OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2024-25
Dance—Performance and Choreography Major (B.F.A.) |
Major code BF5154
College of Fine Arts
School of Dance
Putnam Hall 137
Athens, OH 45701
Phone: 740.593.1828
dance@ohio.edu
www.ohio.edu/fine-arts/dance
Travis Gatling, contact person
gatling@ohio.edu
Program Overview
The Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) curriculum provides a foundation on which to build a career as a performer, choreographer or teacher. Core curriculum in dance emphasizes developing performance skills through the study of technique, and fostering creative abilities through the study of choreography. Other major coursework provides a broad knowledge in dance history, ethnology, kinesiology, music and the teaching of dance.
The School of Dance is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Dance. Entrance and graduation requirements are in compliance with standards set by the Association.
Admissions Information
Freshman/First-Year Admission
In addition to general admission requirements to Ohio University, the Dance program requires a dance application and dance audition. Acceptance to the Dance major or minor program in choreography and performance is by talent audition. Auditions are scheduled to coordinate with various University application deadlines.
The audition class includes modern, ballet, and jazz portions, and improvisation. Each of these provides the dancer with an opportunity to demonstrate his or her talent, level of training, and aptitude for further study in dance. Auditionees are not expected to demonstrate proficiency in all techniques. The audition committee evaluates technical proficiency, physical strength and flexibility, spatial and rhythmic accuracy, and performance quality. Dancers should be prepared to take class in dancewear that allows freedom of movement. You will need to dance barefoot for the modern portion of the audition class and may bring ballet slippers or jazz shoes to wear for the ballet and jazz portions of class.
Although attending a scheduled audition is the best possible means of representing your talent, if you are unable to attend, please call our office at 740.593.1828 to discuss the possibility of other arrangements.
Change of Program Policy
Admission to the dance major or minor is by audition and application. To apply for the dance major, students should fill out the online form “College of Fine Arts Application for Update of Academic Program”: https://ohio.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_25DjACpmC4WKV7v
External Transfer Admission
In addition to University admission requirements, transfer students must complete a dance application and dance audition for consideration of admission to the School of Dance. Transfer students should contact our office at 740.593.1828 to discuss the audition class.
Opportunities Upon Graduation
Approximately 70% of our graduates continue in the field of dance and related arts. Career opportunities available to the dance graduate include preparation and/or studies leading to the following:
- Choreographer for concert, theater, video, film, fashion, or public events;
- Dancer in companies or theatrical productions;
- Company manager or arts administrator;
- Studio teacher of children and adults in modern, ballet, jazz, African technique; teaching in university programs, K-12 programs;
- Body-based therapeutic work such as Pilates, Bartenieff Fundamentals, massage therapy, physical therapy, exercise physiology, dance movement therapist;
- Dance critic or dance-related cultural historian, writing in dance;
- Graduate study in dance
Requirements
University-wide Graduation Requirements
Ohio University requires completion of a minimum of 120 semester hours for conferral of a bachelor’s degree. However, the Dance - Performance and Choreography major requires a minimum of 126 semester hours. For more information on the minimum hours requirement and other university-wide requirements, please review the Graduation Requirements – University-wide page.
Foundational Dance Requirements
Complete the following courses:
- DANC 1210 - Modern Dance Technique I Credit Hours: 2
- DANC 1211 - Modern Dance Technique II Credit Hours: 2
- DANC 1220 - Ballet Technique I Credit Hours: 1.5
- DANC 1221 - Ballet Technique II Credit Hours: 1.5
- DANC 1230 - Beginning Dance Composition I Credit Hours: 2
- DANC 1231 - Beginning Dance Composition II Credit Hours: 2
- DANC 1250 - African Dance Technique I Credit Hours: 1.5
- DANC 1801 - Dance Production I Credit Hours: 2
- DANC 2700 - Languages of Dance Credit Hours: 3
- DANC 3600 - Dance Colloquium Credit Hours: .5 - 1
Dance Production and Performance
Complete the following courses:
- DANC 2801 - Lighting for Dance Credit Hours: 2
- DANC 3280 - Dance Repertory Credit Hours: 1 - 2
- DANC 3801 - Dance Production II Credit Hours: 1
Studio Dance Techniques
Complete the following courses:
- DANC 2210 - Modern Dance Technique III Credit Hours: 2
- DANC 2211 - Modern Dance Technique IV Credit Hours: 2
- DANC 2220 - Ballet Technique III Credit Hours: 1.5
- DANC 2221 - Ballet Technique IV Credit Hours: 1.5
- DANC 2240 - Jazz Dance Technique II Credit Hours: 1.5
- DANC 2250 - African Dance Technique II Credit Hours: 1.5
- DANC 3210 - Modern Dance Technique V Credit Hours: 2
- DANC 3211 - Modern Dance Technique VI Credit Hours: 2
- DANC 3220 - Ballet Technique V Credit Hours: 1.5
- DANC 3221 - Ballet Technique VI Credit Hours: 1.5
- DANC 4210 - Modern Dance Technique VII Credit Hours: 2
- DANC 4211 - Modern Dance Technique VIII Credit Hours: 2
Dance Composition and Choreography
Complete the following courses:
- DANC 2230 - Intermediate Dance Composition I Credit Hours: 2
- DANC 2231 - Intermediate Dance Composition II Credit Hours: 2
- DANC 3230 - Advanced Dance Composition I Credit Hours: 2
- DANC 3231 - Advanced Dance Composition II Credit Hours: 2
- DANC 4800 - Senior Capstone Credit Hours: 3
Dance Notation and Music
Complete 3 credit hours among the following courses in consultation with a Dance advisor:
- DANC 1110 - Music for Dance I Credit Hours: 2
- DANC 3120 - Music for Dance II Credit Hours: 1
- MUS 1210 - Introduction to World Music Credit Hours: 3
- MUS 1250 - Introduction to Music History and Literature Credit Hours: 3
Dance Kinesiology and Somatic Study
Complete one of the following courses:
- AT 2690 - Health and Injury in Performing Artists Credit Hours: 3
- DANC 3300 - Dance Kinesology I Credit Hours: 3
- EXPH 1490 - Introduction to Exercise Science Credit Hours: 3
Complete one of the following courses:
- AT 3693 - Musculoskeletal Movement in Performing Arts Credit Hours: 3
- DANC 4300 - Dance Kinesiology II Credit Hours: 3
- EXPH 2200 - Applied Kinesiology Credit Hours: 3
Complete one of the following courses:
- DANC 3301 - Pilates Reformer Training Credit Hours: 1
- DANC 3302 - Pilates Mat Training Credit Hours: 1
- DANC 3304 - Yoga: Principles and Practice Credit Hours: 1
Dance History, World Dance and Culture
Complete the following course:
Complete one of the following courses:
- DANC 2710 - Black Dance Forms Credit Hours: 3
- DANC 2550 - Dance Cultures of the World I Credit Hours: 3
- DANC 4750 - Dance in Non-Western Expressive Cultures Credit Hours: 3
Complete one of the following courses:
- DANC 4550 - Dance Ethnography: Intellectualizing the Body’s Motion Credit Hours: 3
- DANC 4711 - Writing Dance and Gender Credit Hours: 3