Dance, BFA
The B.F.A. curriculum in dance emphasizes professional level training within a liberal arts setting while focusing on the development of technical abilities, choreographic skill, teaching methods, dance technology, movement studies, the study of dance history, and other dance related courses. The program strives to unite academic and artistic inquiry with a wide range of course offerings in both practice and research. Invited auditions in sophomore year.
Students pursuing this bachelor’s degree must earn a minimum of 30 credit hours in the Newcomb-Tulane College core curriculum, 120 credit hours in their degree and a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.000. More information on degree and core curriculum requirements can be found here.
See Sample Plan of Study below.
Curriculum Requirements
The major requires 57 credits as follows:
Note: Auditions are required for the BFA degree. Candidates audition in the spring semester of their sophomore year. They may audition for the BA in their first year. BA auditions are held every year in the fall semester.
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Major Courses | ||
| DANC 2010 | Performance I | 3 |
| DANC 2520 | Dance Composition II | 3 |
| DANC 3520 | Dance Composition III | 3 |
| DANC 3550 | Laban Movement Studies (with S/L) | 3 |
| DANC 4580 | Dance Company (Four Semesters) | 4 |
| DANC 4600 | Choreography & Media | 3 |
| DANC 4730 | Dance History: The History of Ballet and Modern Dance | 3 to 4 |
| DANC 4900 | Building Comm Thru Arts (with S/L) | 3 |
| Elective Course Options: Menu 1, Select 2 of the following: | 2 | |
| Scene Shop Practicum | ||
| Costume Shop Practicum | ||
| Running Crew Practicum | ||
| Elective Course Options: Menu 2, Select 2 of the following: | 6 | |
| Senior Choreographic Project | ||
| Special Topics | ||
| Honors Thesis | ||
| Honors Thesis | ||
| US/Caribe Social Dance | ||
| Philanthropy and Social Change | ||
| Stage Management 1 | ||
| Performing Arts Management | ||
| DANC/THEA elective approved by faculty | ||
| Dance Technique | ||
| Select 23 credits | 23 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 56-57 | |
Dance Technique
Students must achieve level IV in either ballet or contemporary dance technique and level III in the other in order to graduate and will be evaluated at the end of each academic year. Students who demonstrate proficiency at the technique level III in contemporary dance or ballet (DANC 3830 Intensive Contemporary Dance III (3 c.h.), DANC 3840 Intensive Ballet III (3 c.h.)) will be place at level IV (DANC 4830 Intensive Contemporary Dance IV (3 c.h.), DANC 4840 Intensive Ballet IV (3 c.h.)). Each of these courses may be repeated for credit. Dance majors must continue to be enrolled for credit in ballet and contemporary dance through graduation. BFA candidates are required to enroll in both Intensive Contemporary Dance (4-day) and Intensive Ballet (4-day) each semester at their proper level III or IV. For the BFA candidate, the maximum number of dance technique credits that may be counted toward the 120 credit hours for graduation is 30 credits.
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Ballet and Modern Dance | ||
| DANC 3800 | Contemporary Dance III | 2 |
| DANC 3820 | Ballet III | 2 |
| DANC 3830 | Intensive Contemporary Dance III | 3 |
| DANC 3840 | Intensive Ballet III | 3 |
| DANC 4800 | Contemporary Dance IV | 2 |
| DANC 4820 | Ballet IV | 2 |
| DANC 4830 | Intensive Contemporary Dance IV | 3 |
| DANC 4840 | Intensive Ballet IV | 3 |
| Jazz Technique | ||
| DANC 3950 | Jazz Dance III | 2 |
| or DANC 4950 | Jazz Dance IV | |
| Dance Technique Elective | ||
| Select one of the following: | 2 | |
| Tap Dance I | ||
| Tap Dance II | ||
| Tap Dance III | ||
| African Dance I | ||
| Brazilian Dance | ||
| African Dance II | ||
Sample Plan of Study
This example plan of study for the BFA in Dance represents a fall semester start and encompasses all program requirements. Students are responsible for reviewing university, school, and program requirements, along with prerequisites and the sequencing of courses in coordination with their academic and major advisors.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| DANC 2010 | Performance I | 3 |
| Select one elective from Elective Menu 1 | 1 | |
| NTC Core and General Elective | 11 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Select one elective in Dance Technique | 3-4 | |
| Select one elective in Dance Technique | 3-4 | |
| NTC Core and General Electives | 9 | |
| Credit Hours | 15-17 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| DANC 2520 | Dance Composition II | 3 |
| Select one elective in Dance Technique | 3-4 | |
| Select one elective from Elective Menu 1 | 1 | |
| NTC Core and General Electives | 8 | |
| Credit Hours | 15-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| DANC 3520 | Dance Composition III | 3 |
| DANC 3550 | Laban Movement Studies | 3 |
| Select one elective in Dance Tecnhique | 3-4 | |
| NTC Core and General Electives | 6 | |
| Credit Hours | 15-16 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| DANC 4580 | Dance Company | 1 |
| DANC 4600 | Choreography & Media | 3 |
| Select one elective in Dance Technique | 3 | |
| NTC Core and General Electives | 8 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| DANC 4730 | Dance History: The History of Ballet and Modern Dance | 3-4 |
| Select one elective from Elective Menu 2 | 3 | |
| Select one elective in Dance Technique | 3-4 | |
| NTC Core and General Electives | 6 | |
| Credit Hours | 15-17 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| DANC 4900 | Building Comm Thru Arts | 3-4 |
| Select one elective Dance Technique | 3-4 | |
| NTC Core and General Electives | 9 | |
| Credit Hours | 15-17 | |
| Spring | ||
| Select one elective from Elective Menu 2 | 3 | |
| Select one elective in Dance Technique | 3-4 | |
| NTC Core and General Electives | 9 | |
| Credit Hours | 15-16 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120-129 | |
Program String and Field of Study: LABFA_UG, DANC
For more information, contact the Department of Theatre and Dance.