Goucher College: Dance Major Sequence of Study

Composition: Dance Exploration (Dan 260) – taken during your first year or sophomore year. pre-requisite: skill level of Dan 217 and 220 or above
Intermediate Dance Composition I and II (Dan 261 and Dan 262) – Courses must be taken consecutively within one academic year. Pre-requisite: Dan 260
Music for Dance (Dan 191) – taken at any point during your undergraduate study
Light Design for Dance (Dan 291) - taken at any point during your undergraduate study
Technical Application for the Stage (Dan 292) – Pre-requisite: Dan 291
Dance History (Dan 250, 251, or 255) - taken at any point during your undergraduate study
Labanotation (Dan 298) – Pre-requisite: skill level of Dan 217 and 220
Anatomy and Kinesiology for Dancers (Dan 393) – Pre-requisite: Dan 260 and junior or senior standing
Seminar in Dance Criticism, Theory, and Philosophy (Dan 390) – Pre-requisite: junior or senior standing
Internship in Dance (Dan 309) or Intensive Course Abroad (Dan 272Y) or approved dance-related international experience.

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Performance Track:

Students wishing to major in dance with a track in performance must fulfill the following requirements:

A total of 43.5 credits in the major
A minimum of 12 credits of dance technique (modern, ballet, pointe, jazz, musical theatre). It is suggested that dance majors take a minimum of two technique classes per semester.
Completion of Advanced Ballet Technique I (Dan 321) and Advanced Modern Technique I (Dan 311) for credit.
Completion of Goucher Repertory Dance Ensemble (Dan 295) for credit.

Dance Education Track:

Students wishing to major in dance with a track in dance education must fulfill the following requirements:

A total of 43.5 credits in the major
A minimum of 12 credits of dance technique (modern, ballet, pointe, jazz, musical theatre). It is suggested that dance majors take a minimum of two technique classes per semester.
Completion of Advanced Ballet Technique I (Dan 321) and Advanced Modern Technique (Dan 311) for credit.
Completion of Goucher Repertory Dance Ensemble (Dan 295) for credit.

Due to state requirements, in addition to the core courses listed above, the following courses are required for dance education with certification:

Dan 190
Dan 140
Dan 293 - Pre-requisite: Dan 261 and Ed 207 (or concurrent registration) or permission of instructor
Dan 294 - Pre-requisite: Dan 261 and Ed 207 (or concurrent registration) or permission of instructor
Dan 361 - Pre-requisite: Dan 262
Dan 131 or PE 108

For the Education requirements, please refer to the Education Department.

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Choreography, Dance History and Criticism, Dance Therapy, Dance Administration, Dance Science, and Dance and Theater

Must complete 6 credits of dance technique and complete Intermediate Dance Technique II: Ballet (Dan 221) and Intermediate Dance Technique II: Modern (Dan 218) or a higher level of either or both techniques for credit.

Students must complete 6 credits in one of the tracks listed below:

Choreography Track:

Choreography and Production (Dan 361) – Pre-requisite: Dan 262
Independent Work in Choreography (Dan 384) or Senior Thesis in Dance (Dan 450)– Pre-requisite: Dan 361

Dance History and Criticism Track:

Choregraphie Antique (Dan 131 and 231)
Dance History (Dan 250, 251 or 255) – taken at any point during your undergraduate course of study and must be in addition to the one selected as your core course of study
Feature Writing for Newspapers and Magazines (Eng 203)
Journalism Workshop (Eng 208) – Pre-requisite: College writing proficiency
Aesthetics (Phl 201) – Pre-requisite: Sophomore standing , a 100 level Philosophy course or permission on instructor

Dance Therapy Track:

Dance Therapy I (Dan 296) – Pre-requisite: Dan 260
Dance Therapy II (Dan 297) – Pre-requisite: Dan 296

Dance Administration Track:

Introduction to Arts Administration (Mgt 170)
The Arts Administrator (Mgt 370) – Pre-requisite: Mgt 170
Administration and Fiscal Responsibility in the Arts (Mgt 375) – Pre-requisite: Mgt 370

Dance Science Track:

Biological Diversity I: Kingdoms of Organisms (Bio 104)
Biological Diversity II: The Vertebrates (Bio 105) – Pre-requisite: Bio 104 recommended
Cell Biology and Biochemistry (Bio 210 )– Pre-requisite: One college level biology course and Chem 151 and 152 (or 152H)
Techniques in Cell Biology (Bio 214) – Pre-requisite: Bio 210 or concurrent enrollment
Principles of Animal Physiology (Bio 260) – Pre-requisite: Bio 104, 105 and 210
Nutrition (Chem 107) – Pre-requisite: One first-level natural science course or high school or college chemistry course
Principles of Chemistry and Laboratory I (Chem 111 and 112) – must be taken concurrently
Principles of Chemistry and Laboratory II (Chem 151 and 152) – Pre-requisite: Chem 111 and 112 (or 112H) or permission of instructor. Must be taken concurrently
Biochemistry I (Chem 341) - Pre-requisite: Organic Chemistry II (Chem 235) and one college level general biology course, or permission of instructor
Principles of Physics and Laboratory I (Phy 115 and Phy 115L) – Pre-requisite: Three years of high school mathematics.
Introduction to Psychology (Psy 114)

Dance and Theater Track:

Acting I (The 120)
Theatre Production and Laboratory (The 140 and The 140L) The 231 – Pre-requisite: The 120 or 220 or permission of instructor
Expressive Use of Voice and Movement (The 228) – Pre-requisite: The 120

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Senior Thesis in Dance (DAN 450)

The senior thesis is an opportunity for students completing a B.A. in dance to present an extensive project that reflects a cumulative knowledge of the experiences in the program's curriculum.

The senior thesis is the product of scholarly or scientific research or artistic work of high academic quality. The character of the work leading to the senior thesis is expected to be more advanced than normal course work and should involve an unusually high level of initiative, independence, organization, and effort. It is used by the dance department as criteria for selecting students who are awarded honors in the major.

The senior thesis may take any one of a wide variety of forms suitable to the discipline(s) concerned. In all cases, the thesis should demonstrate excellence, originality, and dedicated effort by the student.

Senior thesis work carries eight credits and ordinarily involves two sequential courses of four semester credit hours each, directed by a faculty adviser selected by the student. The adviser and the thesis subject are ordinarily in the student's major field.

As stated in the college's thesis guidelines, in certain unusual circumstances, if it is in the best educational interest of a student, exceptions to the above guidelines may be made. In such cases, it is necessary to demonstrate the educational validity of the requested exception. It is the responsibility of the students to present their case in written form using the Petition form and to submit the Petition form with the Statement of Intent for Senior Thesis form. In addition, written consent of the thesis review board and the department chair is required in support of the thesis.

Eligibility:

Completion of a minimum of 87 semester hours of college credit.
Minimum GPA of 3.50 in the dance major, 3.25 overall.
Concurrent enrollment in, or completion of, required courses in the major track.

Timeline:

Spring Semester Junior Year

April 1 - Speak with dance adviser or department chair about eligibility, proposal process, and potential topic(s) of interest
Print out College's Thesis Guidelines and forms (Found on Goucher's website under Records and Registration Forms)
Assemble Thesis Committee (3 faculty members; one committee member must be from another academic department)
Develop and Complete Thesis Proposal - (Statement of Intent for Senior Thesis Form)
Obtain committee approval and signatures
April 15 - Submit completed, signed proposal to Dance Department Chairperson
On or before the last day of spring semester, after Dance Department approval, submit approved Proposal to Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies
On or before the last day of spring semester establish on campus performance venue(s) as applicable and dates in discussion with the chair of the department, as applicable

Summer Junior Year

Begin preliminary research

Fall of Senior Year

Begin work on thesis. This may be research, writing, and/or practical in nature
Reserve studio space for rehearsal as applicable
Audition for dancers and begin rehearsal process as applicable
Mid-process oral/presentation progress report

Spring of Senior Year

Formally Present Thesis
Defend Thesis
Submit copy of thesis to library

Important Thesis Deadlines:

March 1 (Junior Year) - Meet with your adviser and research your options
1st Monday after Spring break (Junior Year) - Submit completed, signed proposal to the Dance Department Chair
9th Week of the Spring Semester (Junior Year) - Submit thesis proposal to the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies
First Week of May (Junior Year) - Establish on campus performance venue(s) and dates (if applicable)
2nd Week of Fall Semester (Senior Year) - Reserve studio times of rehearsals (if applicable)

Thesis Options in Dance:

1. Scholarly or Scientific Research

Written documentation based on research within one of the following areas: Dance Therapy, Dance Education, Dance Science, Technical Theory and Pedagogy, Dance History, Dance Criticism. Thesis should be at least 40 pages in length.

2. Original Choreography

Additional Eligibility Requirement: successful completion of DAN 361 by thesis proposal submission.

This thesis option generally entails a lengthy movement laboratory, which culminates in the presentation of either one lengthy dance work, or several pieces of new, interrelated choreography (lenghth/quantity to be determined by faculty advisor). The recommended length is a shared evening concert, or 3-4 pieces of new choreography. This option must be accompanied by documentation of research topic(s) used, description of context, the creative process, evaluations, and a formal presentation/performance of the work(s).

3. Re-construction of Renowned Existing Choreography

Additional Eligibility Requirement: Successful completion of Labanotation; successful completion of, or concurrent enrollment in DAN 219 and/or DAN 222 by thesis proposal submission.

This option includes extensive research on the choreographic artist of the chosen reconstruction(s), what intrigues you about the artist and the selected work(s), documentation of the process of acquiring the work, the rehearsal process, consistent evaluations by faculty and professionals, and a formal presentation/performance of the work(s) reconstructed.

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Honors Option in Dance Performance

This option provides the advanced dancer the opportunity to submit a cumulative performance portfolio as a means of receiving honors in the dance major. The student must provide documentation and analysis of extensive main-stage performance experience during their tenure as a student at Goucher.

Eligibility:

Completion of a minimum of 87 semester hours of college credit
Minimum GPA of 3.50 in the dance major, and a 3.25 overall
Successful completion of a minimum of 3 credits in DAN 295 (Goucher Repertory Dance Ensemble)
Successful completion of DAN 219 and/or DAN 222 by proposal submission
Minimum of 3 semesters of sucessful main stage participation in faculty and/or guest artist works

Timeline:

May 1 (Junior Year) - Submission of a 2-3 page written statement and rationale addressing why you believe you are eligible for honors in dance performance. This statement must include a detailed list of all works performed including the following:

Performance dates
Performance location
Choreographer's name
Title of work
Genre of work
Role (if applicable)

December 1 (Senior Year) - Once the student's proposal is approved by the faculty, the study is required to complete and submit the following performance portfolio including the following:

A brief summary/description of the content/intent of each work performed.
A self analysis of all performance experiences detailing how each work and each choreographer contributed to ones growth and maturity as a performance artist
Professional Performance resume
Headshot and body shot of the student
A titled DVD compilation of all performances - excerpts acceptable

Submit all materials to the Dance Department Chair.