Overview

Offered by the Department of Dance, the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance emphasizes modern dance technique, performance, choreography and dance theory. The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Dance at Temple is focused on building well-rounded, versatile artists who are not only technically proficient, but also have a broad range and a deep understanding of their work. The BFA program focuses on modern dance technique and choreography, but with a broad curriculum that includes requirements in ballet, which follows the AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE® National Training Curriculum, African dance and other technique electives. Other course requirements include composition, repertory, creative process, improvisation and dance science, in addition to courses that explore cultural, historical and analytical approaches to the study of dance.

The BFA in Dance aims to

• Guide students toward a balance of cognitive, analytic, intuitive and creative skills.
• Aid students in development of their creative potential through technique, choreography, performance, research and other creative media.
• Educate students about the various forms and purposes of dance within their historical, social and cultural contexts.
• Provide intensive training in a range of dance techniques and styles as represented by the faculty and selected guest artists.
• Prepare students for professional careers as performing artists, choreographers, teachers, scholars, and informed and responsible leaders in academic and other professional settings.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance is conferred upon a student by recommendation of the faculty and upon the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 124 semester hours of credit and completion of the required Dance and university requirements.

Campus Location: Main

Program Code: BC-DANC-BFA

Special Admissions Requirements

See Dance Admissions information on the Boyer College of Music and Dance page.

Mission

The Department of Dance is committed to artistic and scholarly excellence through fostering a creative, reflective and inclusive learning environment. Through embodied practice, the Dance faculty and students seek to honor traditions while exploring new ways of knowing dance. In recognition that we experience through the body, the programs encourage students to consider how bodies in motion contribute to knowledge, transform our social world and facilitate community engagement.

Dance Resources

The Dance Department, with its three studios, rehearsal room, Pilates room, black-box theater, video library and assorted classrooms, embraces a broad array of activities. The Philadelphia Dance Collection at Temple University (PDCAT) provides access to the dance legacy of the region through a permanent collection of multi-format archival resources related to the history of Philadelphia dance.

Special Opportunities

The Conwell Dance Theater season provides many opportunities for students to perform and choreograph. A typical season features two student concerts, two Master of Fine Arts thesis concerts, two Bachelor of Fine Arts senior concerts, a faculty dance concert and an alumni concert. Added to this are performances by guest artists, repertory showings and informal student choreography performances. Recent guest artists have included Kyle Abraham; Rennie Harris Puremovement; Cornelius Carter; Ruth Andrien, former soloist with the Paul Taylor Dance Company; and Nina Watt, member of the José Limón Dance Company.

Accreditation

Full accredited Member of the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD).

Contact Information

Karen Bond, Department Chair
215-204-6280
karen.bond@temple.edu

Laura Katz Rizzo, Assistant Professor of Dance and Undergraduate Program Coordinator for Dance
215-204-6279 
laura.katz@temple.edu

Sherril Dodds, Graduate Program Coordinator
215-204-4959
sherril.dodds@temple.edu

Learn more about the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance.

These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2024-2025. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2024 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.

Summary of Requirements

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance is conferred upon a student by recommendation of the faculty and upon the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 124 semester hours of credit and completion of the required Dance and university requirements.

University Requirements

• All students are required to complete the university's General Education (GenEd) curriculum.
• All students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses. The specific writing-intensive courses required for the major are identified with the code "WI".

Program Requirements

Suggested Academic Plan

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance

Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2024-2025 Academic Year

¹

These four courses must be completed with a C- or better to fulfill the GenEd Arts requirement.

²

May be taken in Fall or Spring.