Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance
Learn more about the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance.
The Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Dance emphasizes modern dance technique, performance, choreography, and dance theory. The B.F.A. in Dance at Temple is focused on building well-rounded, versatile artists who are not only technically proficient, but have a broad range and a deep understanding of their work. The B.F.A. 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.
Full accredited Member of the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD).
The degree program 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.
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
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education courses | 32 | |
| Foundation | ||
| DANC 1801 | First Year Seminar in Dance | 1 |
| DANC 1811 | Movement Improvisation I | 2 |
| DANC 1813 | Dance Repertory I | 2 |
| DANC 1819 | Dance Production | 1 |
| DANC 1834 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Introduction to African Diasporic Dance Traditions | 2 |
| DANC 1835 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Foundational Principles of Early Modern Dance I | 2 |
| DANC 1836 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Introduction to Classical Ballet | 2 |
| DANC 1837 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Neo-Traditional West African Dance I | 2 |
| DANC 1838 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Foundational Principles of Early Modern Dance II | 2 |
| DANC 1839 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Classical Ballet Enchainments | 2 |
| DANC 1841 | Music for Dancers | 2 |
| DANC 1852 | Ways of Knowing Dance | 2 |
| Advanced Courses | ||
| DANC 2813 | Dance Composition I | 2 |
| DANC 2814 | Dance Composition II | 2 |
| DANC 2833 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Global Ballet Styles and Conventions | 2 |
| DANC 2834 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Neo-Traditional West African Dance II | 2 |
| DANC 2835 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Post-Judson Dance Practices I | 2 |
| DANC 2837 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Umfundalai Technique I | 2 |
| DANC 2838 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Post-Judson Dance Practices II | 2 |
| DANC 2839 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Contemporary Approaches to Ballet | 2 |
| DANC 2872 | Foundations of Dance Education | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
Dance Elective | ||
| Field Experience in Dance | ||
| DANC 3812 | Creative Process in Dance | 3 |
| DANC 3813 | Dance Repertory II | 3 |
| DANC 3834 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Umfundalai Technique II | 2 |
| DANC 3835 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Somatic Explorations within Post-Judson Dance Practices I | 2 |
| DANC 3837 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Hip Hop I | 2 |
| DANC 3838 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Somatic Explorations within Post-Judson Dance Practices II | 2 |
| DANC 3851 | Lighting Design for Dance | 3 |
| DANC 3896 | Dancing Cultures (WI) | 3 |
| DANC 3897 | Making Meaning in Dance (WI) | 3 |
| DANC 4834 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Hip Hop II | 2 |
| DANC 4835 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Contemporary Matters in 21st Century Hybrid Dance Forms I | 2 |
| DANC 4837 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Contemporary Matters in African Diasporic Dance | 2 |
| DANC 4838 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Contemporary Matters in 21st Century Hybrid Dance Forms II | 2 |
| DANC 4861 | Dance Science and Somatics | 3 |
| DANC 4871 | Movement Improvisation II | 2 |
| DANC 4884 | Senior Choreographic Project | 3 |
| DANC 4897 | Creating Dance Histories (WI) | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Senior Seminar (WI) | ||
| Dance Education Project | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Dance Repertory III | ||
| Dance and the Child | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 124 | |
Suggested Academic Plan
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance
Requirements for New Students starting in the 2020-2021 Academic Year
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| DANC 1801 | First Year Seminar in Dance | 1 |
| DANC 1841 | Music for Dancers | 2 |
| DANC 1811 | Movement Improvisation I1 | 2 |
| DANC 1819 | Dance Production2 | 1 |
| DANC 1834 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Introduction to African Diasporic Dance Traditions | 2 |
| DANC 1835 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Foundational Principles of Early Modern Dance I | 2 |
| DANC 1836 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Introduction to Classical Ballet | 2 |
| ENG 0802, 0812, or 0902 | Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] | 4 |
| Term Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| DANC 1813 | Dance Repertory I2 | 2 |
| DANC 1837 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Neo-Traditional West African Dance I | 2 |
| DANC 1838 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Foundational Principles of Early Modern Dance II | 2 |
| DANC 1839 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Classical Ballet Enchainments | 2 |
| DANC 1852 | Ways of Knowing Dance | 2 |
| GenEd Quantitative Literacy Course [GQ] | 4 | |
| IH 0851 or 0951 | Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] | 3 |
| Term Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| DANC 2813 | Dance Composition I1 | 2 |
| DANC 2833 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Global Ballet Styles and Conventions | 2 |
| DANC 2834 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Neo-Traditional West African Dance II | 2 |
| DANC 2835 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Post-Judson Dance Practices I | 2 |
| DANC 3851 | Lighting Design for Dance2 | 3 |
| DANC 4861 | Dance Science and Somatics | 3 |
| IH 0852 or 0952 | Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] | 3 |
| Term Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| DANC 2814 | Dance Composition II1 | 2 |
| DANC 3813 | Dance Repertory II | 3 |
| DANC 2837 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Umfundalai Technique I | 2 |
| DANC 2838 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Post-Judson Dance Practices II | 2 |
| DANC 2839 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Contemporary Approaches to Ballet | 2 |
| DANC 4871 | Movement Improvisation II | 2 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| DANC 3896 | Dancing Cultures [WI] | 3 |
| DANC 3834 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Umfundalai Technique II | 2 |
| DANC 3835 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Somatic Explorations within Post-Judson Dance Practices I | 2 |
| DANC 2872 | Foundations of Dance Education | 3 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Spring | ||
| DANC 3812 | Creative Process in Dance1 | 3 |
| DANC 4897 | Creating Dance Histories [WI] | 3 |
| DANC 3837 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Hip Hop I | 2 |
| DANC 3838 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Somatic Explorations within Post-Judson Dance Practices II | 2 |
| DANC 3897 | Making Meaning in Dance [WI] | 3 |
| Select one of the following courses: | 3 | |
| Dance Repertory III | ||
| Dance and the Child | ||
| Term Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| DANC 4884 | Senior Choreographic Project | 3 |
| DANC 4834 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Hip Hop II | 2 |
| DANC 4835 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Contemporary Matters in 21st Century Hybrid Dance Forms I | 2 |
| Select one of the following courses: | 3 | |
Dance Elective | ||
| Field Experience in Dance | ||
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Select one of the following courses: | 3 | |
| Senior Seminar [WI] | ||
| Dance Education Project | ||
| DANC 4837 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Contemporary Matters in African Diasporic Dance | 2 |
| DANC 4838 | Contemporary Dance Practices: Contemporary Matters in 21st Century Hybrid Dance Forms II | 2 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Term Credit Hours | 13 | |
| Total Credit Hours: | 124 | |
| 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. |