Dance, M.A.

Center for the Performing and Cinematic Arts / BOYER COLLEGE OF MUSIC AND DANCE

Learn more about the Master of Arts in Dance.

About the Program

The Dance Department offers programs of study leading to the Master of Arts, Master of Fine Arts, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. All students are expected to develop a command of the discipline of dance, as a performing art and as both subject and medium of inquiry. The department's mission places high value on the role of dance in a pluralistic, multicultural society.

The M.A. in Dance is a research-centered degree that allows students to follow and integrate strands in cultural, creative, and educational studies of dance. Through coursework blending experiential and theoretical inquiry and an in-depth thesis project, the program prepares students for doctoral education in dance and professional development in research, writing, creative process, and pedagogy.

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 4 years

Campus Location: Main. All department courses are offered on Main Campus, but students may take out-of-department credits on another campus.

Full-Time/Part-Time Status: The degree program can be completed on a full- or part-time basis.

Interdisciplinary Study: The program encourages interdisciplinary coursework, research, and interactions among faculty and students with interests in Africology and African American Studies, Anthropology, Education, History, Jewish Studies, Media Arts, Music, Philosophy, Sociology, Theater Arts, Women's Studies, and the like.

Accreditation: The M.A. in Dance is pending plan approval by the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD).

Areas of Specialization: The M.A. in Dance is a research-centered degree that allows students to follow and integrate strands in cultural, creative, and educational studies of dance. Through coursework blending experiential and theoretical inquiry and an in-depth thesis project, the program prepares students for doctoral education in dance. It also provides master’s-level professional development in research, writing, the creative process, and pedagogy.

Job Prospects: Graduates perform and choreograph with companies throughout the world, teach at all levels of education, serve as arts administrators and policymakers for the arts, and publish extensively.

Non-Matriculated Student Policy: Non-matriculated students are able to take technique classes and some core coursework with permission of the instructor and the department chair. If accepted into the program, those courses (up to a maximum of 9 credits) may be applied toward the degree program.

Financing Opportunities: Teaching Assistantships (TAs), Research Assistantships (RAs), and Academic Internships (AIs) are available. Teaching responsibilities usually include teaching university general education courses. On occasion, TAs are assigned to teach B.F.A. Dance courses for which they are qualified. This award includes a monthly stipend, book allowance, and tuition remission. Assistantships are generally awarded for a minimum of one year. The TA/RA/AI application is part of the supplemental dance application for admission. Continuing students who have not held an assistantship also submit a written application in the term prior to commencement of the award.

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

Summer II: January 11

All department and university application materials must be received by the Dance Department. After acceptance at the department level, final review of all application materials is made by the Boyer College of Music and Dance.

APPLY ONLINE to this graduate program.

Letters of Reference:
Number Required: 2

From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained from qualified representatives of academic or professional communities in dance.

Coursework Required for Admission Consideration: Applicants should have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0, and an undergraduate degree in Dance or equivalent professional experience. Depending on the individual's professional goals, certain prerequisite courses may be assigned to fill in any gaps in preparation.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: A baccalaureate degree is required.

Statement of Goals: In three to five typed pages, address how your experience and education have prepared you for advanced study in dance and how the degree will support your professional goals.

Standardized Test Scores:
Applicants who earned their baccalaureate degree from an institution where the language of instruction was other than English, with the exception of those who subsequently earned a master’s degree at a U.S. institution, must report scores for a standardized test of English that meet these minimums:

  • TOEFL iBT: 79
  • IELTS Academic: 6.5
  • PTE Academic: 53

Resume: A current resume detailing experience in dance, art, education, scholarship, and/or public leadership is required.

Writing Sample: A recent scholarly or academic research paper must be submitted as a writing sample.

Transfer Credit: Graduate credits from an accredited institution may be transferred into the M.A. in Dance program. Transfer credits must be approved by the Graduate Coordinator, the department chair, and the Associate Dean. The maximum number of credits a student may transfer is 6.

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 30

Required Courses:

Core Courses 1
DANC 8859Dancing the City3
DANC 8861Dancing Self in Community3
DANC 8862Embodied Craft3
DANC 8872Educating Dance3
DANC 8873Concepts of Culture3
DANC 9801Research Methods in Dance3
Electives
DANC 8808Corporeal Improvisation (or a Technique course)2
Other Dance Electives6
Research Course
DANC 9996Master's Thesis in Dance4
Total Credit Hours30

Culminating Events:
Master's Thesis:
The M.A. thesis is a substantial research project developed over three terms, culminating in a written thesis of 20,000 words. During Spring term of the first year of full-time study, students carry out bibliographic research, develop an annotated bibliography, and create a thesis proposal in a mentored seminar setting. A thesis advisor, with whom the student works until the completion of the project, is then determined. Prior to graduation, students make a formal presentation of their thesis research for dance faculty, students, and invited guests. Detailed guidelines for the M.A. thesis process and evaluation are found in the Graduate Handbook.

Courses

DANC 8801. Dance Techniques. 1 Credit Hour.

This course provides insight to the choreographic process of a master choreographer through learning and performing a major work.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 8803. Rhythm: Analysis, Performance and Composition. 3 Credit Hours.

This course offers students the opportunity to engage in a comprehensive study of rhythm as a dance-related discipline at the graduate level. It focuses on the basic elements of rhythm and movement, and how these develop the student's understanding of motion as a sequence of effort and rest. Capacities for analysis and performance of rhythm within dance and musical contexts will be cultivated.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 8804. Dance and the Child. 3 Credit Hours.

This course addresses theories of child development and learning as they relate to the teaching of dance in K-12 education. Content is organized around a series of questions that a dance teacher might have regarding how their students are experiencing dance in a school setting. Topics include developmental milestones and their impact on dance curriculum, integration of dance into the broader school curriculum, and cultural issues in dance education. Students gain hands-on experience in a peer teaching setting and begin to build concrete resources for teaching dance in K-12 settings. This course satisfies the elementary education coursework requirement for the K-12 Dance Teacher Certification through the Bureau of Career and Technical Education.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 8805. The Dancer and the Dance Medium. 1 Credit Hour.

A core course required of all entering graduate students. Participants engage in independent and collaborative inquiry to elucidate individual values and understandings of dance in a social learning context. Class projects include development and performance of personal dance histories and peer presentations based on areas of student expertise or interest. Emphasis is on clarification of personal voice as an important source of goal setting in graduate dance education.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 8806. The Creative Process and the Dance Symbol. 3 Credit Hours.

This core course deals with sources and processes for creative transformation. The class examines the individual as an artist and explores various influences, congruencies, symbols and meanings affecting the art form today. It is a studio course with assignments ranging from reading and writing to choreographing and performing.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 8808. Corporeal Improvisation. 1 to 2 Credit Hour.

This course lays the groundwork for dance improvisation as technique, as inquiry, and as performance. Exercises to develop and deepen an experiential understanding of anatomy and physical laws serve to expand physical range and imagination. Practice of improvisational directives and personal experimentation of movement concepts and the elements of dance increase awareness of individual stylistic and movement preferences and strengths, as well as areas of weakness.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.

DANC 8809. Graduate Repertory. 2 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.

DANC 8812. Performance Environments I: Dance Production. 2 Credit Hours.

Students master basic technical theater skills, and encounter design theory and practice, with emphasis on preparing them to serve as stage managers, and expose them to the vocabulary and objectives in costume, lighting, set design, theater make-up, the use of projections, and specifications for creating theater in non-theatrical spaces.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 8815. Performance Environments II: Producing Dance. 2 Credit Hours.

A professional and practical course emphasizing the development of tools and skills necessary for realizing individual goals, vehicles, and processes for change in the various fields of dance and related arts within our society.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 8821. Modern Dance Technique I B. 1 to 2 Credit Hour.

This course addresses the development of basic movement skills and concepts as a means toward effective performance.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.

DANC 8822. Modern Dance Technique II A. 1 to 2 Credit Hour.

This course addresses the development of basic movement skills and concepts as a means toward effective performance.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.

Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in DANC 8821.

DANC 8823. Modern Dance Technique II B. 1 to 2 Credit Hour.

This course addresses the extension of range, control, and clarity of performance for more complex dance sequences.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.

Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in DANC 8821.

DANC 8824. Modern Dance Technique III A. 1 to 2 Credit Hour.

This course addresses the extension of range, control, and clarity of performance for more complex dance sequences.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.

Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in DANC 8823.

DANC 8825. Modern Dance Technique III B. 1 to 2 Credit Hour.

This course addresses increased technical accuracy, sensitivity, and versatility of performance. The dance material offered covers a wide range of spatial, dynamic, and rhythmic qualities.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.

Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in DANC 8824.

DANC 8826. Modern Dance Technique IV A. 1 to 2 Credit Hour.

This course addresses increased technical accuracy, sensitivity, and versatility of performance. The dance material offered covers a wide range of spatial, dynamic, and rhythmic qualities.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.

Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in DANC 8825.

DANC 8827. Modern Dance Technique IV B. 1 to 2 Credit Hour.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.

DANC 8828. African I. 1 Credit Hour.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 8829. African II. 1 Credit Hour.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 8831. Intro Laban Movement Analysis. 3 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 8832. Ballet Technique II. 1 Credit Hour.

This course provides further skills in basic classical ballet vocabulary and preparation for professional study at the intermediate level.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.

DANC 8833. Ballet Technique III. 1 Credit Hour.

This course addresses advanced vocabulary and skills for increasing demands of more complex combinations and sequences.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in DANC 8832.

DANC 8834. Ballet Technique IV. 1 Credit Hour.

This course provides movement experience to develop confidence and skill for an authoritative and expressive performance. The full range of classical ballet vocabulary is used.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in DANC 8834.

DANC 8835. Dance on Video. 3 Credit Hours.

A hands-on course exploring the practical and aesthetic considerations in recording dance. Video equipment and recording techniques will be introduced, with a survey of selected dance video works.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 8836. Pointe I. 1 Credit Hour.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 8837. Pilates: Body Condition. 1 Credit Hour.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 8838. Pilates II: Applications. 1 Credit Hour.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 8839. Movement Theater Workshop. 3 Credit Hours.

This course is designed to provide intensive experience exploring the whole body as a medium for theatrical expression, and developing group collaborative processes.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 8841. Apprenticeship in Dance. 1 to 6 Credit Hour.

Designed to allow the student to practice, challenge, and expand artistic skills in a professional environment, and under the guidance of a mentor. Credit will not be awarded retroactively.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.

DANC 8842. Graduate Jazz Dance Level II. 1 Credit Hour.

This course provides a more sophisticated approach to jazz dance vocabularies and sensitivities used in contemporary dance and theater.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 8843. Graduate Jazz Dance Level III. 1 Credit Hour.

This course provides a complete integration of the approach to jazz dance vocabularies and sensitivities used in contemporary dance and theater.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in DANC 8843.

DANC 8845. Sound and Movement Partnerships. 3 Credit Hours.

With its basis in 20th-century or modern performing arts, this course offers both a practical and a philosophical perspective on essential topics of sound and movement partnership in an effort to train the eye and ear to perceive dynamic relationships between sound and movement. Critical to this class are the investigation of performance and composition skills and the critical discussion of choreographic issues. This class in music and dance composition challenges student choreographers to discover inventive sound and movement partnerships for the creation of new work.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 8847. Choreographing Philadelphia. 3 Credit Hours.

This intensive course addresses the city of Philadelphia - its history, geography, architecture, infrastructure, people, and dancing communities - as subject and site for the creation of choreography. Working solo and in teams students explore a variety of approaches to creating work in and about the city.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Fields of study: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 8848. Modal Practice, Structure and Performance. 3 Credit Hours.

This intensive studio course explores the practice and application of uni-focal creative research methodologies for training the body, movement invention aligned to conceptual intent, and creating choreography that elicits meaningful and personally invested performance.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Fields of study: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 8849. Studio Research. 1 Credit Hour.

This course takes place every semester and it operates as an opportunity for students to engage in independent studio practice (both through dance technique and composition) within a mentored framework. This course is conceived as a 'practice laboratory' in which students will be required to maintain and reflect upon their embodied learning and to pursue new lines of choreographic enquiry.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Fields of study: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.

DANC 8851. Choreographic Projects. 1 to 6 Credit Hour.

Graduate students develop original work with the guidance of dance faculty. The course culminates in the performance of the new work developed in the class in a final showing with modest technical elements.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.

DANC 8852. Non-Western Dance Traditions. 3 Credit Hours.

This course is an overview of dance traditions outside North America with the exception of selected Native American traditions. The course includes movements from Asian, African, South American, and Pacific Rim traditions. The goal is to increase the student's knowledge of dance traditions; further their understanding of spatial, religious, and social restrictions on the dances; and inform their choreographic processes by exposure to different ways of constructing movements. This is primarily a studio course with assignments geared to choreographic inquiries that extend the student's aesthetic parameters in terms of movement vocabulary and structure.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 8853. Lighting Design for Dance. 2 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 8859. Dancing the City. 3 Credit Hours.

In Dancing the City students explore the research methods of two powerful modes of inquiry - oral history and dance ethnography - in order to study the dance companies, communities of practice, and artists who interact in the unique spaces and dynamic social patterns of the city. Students theorize and think critically about the concepts of "space" and "the city," as they conduct individual research studies on dance in its various socio-cultural manifestations in the city. NOTE: Prior to fall 2015, the course title was "Writing the City."

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Fields of study: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 8861. Dancing Self in Community. 3 Credit Hours.

This course provides a site for autobiographical and community practice research. It enables a diverse entering body of graduate students to retrieve, situate, and articulate their personal histories in dance, including clarification of aesthetic values, both tacit and theorized, and to contribute their individual voices to a community performance project.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Fields of study: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 8862. Embodied Craft. 3 Credit Hours.

This is a studio course that also uses readings, group discussion, contemplative practices and writing to inform students' choices about all the elements necessary to craft dance including movement invention, spatial considerations, sound, music, silence, choreographic devices, performance arenas and dancers.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Fields of study: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 8865. Dance Science & Somatics. 3 Credit Hours.

Somatic exploration and conceptual comparison of three systems of movement awareness and transformation/rehabilitation: ideokinetic facilitation (Sweigard), body mobilization in space (Bartenieff), and traditional sports/dance medicine. Six themes are interwoven through the course: physiological bases of dance training; conditioning to address individual needs in dance training; the causes, pathology, care, rehabilitation, and prevention of dance injuries; dancers and wellness; application of motor learning and control to dance pedagogy; and mental imagery to enhance performance.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 8866. The Body Politic. 3 Credit Hours.

The course will conduct a multi-site exploration of "the body politic" as an everyday expression, as the creative formation of modern experience and personhood, as stimulation, as geography, as historical memory and as transcultural signification. This course will focus on introducing students to selected core theories of dance culture and cultural studies as it relates to the body politic.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Fields of study: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 8867. Educational Inquiry in Dance. 3 Credit Hours.

Students in the MA, MFA and PhD Dance programs design, implement, and evaluate an exploratory/pilot study in a selected area of dance education. The study may involve action research/fieldwork, curriculum design, advocacy, educational internship, or other form of inquiry relevant to education in and through dance.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Fields of study: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 8868. Graduate Seminar. 2 Credit Hours.

This course provides an overview of methods and materials for producing choreographic work and securing teaching employment in an evolving field. Emphasis will be placed on developing materials that reflect each student’s personal mission statement and career objectives.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Fields of study: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 8869. Dance Teaching Seminar. 2 Credit Hours.

This course assists graduate students in developing a sound basis for their continued growth and effectiveness as dance educators. Grounded in theories of holistic education, critical pedagogy, and reflective practice, the course integrates studio experiences, observation, theoretical inquiry, and teaching practice to examine key values adhering to the noble profession of "dance teacher."

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 8871. Apprenticeship in Teaching Dance. 1 to 3 Credit Hour.

This course provides a supervised internship in teaching dance supported by video assessment, one-to-one mentoring, and peer discussion groups.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 8872. Educating Dance. 3 Credit Hours.

This course addresses philosophical, historical, and contemporary perspectives in dance education. Topics include: history of education and arts/dance education, philosophical foundations of dance as a mode of learning, critical and feminist pedagogies in dance, social issues in dance teaching and learning (gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, culture, ability, age), and recent developments in cognitive neuroscience (embodied cognition) and technology.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Fields of study: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 8873. Concepts of Culture. 3 Credit Hours.

"Concepts of Culture" is a graduate course that seeks to show how dance practice is shaped through cultural production and how the moving body has the capacity to maintain, negotiate or re-imagine the social context in which it exists. It explores the meanings and values of "culture" and conceives culture as a site of contested power relations through which dominant structures are both maintained and challenged.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Fields of study: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 8874. Foundations of Cultural Studies. 3 Credit Hours.

This course examines performance structures, social paradigms, and dominant themes. The course is taught from a comprehensive, comparative perspective of intersecting identities, including race, gender, class, and sexuality by examining and discussing major theorists in the field and analyzing performances based on those theorists. This course also traces the intellectual heritage of cultural studies vis-a-vis scholars, artists, educators, activists, workers, and community members. The lectures, readings, video viewings, discussions, and movement experiences attempt to examine the diversity and similarities in cultures.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 8875. Arts Advocacy. 3 Credit Hours.

This course provides information, models and practical design experience in advocacy for dance in various settings. Emphasis is on pertinent literature, current trends, and practice guided by student professional goals.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 8876. Dance as a Mode of Learning. 3 Credit Hours.

This course integrates philosophical/historical perspectives of dance as a mode of learning with critical analysis of existing curriculum frameworks and a curriculum design project.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 8877. Dance Administration. 2 Credit Hours.

This course studies and analyzes historical, philosophical, and practical aspects of arts and dance administration. Emphasis is on practical skills, including curricular, administrative, and fiscal design and structures.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 8878. Graduate Dance Composition. 2 Credit Hours.

A course designed to confront the elements of dance composition through improvisation, short movement studies, and dances that are presented, discussed, and reworked in class. A final composition demonstrates skills, sensitivities, and understandings acquired.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 8879. Prof Portfolio Evaluation. 3 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 9800. Special Topics in Dance. 3 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.

DANC 9801. Research Methods in Dance. 3 Credit Hours.

The course provides a foundational introduction to theories, methodologies, questions, and themes in contemporary dance research and fosters the capacity for students to develop a critical and analytical voice, as well as independent research skills. Students will immerse themselves in key texts (verbal, audio-visual, and kinesthetic) that illuminate epistemological foundations, historical trends, current practice, and future directions of dance as a mode of human inquiry.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Fields of study: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 9804. Neoclassicism and the Baroque Revival in Twentieth-Century Dance and Culture. 3 Credit Hours.

This seminar explores tensions in the field of neoclassical ballet and the baroque dance and music revival - both significant aspects of modernism and postmodernism - in the critical context of tradition vs. classicism, and the early twentieth-century phenomenon of the rediscovery of seventeenth-century French culture. We examine the imbrication of these questions with the rise of fascism in the early twentieth century and the return of the baroque since the 1950s and 1960s, which reached an apogee in the 1980s in both Western Europe and the United States.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 9806. Somatic Theater. 3 Credit Hours.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 9831. Moving Across Genres. 3 Credit Hours.

This is a three (3) credit course in which we examine performance genres, social parameters, and discourse language. In this course we will investigate problematizing language in dance genres. Ballet as a lingua-franca, the specific language of selected Indian dances, hip-hop language and divisions such as old school, new school, traditional and neo-traditional, classical and neo contemporary and modern and contemporary dance will be discussed in relation to their relevance and viability to dance studies.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 9841. Experience, Engagement and Multi-Sensory Inquiry. 3 Credit Hours.

This course focuses on theories and methods that view human experience and embodiment as the ground of knowledge and meaning making. The course is informed by diverse sources including life experience, dance, phenomenology, existentialism, humanistic sociology, psychoanalytic theory, cognitive neuroscience, and aesthetics, particularly the emerging field of bio-aesthetics.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Fields of study: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 9851. Black Performance. 3 Credit Hours.

Using a chronological and geographical approach, this course traces performance trends in dance, music, and theater from West Africa to the Caribbean to the U.S. Examples of commonality and continuity are explored in selections from Yoruba, Akan, Vodun, and African genres.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 9852. Dancing the Popular. 3 Credit Hours.

Dancing the Popular is a doctoral course that seeks to examine "popular dance" within its multiple contexts of production, circulation, consumption and participation. It takes as its starting point the notion of "the popular" as a contested and value-laden category and explores how historically-located definitions conceive "popular culture" in a variety of ways.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Fields of study: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 9861. Dance and the Gendered Body: Historical Perspectives. 3 Credit Hours.

Students learn ways of analyzing representations of women, men, people of color, sexualities, and class distinctions in dance performance situated in different historical periods, cultural contexts, and performance venues. Students learn how to write historical narratives by locating primary sources and discovering the different voices/perspectives involved in a particular dance production, genre, ritual, performance, and practice. The course culminates in an ensemble performance based on individual research projects and reflexive understanding of how the researcher's identity intersects with the research. The emphasis is on research as performance and performance as research.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 9862. Bodies, Texts, History. 3 Credit Hours.

Using an approach that intertwines a historical mode of inquiry of dance productions/ performances/practices with gender theory/queer theory, this course explores historically and culturally specific topics in dance. In other words, the approach to dance history will be topical rather than chronological, and guided by the diversity of student research agendas.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Fields of study: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 9875. Meaning in Dance. 3 Credit Hours.

This course focuses on methodologies for dance research that start with human experience (phenomenology, autobiography, autoethnography, and humanistic sociology) as the generative ground of meaning making. Students engage with multiple perspectives and layered practices to illuminate "lived experience" in dance. In a guided seminar setting, each student completes an annotated bibliography, a critical review of the literature, and/or a research study related to a topic of individual interest. Students present their work, at various phases of development, to their peers for critical review.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 9883. Dir Study in Dance Research. 1 to 4 Credit Hour.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.

DANC 9889. Dance Field Experience. 1 to 3 Credit Hour.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.

DANC 9951. Aesthetic and Philosophical Inquiry. 3 Credit Hours.

Designed to introduce, analyze, and teach students to employ aesthetic and philosophic methods of inquiry to dance. Selected written and performance texts demonstrate various pathways research might travel to unveil the philosophic bases of dance.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 9956. Research Structure: Dance Ethnography. 3 Credit Hours.

This course covers a range of methods, techniques, and ethical concerns in dance research, including ethnographic methods and techniques of oral interview. In a guided seminar setting, each student develops an original research plan of design and presents it to her/his peers for critical evaluation.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.

DANC 9984. Master's Concert in Dance. 1 to 6 Credit Hour.

Limited to those who plan to earn the master's degree by completing a major choreographic work. Normally not taken before the fifth or sixth semester of study and after the completion of a minimum 42 credits, including all required coursework in choreographic skills and resources and stage managing, as well as comprehensive exam requirements.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.

DANC 9991. Directed Research-Dance. 1 to 3 Credit Hour.

Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.

DANC 9994. Preliminary Examination Preparation. 1 to 3 Credit Hour.

The student demonstrates the ability to complete independent academic projects by preparing a course proposal and an article judged to be of sufficient quality to be published in a professional journal.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.

DANC 9995. Master's Project in Dance. 1 to 6 Credit Hour.

Limited to those who plan to earn the master's degree by completing a project. The final project option for Ed.M. candidates who register for 3 s.h. Also available to M.F.A. candidates for a 6 s.h. final project if decided in advisement with major curriculum advisor.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.

DANC 9996. Master's Thesis in Dance. 1 to 6 Credit Hour.

Limited to those who plan to complete the master's degree by writing a thesis. Note: This option is available only to those who have successfully completed DANCE 9951: Aesthetic and Philosophical Inquiry. Registration is done in advisement with major advisor.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.

DANC 9998. Pre-Dissertation Research. 1 to 3 Credit Hour.

The student prepares a proposal for dissertation research with guidance from the major advisor. The proposal is formally presented before the Sponsoring Committee and, if approved, passes on to the Graduate School, where it must be approved before the student can be advanced to candidacy. Student must have passed preliminary examinations to enroll.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.

Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.

DANC 9999. Doctoral Dissertation. 1 to 9 Credit Hour.

The dissertation is advised by the major advisor and the two additional faculty members of the Sponsoring Committee. At the time of defense, one or two faculty members are added, comprising and examining committee of at least four members.

Field of Study Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Majors: Dance.
Level Registration Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Levels: Graduate.
College Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Colleges: Music & Dance, Boyer College.
Student Attribute Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Student Attributes: Dissertation Writing Student.

Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.

Contacts

Program Web Address:

https://www.temple.edu/academics/degree-programs/dance-ma-bc-danc-ma

Department Information:

Dept. of Dance

Center for the Performing and Cinematic Arts/Boyer College of Music and Dance

1700 N. Broad Street, Suite 309

Philadelphia, PA 19122-0843

dance@temple.edu

215-204-8710

Submission Address for Application Materials:

https://apply.temple.edu/Boyer/

Department Contacts:

Admissions:

Norma Porter

norma.porter@temple.edu

215-204-0533

Interim Coordinator of Graduate Studies:

Dr. Karen Bond

karen.bond@temple.edu

215-204-6280

Chairperson:

Dr. Karen Bond

karen.bond@temple.edu

215-204-6280