Dance
College of Liberal & Creative Arts
Dean: Paul Sherwin
School of the Arts
Music and Dance
CA 141
Phone: 415-338-1431
Web Site: musicdance.sfsu.edu
Chair: Dee Spencer
Dance Coordinator: Yutian Wong
Undergraduate Advisors: Performance/Choreography: Tadio, Whipp, Wong
Faculty
Professor: Whipp
Associate Professor: Tadio
Assistant Professor: Wong
Lecturers: Diamond, McCarthy
Programs:
Minor in World Music and Dance
Subject Matter Program in Physical Education-Concentration in Dance
(coordinated with Department of Kinesiology)
Program Scope
The focus of the dance program in the School of Music and Dance is to study dance as an art form. The Bachelor of Arts in Dance provides professional preparation in dance and an opportunity to study dance performance, choreography, teaching, and dance theory. The goal of the program is to help students develop strong foundational skills and knowledge necessary for a variety of professional careers. SF State dancers have established their own companies, performed with professional companies, developed careers in K-12 education or supplemented their education for work in private dance or Pilates studios. Graduates have also successfully completed graduate dance studies at major institutions. Students with a major other than dance should investigate both the Minor in Dance and the Minor in World Music and Dance.
The B.A. is organized into three components: Core, Dance Technique, and Emphasis Electives. Majors must complete a 17-unit core covering basic studies, the body as instrument, and aesthetics and history. Choices are available in the core to gear the student toward their chosen emphasis.
Technique electives offer the student a variety of styles and can be repeated for credit to optimize conditioning and development of expression. A minimum of 12 units of technique classes must be chosen, with 9 units selected from numbers above 200. The faculty recognize that most major students surpass the minimum technique credit level. Students must audition for placement into technique level and can progress to the next level with the consent of the instructor. Students in choreography and performance commonly study two technique areas each semester or study dance conditioning or Pilates in conjunction with technique.
Individualized emphasis electives should be chosen according to career goals in consultation with an advisor. These courses have been chosen and optimally organized for students who wish to pursue dance performance and choreography. Upper division technique courses may be repeated in the emphasis of performance/choreography or musical theatre up to a maximum of 6 units. Three units may be elected from another area of the university with consent of the major advisor. Students should consider the following as culminating experiences in the major: DANC 461 Advanced Choreography and Production or DANC 399 University Dance Theatre.
Dance Program Concerts
The dance program produces three concerts annually: The New Moves Student Choreography Showcase, Village Dancers Children's Concert, and the University Dance Theatre.
- The New Moves Choreography Showcase debuts the work of advanced choreography students. The performance emphasizes the creative process of students experimenting with contemporary choreography and movement exploration. Many lower division majors and minors audition the first week of the fall term to perform in this show.
- The Village Dancers Children's Concert is created by students pursuing dance education. This concert features student choreography performed by children involved in SF State’s after-school dance programs.
- The University Dance Theatre is a year-long repertory course for the advanced and versatile dancers. UDT is considered to be the pre- professional performance training company. Acceptance in the company is by audition-only. UDT work with faculty and guest choreographers to learn repertory during the fall semester. The company performs on tour throughout the academic year culminating in the mainstage production in McKenna Theatre and at the American College Dance Festival.
Facilities
Dance facilities are presently located in three different buildings on campus. The two primary dance-teaching spaces are GYM 146 and Fine Arts 203. Adjacent to the large gym studio is a rehearsal room GYM 123. Locker rooms are available adjacent to the Fine Arts studio or in the gymnasium. Both lockers rooms require a small usage fee. Dance concerts are primarily held in McKenna Theatre, a 700-seat house in the Creative Arts Building. Informal performances are presented in Knuth Hall and in FA 203.
Career Outlook
Career options for dance majors are very diverse. Majors graduating from this program move into a variety of dance-related areas including: performance; choreography; musical theatre work; and teaching in public schools, private studios, and community centers. Other dance-related careers include the completion of certification programs in Pilates/dance conditioning and other somatic practices. SF State’s graduates have also been accepted into graduate schools for MFA and doctoral work. Individuals also apply their knowledge and skills gained from the study of dance to careers in arts administration and other related work in non-profit organizations.
The San Francisco Bay Area has a very active and vibrant dance, music, and theatre community with many performance ensembles, training centers, concerts, and arts service organizations. There are many ways for graduates to become involved in this larger dance and arts community.
Teaching opportunities are available throughout the region in private and public schools, private studios, and recreation centers. The State of California requires a teaching credential for employment in the public schools and views dance as a subject area in the field of physical education. To earn a credential, students must follow the subject matter program in physical education with a concentration in dance, a program developed from the B.A. in Dance and from courses in kinesiology. Consult a dance advisor and the SF State Bulletin Index for credential information.
Bachelor of Arts in Dance
The B.A. in Dance is designed to provide training in dance with an opportunity to emphasize dance performance, choreography, or teaching. The major is organized around a 20-unit core, a minimum of 12 technique units, and 13 units of emphasis electives. Emphasis area courses in dance, music, and other related fields should be chosen according to career goals in consultation with an advisor. New majors and minors must take the placement audition on the advising day at the beginning of each semester and/or designated days during each semester. It is mandatory that students consult with their advisor on a semester basis and maintain a grade point average of 2.0.
On-line course descriptions are available.
Core Requirements
Basic Studies
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MUS 120 | Basic Music I * | 3 |
| DANC 170 | Integrated Dance Technique | 2 |
| DANC 232 | Dance Composition: Choreography I | 3 |
| DANC 300 GW | Dance Organizational Strategies and Field Topics - GWAR |
3 |
| DANC 304 | Issues in Dance Medicine I | 3 |
| DANC 311 | Alignment Study/Pilates Mat | 1 |
| TH A 313 | Lighting and Sound Laboratory and Crew | 2 |
*Students may take MUS 601 in lieu of MUS 120.
Aesthetics and History *
3 units selected from the following:
| Course | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| DANC 350 | Dance Aesthetics: Cultural/Historical Perspectives | |
| DANC 430 | Historical Survey of Dance in the Western World | |
Total for core: 20
Dance Technique
Select 12 units from the following. At least 9 units must be 200 or above with no more than 4 units from one course, except with advisors approval.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| DANC 163 | Ballet I | 1 |
| DANC 173 | Modern Dance I | 1 |
| DANC 176 | Modern Jazz Dance I | 1 |
| DANC 207 | Dance in Cultural Context: Afro-Brazilian Contemporary, Early Jazz Styles, Rhythm Tap, Flamenco, Capoiera, Afro-Cuban, Kathak | 1 |
| DANC 263 | Ballet II | 2 |
| DANC 275 | Modern Dance II | 2 |
| DANC 276 | Modern Jazz Dance II | 2 |
| DANC 311 | Alignment Study/Pilates Mat | 1 |
| DANC 312 | Alignment/Pilates Mat 2 - 3 | 1 |
| DANC 363 | Ballet III | 2 |
| DANC 374 | Modern Dance III | 2 |
| DANC 376 | Modern Jazz Dance III | 2 |
| DANC 400 | Technique Workshop in Contemporary Dance | 1 |
| DANC 402 | Workshop in Jazz/Music Theatre Dance | 1 |
| DANC 474 | Modern Dance IV | 2 |
| DANC 699 | Independent Study | 1 - 3 |
Emphasis Electives
These courses are optimally organized for Performance/Choreography or teaching. Courses selected may be from either emphasis area and aligned with career goals. Six units of technique courses, numbered 300 or above may be repeated in this section for credit. Other DANC, TH A, and MUS prefix courses may be used with advisor's approval. Three units may be elected from other areas of the university with consent of major advisor. - 13 units
Dance Performance and Choreography
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| DANC 310 | Dance Conditioning/Pilates | 3 |
| DANC 312 | Alignment Study/Pilates Mat 2-3 | 1 |
| DANC 340 | Creative Dance for Children | 3 |
| DANC 399 | University Dance Theatre (consecutive fall-spring semesters) | 2 + 2 |
| DANC 416 | Advanced Repertory and Skill | 1 |
| DANC 434 | Dance Composition: Choreography II | 3 |
| DANC 461 | Advanced Choreography and Production | 3 |
| DANC 463 | Performance in Dance Production | 1 |
| DANC 560 | Supervised Experience in Dance Education | 3 |
| DANC 657 | Dance Ethnology | 3 |
| DANC 699 | Independent Study | 1-3 |
World Cultures
Minimum 4 units in MUS
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| DANC 207 | Dance In Cultural Context | 1 |
| DANC 236 | Folklore of Dance: African-Haitian | 2 |
| DANC 545 | Kulintang Music/Dance of S. Philippines | 3 |
| DANC 657 | Dance Ethnology | 3 |
| MUS 386 | World Music Ensemble | 1 |
| MUS 388 | Jazz Combos | 1 |
| MUS 505 | Music of the World’s People | 3 |
| MUS 530 | Music of Middle East and India | 3 |
| MUS 531 | Music of North and Southeast Asia | 3 |
| MUS 542 GW | Ethnomusicology - GWAR | 3 |
Minimum total for major: 45
* Students in the Performance/Choreography Emphasis will typically select from DANC 350, and 430. Students in the Musical Theatre Emphasis will typically select from TH A 300, and TH A 403. Students in World Cultures will typically select DANC 350 and DANC 657.
Minor in Dance
The dance minor consists of a core curriculum of three courses (7 units) plus 17 units taken from a list of electives on advisement. A total of 12 units in the minor must be upper division. Students seeking the minor in dance must take the placement audition for the study of technique and pass into the next higher level of technique with permission of the instructor. Other dance courses not on this list may be used as electives. Students should take special care to follow prerequisites for upper division courses: DANC 304, 340, 434, and 461. For specific dates and times of the placement audition, please contact the School of Music and Dance at 415-338-1431 or musicdance.edu.
Core Requirements
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| DANC 232 | Dance Composition: Choreography I | 3 |
| DANC 311 | Alignment Study/Pilates Mat | 1 |
| DANC 430 or DANC 350 |
Historical Survey of Dance in the Western World Dance Aesthetics: Cultural and Historical Perspectives |
3 |
Total for core: 7 units
Electives
Choose 17 units from the following.*
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| DANC 170 | Integrated Dance I | 2 |
| DANC 163 | Ballet I | 1 |
| DANC 173 | Modern Dance I | 1 |
| DANC 176 | Modern Jazz Dance I | 1 |
| DANC 207 | Dance in Cultural Context: Afro-Brazilian Contemporary, Early Jazz Styles, Rhythm Tap, Flamenco, Capoiera, Afro-Cuban, Kathak | 1 |
| DANC 263 | Ballet II | 2 |
| DANC 274 | Modern Dance II | 2 |
| DANC 276 | Modern Jazz Dance II | 2 |
| DANC 300 GW | Dance Organizational Strategies and Field Topics - GWAR |
2 |
| DANC 304 | Issues in Dance Medicine I | 3 |
| DANC 310 | Dance Conditioning | 2 |
| DANC 311 | Alignment Study/Pilates Mat | 1 |
| DANC 312 | Alignment/Pilates Mat 2-3 | 1 |
| DANC 316 | Dunham Dance Technique | 2 |
| DANC 340 | Creative Dance for Children | 3 |
| DANC 363 | Ballet III | 2 |
| DANC 374 | Modern Dance III | 2 |
| DANC 376 | Modern Jazz Dance III | 2 |
| DANC 399 | University Dance Theatre | 2 + 2 |
| DANC 400 | Technique Workshop in Contemporary Dance | 1 |
| DANC 402 | Technique Workshop in Modern Jazz Dance | 1 |
| DANC 416 | Advanced Repertory and Skill | 1 |
| DANC 434 | Dance Composition: Choreography II | 3 |
| DANC 461 | Principles of Dance Production | 3 |
| DANC 463 | Performance in Dance | 1 |
| DANC 474 | Modern Dance IV | 2 |
| DANC 560 | Theory and Practice/Dance Education | 3 |
| DANC 647 | Ethnology of Dance | 3 |
| DANC 699 | Independent Study | 1-3 |
Total for electives: 17 units
* Other DANC courses may be substituted on advisement.
Total for minor: 24 units
Minor in World Music and Dance
Consult Minor in World Music and Dance for information on World Music and Dance.
