General Undergraduate Information

Links:
BA/BFA Application
Dance Minor
Financial Aid - Undergraduate
CU Course Catalog / Curriculum

The dance program is housed in the Department of Theatre & Dance within the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S.) The program is designed to provide a well-rounded education that develops concrete skills in performance and choreography, and instills an appreciation of the role that dance plays in history and human culture. Our core training includes classes in modern, ballet, African, jazz, and hip hop. To receive a Bachelors degree in dance a student must successfully complete 120 hours and the A&S Core requirements must be met. The requirements include two major areas: skills acquisition and content areas of study. For complete information about the Core see the CU Catalog online.

There is no audition for admission to the dance program. Students will be auditioned for specific course placement during the first week of classes each semester. Please note that dance major requirements stipulate minimum technical standards. Only technique courses ending in the number “1” are applied towards the degree requirements. Technique classes that are currently offered include modern, ballet, jazz, African, Flamenco, and hip hop. To progress in the dance major curriculum, a student must have placed in the 10:0 daily technique class (DNCE 2021, 3041 or 4061) at least one semester during the first year in the dance program. Students cannot enroll in subsequent theory courses until having placed in the 10:00 class.

BA Degree
The BA provides a well-rounded dance education in both technique and theory courses. Students must receive a C- or better in all required dance courses.
Technique Requirements: BA students take 14 credits of technique and are required to take at least one modern, one ballet, one jazz, and one African class during their first 4 semesters. BA students must take at least three semesters of daily technique, DNCE 2021, 3041 or 4061. Admission into the daily class is by audition only and the dance forms that are offered vary each semester. Two day per week technique classes are also offered.
Dance Theory Requirements: BA students will take a full range of dance theory courses in the areas of production, creative process, music, movement analysis, pedagogy, dance & cultural studies, performance, and philosophy. Required theatre classes include Costume Technologies, Technical Theatre Practicum, Touring Ensemble, and Senior Seminar.
Performance Requirements and Opportunities: All BA students will take THTR 4029 Touring Ensemble/CU Moving Company in the fall and spring of their sophomore year. Students will learn a repertory of MFA student and faculty work which they will perform in elementary and secondary schools throughout the state.
Also, BA students are encouraged to choreograph for the annual Student Dance Concert and to audition for student and faculty choreography as well as for the annual departmental musical.
Senior Project/Internship: All BA students will arrange for an off-campus internship sometime in the summer prior to or during their senior year. This provides the student with practical experience in an area of interest in the dance field.
Specific course requirements for the BA are listed in the CU Catalog.

BFA Degree
The BFA is designed to meet the needs of highly talented students interested in preparing for a professional dance career. Students entering the dance program from high school may not apply for admission to the BFA program until the end of their 3rd semester after having completed the Beginning Composition class. Transfer students must be in the dance program at least one semester and have taken Beginning Composition before applying for admission to the BFA program. The application consists of submitting a letter and resume for faculty review. BFA students must maintain a 3.0 GPA overall, a 3.2 GPA in dance classes, and receive a C- or better in all required dance courses.
Technical Requirements: BFA students take 25 credits of technique and are required to take 6 semesters of the daily technique class, DNCE 2021, 3041 or 4061. Admission into the daily class is by audition only and the dance forms that are offered vary each semester. Two day per week technique classes are also offered. BFA students take one semester of Alexander technique.
Dance Theory Requirements: BFA students will take a full range of dance theory courses in the areas of production, creative process, music, movement analysis, pedagogy, dance & cultural studies, performance, and philosophy. Required theatre classes include Costume Technologies, Technical Theatre Practicum, Acting, Touring Ensemble, and Senior Seminar.
Performance Requirements: All BFA students will have taken THTR 4029 Touring Ensemble/CU Moving Company in their sophomore year. In addition, BFA students take Touring Ensemble again in their junior or senior year, serving as choreographers and booking agents. All BFA students must perform in at least one Faculty Dance Concert and show their own choreography each semester in a formal or informal concert.
Senior BFA Concert: BFA students will present their choreography on a shared concert with other BFA students during their senior year.
Specific course requirements for the BFA are listed in the CU Catalog


Specific Core Curriculum requirements are listed in the CU Catalog.