Dance (DANC)College of Arts and Humanities - School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies2806 Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, 301.405.6676 www.tdps.umd.edu tdps@umd.edu Professors: A. Warren Associate Professors: K. Bradley, S. Pearson, P. Widrig Assistant Professors: S. Mansur, M. Phillips Instructors: A. Mayes Lecturers: P. Jackson Professors Emeriti: D. Madden, M. Rosen, L. Warren, A. Wiltz Visiting Faculty: A. Fang (Lecturer) The Major The undergraduate curriculum, which leads toward a B.A. degree in Dance, offers students a solid foundation in the core areas of the discipline as well as insights into cross-disciplinary fields of study. Course work is designed to help students become skillful, articulate, expressive movers; find their own voice as creative artists; develop the ability to work effectively in a collaborative environment; and grow in their conceptual understanding of dance as an art form in relation to the other arts. The cornerstones of the curriculum are foundational course work in the first two years, and immersion in project-based learning and in a chosen area of emphasis in the junior and senior years. Foundational sequences in technique and in the creative process, which integrate conceptual understanding of dance as an art form in relation to the other arts, are at the core of the discipline. Through these fundamental practices of the discipline, students gain, not only necessary skills, but also embodied knowledge of the field. The project based learning experiences in the junior and senior years engage students in interdisciplinary and/or cross-cultural work and offer in-depth exploration of a theme from a performance, choreographic, and theory perspective. In addition, students select an area of emphasis in performance and choreography or in production. The dance faculty is composed of a number of distinguished teachers, choreographers, performers, and scholars, each one a specialist in his or her own field. Visiting artists and guest artists make additional contributions to the program. There are performance and choreographic opportunities for all dance students, ranging from informal workshops to fully mounted concerts both on and off campus. Academic Programs and Departmental Facilities Dance is housed in the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, a state-of-the-art performing arts "village" comprised of ten interconnected structures occupying 318,000 square feet and situated on a 17-acre site at the northwest end of the campus. The Center is designed to serve the theatre, music and dance programs of the University and also houses the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library. With 30 classrooms, 50 practice and rehearsal rooms, and fully outfitted costume, electric, scenic production, paint and properties shops, the Center serves more than 5,000 students, 200 faculty and staff and numerous regional, national and international audiences and professionals. For further information visit the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center website at http://claricesmithcenter.umd.edu. Requirements for the Major Requirements for the Major Students must complete 58 credits. The following courses or areas are required:
6 credits of Dance Styles selected from
12 credits of upper level course work in an area of emphasis in performance and choreography or in production.
Performance and Choreography Area of Emphasis Approved Courses: TDPS 479 Production Practicum (Required--1 credit--This is in addition to the 1 credit required of all majors.) An additional 11 credits selected from:
*A maximum of a total of 6 credits of Dance 448 and 449 will count toward the 12 credit area requirement. Production Area of Emphasis Approved courses:
An additional 9 credits selected from:
Note: Theatre 284, 371, 383, 377, 373, 472, and 474 are permission required courses A grade of C- or higher must be attained in all dance courses. An overall GPA of 2.0 in the major is required for graduation. Other Requirements for the Major 4th semester assessment The 4th semester assessment gives the program a mid-course opportunity for learning outcomes assessment. In preparation for the assessment, students prepare a portfolio that includes a resume, samples of their writing, and a DVD with examples of their work in technique and choreography classes. The 4th semester assessment is a benchmark requirement in the program. All transfer students, as well as students who declare Dance after their first semester on campus, will be assigned an assessment date when they meet with their Dance advisor to develop an academic plan. Students who do not complete the assessment process in their assigned semester will not be permitted to continue in the major. Completion is defined as submission of a portfolio and participation in a scheduled assessment meeting. The Dance program has mandatory advising each semester. New, re-entering, and transfer students are expected to contact the program following admission to the university for instructions regarding advising and registration procedures. Although entrance auditions are not required, some previous dance experience is highly desirable. For additional information about the program contact Alvin Mayes Director of Undergraduate Dance Studies School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies 2810 Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center University of Maryland College Park, Maryland 20742 301 405-3194 Advising The College of Arts and Humanities has a dual advising system where students meet with college advisors to discuss their general education requirements and departmental advisors to discuss the major requirements. The Dance Major requires mandatory advising each semester to keep in touch with our student base and assist majors and double majors with curricular and co-curricular choices. Advising procedures and instructions to sign up for an advising appointment can be obtained at the School's Main Office. Scholarships and Financial Assistance Scholarships and financial assistance may be awarded to prospective and enrolled students through a number of Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) scholarships and other Dance Scholarship Award Funds. For further information visit the TDPS website at www.tdps.umd.edu and select "Scholarships and Awards" on the BA Dance page. |