Dance Major

Kariamu Welsh, Chairperson

Kun-Yang Lin, Acting Undergraduate Coordinator
1700 N. Broad St., Suite 303A
215-204-5168
kunyangl@temple.edu
www.temple.edu/boyer/dance

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance emphasizes modern dance technique, performance, and choreography.  The program provides a sound preparation for students wishing to pursue further training or embark on a professional career.  Within the curriculum, students may elect courses that prepare them for work and/or further study in the fields of physical therapy, dance/movement therapy, dance production, education, and arts management.  The B.F.A. provides students with the opportunity to master a range of dance techniques, choreography, production, and theory, and to study other arts, sciences, and humanities.

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; and,
• 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 123 semester hours of credit and completion of the required Dance and university requirements.

Dance Resources: The Dance Department, with its three studios, rehearsal room, Pilates and Dance Medicine Clinic, 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 Donna Uchizono; Sean Curren; Cornelius Carter; Ruth Andrien, former soloist with the Paul Taylor Dance Company; and Nina Watt, member of the José Limón Dance Company.

Summary of Requirements for the Dance Major

University Requirements

All students are required to complete a set of university requirements: General Education (GenEd) or Core.

• New freshmen starting in the 2008-2009 academic year are required to complete the GenEd curriculum.
• New transfer students starting in the 2008-2009 academic year are required to complete the Core curriculum.

All Temple students must take a minimum of two writing-intensive courses as part of the major. See below for a list of the specific courses that are required for dance majors.

College Requirements for the Dance Major

Dance - Required Techniques**

**Note on Required Dance Techniques:  Freshman dance majors are required to take four modern technique courses and two ballet technique courses.  Sophomore dance majors are required to take four modern technique courses.  Junior and senior dance majors must be in technique class four days a week and are required to register for at least one modern dance course each semester.  In addition, students are required to choose a minimum total of 6 credits in a second technique, which could include: ballet, jazz, improvisation, or African dance. Students are also required to take one semester of African technique.  Because of these multiple requirements, the minimum required hours is not a mathematical total of the courses listed above it.

Performance and Choreography Required Courses

Required University General Education (for new Freshmen)

Dance and Other Electives***

*See your dance advisor.

*** Dance or Other Electives:  Remaining credits can be used for electives within the Dance Department or for courses in other academic areas.  Within the department, students can take dance technique courses listed above or dance academic courses.

Bachelor of Fine Arts: Dance - Suggested Semester-by-Semester Plan

• The total number of credit hours may be greater for some students based on initial placement exams, transfer evaluations, individual curricular choices, and academic progress.
• Certain courses fulfill multiple requirements. In consultation with an academic advisor, students will be able to plan their curriculum more effectively.
• Students must fulfill the necessary prerequisites for any given course or course sequence. See the Prerequisite and Co-Requisite Policy in the university-wide Academic Policies section in this Bulletin.