC304)
West African Dance I (DANC260), West African Dance II (DANC360)
Javanese Dance I (DANC251)
Bharata Natyam I: Introduction of South Indian Classical Dance (DANC261), Bharata Natyam II: Embracing the Traditional and the Modern (DANC362)
Eastern and Western European Dance Forms (DANC252)
West African Dance III (DANC365)
Bharata Natyam III (DANC382)

Plus

Dance Production Techniques (DANC105)
Dance Composition (DANC249 and DANC250)
Choreography Workshop (DANC371)
Advanced Dance Practice A (DANC435) or Advanced Dance Practice B (DANC445)
American Dance History (DANC375) or Perspectives in Dance as Culture (DANC377)
Introduction to Laban Movement Analysis and Bartenieff Fundamentals (DANC303) or Dance Teaching Workshop: Theory and Practice (DANC341) and Dance Teaching Practicum (DANC447)
Anatomy and Kinesiology (DANC301) or Improvisational Forms (DANC354)

History/culture track course requirements. These requirements differ from those outlined above in the following particulars:

Only four dance technique courses are required.
Both Perspectives in Dance as Culture (DANC377) and American Dance History (DANC375) are required.
Choreography Workshop (DANC371) is not required.
Advanced Dance Practice A (DANC435) and B (DANC445) are not required. Three courses relevant to the student's interests (courses from a second major are not eligible) are selected by the student in consultation with his/her advisor from specifically recommended courses in anthropology, ethnomusicology, American studies, African American studies, history, or theater.
These additional courses are offered: Introduction to Dance (DANC111), Seminar in Music for Dance (DANC254), Repertory and Performance (DANC378), Dance and Technology (DANC380).

First-year students interested in becoming dance majors are encouraged to begin by enrolling in American Dance History (DANC375), Dance Production Techniques (DANC105), Advanced Dance Practice A (DANC435) or Advanced Dance Practice B (DANC445), and in dance technique classes at the technical level commensurate with their experience. Fall and spring concerts produced by the department showcase student choreographic work from the Dance Composition and Choreography Workshop courses and from senior project/thesis research. Preregistration is possible for many dance courses. All students interested in registering for dance classes should access WESmaps concerning procedures for acceptance into courses. Students majoring in dance or indicating strong curricular commitment to dance will be given enrollment preference in all permission-of-instructor courses.

Senior research requirements. Choreography/performance. Students complete (1) a senior project including a one-semester choreographic component with a research essay or (2) a senior thesis including a two-semester choreographic component with a written thesis.

History/culture. Students complete a written thesis; no choreographic component is required.

Procedures for honors in dance. Dance majors who wish to be candidates for departmental honors must complete senior research in the form of a thesis. Projects are not eligible for the award of honors. The student's proposed research design will be revised and finalized in consultation with the student's prospective tutor and should reflect the special interests and talents of the individual student. The award of honors or high honors is based on the scope and excellence of the thesis and on the student's creative work.

To receive the award of honors, a thesis must follow these guidelines:

The honors thesis typically consists of approximately 20 minutes of group choreography (usually two 10-minute dances) and an 80- to 100-page research paper situating the choreography within an aesthetic and historical context.
It must involve enough work to warrant two credits.

Each honors candidate is required to make a commitment to candidacy in advance. The student must file a written statement of his or her intention to stand for departmental honors with both the department and the Honors College. The department will nominate candidates for departmental honors to the Honors College. Nominations will occur only if it appears reasonably certain that the candidate's work will be completed on time and in the desired form. The department in cooperation with the Honors College will arrange suitable mid-April deadlines for performances and the submission of theses.

Each honors thesis will have two readers. One of these must be chosen from outside the Dance Department. The department will base its recommendation for departmental honors upon the readers' written evaluations and joint recommendations.

Last updated: May 13, 2008.

Contact wesmaps@wesleyan.edu to submit comments or suggestions.