College of Fine Arts
Putnam Hall 137
Phone: 740.593.1828
Fax: 740.593.0749
dance@ohio.edu
www.ohio.edu/fine-arts/dance/

Zelma Badu-Younge, Director

Mission

The School of Dance celebrates diversity, builds community, and encourages critical dialogue through practice and performance. Our modern dance approach prepares students for bold creative professional careers through a comprehensive foundation in choreography and performance with an understanding of the theory and history of dance. Collaboration through movement and feeling connects our students, working right alongside faculty and visiting artists. The art of movement is in our every breath, but we’re not just dancers; we’re diverse thinkers, researchers, teachers, collaborators - always stretching forever forward.  

Dance contributes to the cultural environment of the university, community and region through high quality productions and provides studies in the practice, history and aesthetics of dance.

Description:

The dance program offers major degree options and minor degree options: the Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) degree, the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree, and minors in dance performance and choreography, dance history, and somatic studies. The School of Dance also offers an undergraduate Certificate in Dance Production is for interested students from any major who wish to gain a deeper knowledge of the field of dance production and lighting, including dance elements of theater production and design.  All dance students train within a diverse range of techniques: modern, ballet, jazz and African.  

The B.F.A. degree program is a four-year pre-professional degree that prepares the individual for future work in the field of dance and related professions. The degree emphasizes modern dance choreography and performance and includes teaching, history, and practical studies in dance.

The B.A. degree offers a program of broad study in dance within a liberal arts degree framework. The core curriculum emphasizes developing performance skills through the study of technique, and fostering creative abilities through the study of choreography. Other major coursework in dance provides a broad knowledge in dance history, world dance cultures, movement analysis, and the teaching of dance.

Multiple performances of student and faculty choreography are produced every semester in the Shirley Wimmer Dance Theatre and other theatrical spaces. Workshop performances, internships, and other performance projects offer additional performance opportunities. Visiting artists enrich the curriculum during the academic year, in teaching, choreographic, and performing residencies.

Individual academic and professional advising are a fundamental practice in dance. Faculty advisors assess the development and progress of each dance student. As a student with a dance major or minor, you are expected to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA in dance core work (dance technique and choreography) and a 2.7 GPA overall in dance courses.

Scholarship auditions for incoming freshmen are in November and January. Schedule an appointment in advance by contacting the School of Dance directly (740-593-1828 or dance@ohio.edu ). Transfer students who wish to major in dance must audition for admission. An appointment for an audition and information on proficiency requirements can be obtained by contacting the dance program.

An honors tutorial program in dance offers exceptionally talented and motivated dance students an enhanced course of study. In addition to the rigorous, daily studio coursework in performance and choreography offered by the School of Dance, HTC Dance students complete tutorials with faculty members, research and creative activity, internships, and other student-centered learning opportunities. If eligible, you must complete the application, audition, and interview processes by November 15. (see Honors Tutorial College for requirements and deadlines at www.ohio.edu/honors/tutorial-college/programs/dance ).

Ohio University is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Dance.

Dance Admission Requirements

Dance Majors: An application and audition are required for all students who plan to major in dance.  Auditions are held in November and January. The audition is in the form of a dance class and does not require presentation of previously learned materials. If you wish to be considered for talent scholarships, you must audition by February 1; otherwise, an audition appointment can be made during the school year. Contact the School of Dance, 740.593.1828, for information. Though all prospective students are encouraged to attend auditions on the Ohio University campus, digital/video auditions may be accepted under extenuating circumstances.

Dance Minors: All students who intend to complete a minor in dance must fill out the online form “College of Fine Arts Application for Update of Academic Program”: https://ohio.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_25DjACpmC4WKV7v  Other requirements for each program are listed below.

Somatic Studies Minor: No audition is required for this minor. Students are encouraged to make an appointment with a dance faculty member to plan their course of study.

Dance History and Theory Minor: No audition is required for this minor. Students are encouraged to make an appointment with a dance faculty member to plan their course of study.

Dance Performance and Choreography Minor: In addition to the application form, students must complete one of the following:

1. Successfully complete the dance major audition.
2. Successfully complete a non-major dance technique course and acquire faculty recommendation to begin the minor. Note: non-major courses that count toward the minor may be taken before auditioning for admittance to the majors-level studio courses.

Programs

• Dance Major (B.A.)

• Dance—Performance and Choreography Major (B.F.A.)

• Dance Production Certificate
• Dance: History and Theory Minor
• Dance: Somatic Studies Minor
• Dance—Performance and Choreography Minor