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Dance

Career and Academic Paths | Academic Advising | Major Programs | The Bachelor of Arts in Dance | The Bachelor of Arts in Visual and Performing Arts with a Concentration in Dance | Dance Education | Regular Classes in Dance Technique | Gateway Course for Majors | Requirements for the B.A. in Dance | Requirements for the B.A. in Visual and Performing Arts with a Concentration in Dance | Minor Program | Special Opportunities | Student Organizations | Recognized UMBC Dance Alumni |

Faculty

View faculty details

Chair

Carol Hess

Associate Professors

Doug Hamby
Elizabeth Walton

Instructor

Sandra L. Lacy

Courses in this program are listed under DANC.

The dance department faculty brings extensive professional experience in various techniques and styles to teaching dance at UMBC. With a primary focus on modern dance and contemporary methods of work, the curriculum gives students opportunities to develop strong technique, composition and performance. By studying the history of dance and related courses, students also gain an understanding of the origins of dance, cultural traditions of dance and the changing world of contemporary dance. The program’s main focus is performance. Students have regular opportunities, both formal and informal, to develop their performance skills. Students generally perform in department concerts at the end of each semester, in dances choreographed by faculty, visiting artists or other dance majors. Students also may have the opportunity to choreograph for department concerts and to create self-designed projects through independent studies. Because dance is studied in an atmosphere with many opportunities for connection with the other arts, students also develop their awareness of potential influences and new possibilities in performance.

The artist-in-residence program brings well-known contemporary choreographers and/or teachers to the UMBC faculty for a full semester each year. This offers students the opportunity to work intensively with established dance artists and to be exposed to different ideas and methods of choreography. The program further develops students’ versatility in different techniques and styles. Recent visiting artists have included Mark Coniglio and Dawn Stoppiello, Tonya Lockyer, David Rousseve, Adrienne Clancy, Mary Williford, Jeanine Durning
and Gesel Mason.

Career and Academic Paths

Some graduates of the dance program dance professionally with major New York dance companies, including Pilobolus and Taylor 2, City Dance Ensemble, or in regional companies Students may become certified to teach in the public school system through course study coordinated between the dance department and the education department. Others teach in community studios or in their own studios. Some have pursued graduate study in dance or in related fields such as physical therapy or dance therapy.

Academic Advising

Students entering the program are placed in classes appropriate to their level of previous training. Placement is determined through interview and observation of the student. If an instructor feels that a student has been placed in the wrong level, adjustments may be made during the add/drop period.

Major Programs

Students pursuing dance as a major course of study may receive either a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Dance or a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Visual and Performing Arts with a concentration in dance. Students in both majors must take courses under the visual and performing arts interdisciplinary core. This core of study is the center from which the dance student explores important relationships between dance and other forms that may be involved in the shaping of dance as a performing art. The curriculum is composed of sequences in contemporary dance technique, performance and choreography. Sufficient previous training may enable students to enter the sequence in technique at the intermediate or advanced level, subject to the approval of the chairperson.

The Bachelor of Arts in Dance

The focus of the B.A. in Dance is on performance, choreography and technology. Students take courses in dance technique, dance history, choreography and performance, dance and technology, core courses in the visual and performing arts, and electives chosen from a focused list of courses in dance and related disciplines. All candidates for the B.A. in Dance must complete the degree requirements.

The Bachelor of Arts in Visual and Performing Arts with a Concentration in Dance

Students pursuing a B.A. in Visual and Performing Arts with a concentration in dance take core courses in dance and the visual and performing arts. The program is designed to be as flexible as possible to accommodate the student’s needs and interests. Students gain a strong foundation in contemporary dance and focus on either performance or choreography through chosen electives.

Dance Education

Dance majors may obtain state certification as a dance specialist through a course of study designed by the dance and education departments. Contact the dance department directly for more information. Students can combine a major in dance with study in the field of education. Students interested in teaching as a career may choose dance as their major field of study as they pursue coursework in early-childhood, elementary or secondary education through UMBC’s Department of Education.

Regular Classes in Dance Technique

All dance majors are expected to enroll in technique classes every semester. The dance department highly recommends that students pursuing the B.A. in Dance take both ballet and modern dance technique every semester. Dance majors are required to enroll in a minimum of one technique course in ballet or modern dance each semester.

Gateway Course for Majors

DANC 320
Intermediate Modern Dance Technique [3]


This course has been designated as the “gateway course” for dance majors. This course must be passed with a grade of “B” or better for a student to continue on in either major.

Requirements for the B.A. in Dance

The requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Dance (approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission in summer 2001) consist of a minimum of 58 credits. A grade of “C” is the minimum acceptable for credit toward the major, with the exception of DANC 320: Intermediate Modern Dance Technique II, the gateway course for the major, which requires a minimum grade of “B.”

A. Dance Techniques (minimum 20 credits)

Modern Dance Technique

A minimum of 12 credits in modern dance technique, which must include the following courses:
DANC 310
Intermediate Modern Dance Technique I [3]
DANC 320
Intermediate Modern Dance Technique II [3]
DANC 410
Advanced Modern Dance Technique I [3]
DANC 420
Advanced Modern Dance Technique II [3]

Ballet Technique

A minimum of eight credits in ballet technique, which must include the following repeatable courses:

DANC 216
Intermediate Ballet [2]
DANC 316
High Intermediate Ballet [2]
Students entering the program at a higher level of ballet may apply DANC 416: Advanced Ballet to this requirement.

B. Choreographic Process (9 credits)

DANC 230
Improvisation [3]
DANC 330
Dance Composition I [3]
DANC 331
Dance Composition II [3]

C. Performance (5 credits)

DANC 350
Dance Workshop [2]
DANC 450
Repertory [3]

D. Dance History (6 credits)

DANC 201
History of Dance I [3]
DANC 202
History of Dance II [3]

E. Dance and Related Disciplines (13-15 credits)

VPA 225
Ideas in the Arts [3]
VPA 325
Contemporary Art in Process [3]
DANC 340
Dance and Technology [3]

F. Technical Theater

DANC 399
Dance Practicum [3]


One of the following courses:

DANC 260/AFST 215
Introduction to African Dance [3]
AMST 230
The Arts in America [AH] [3]
ANTH 211
Cultural Anthropology [SS or C] [3]
ART 100
Introduction to the Imaging Arts: Photography, Film, Video and Computer Art [AH] [3]
ART 220
Art History I [AH] [3]
ART 221
Art History II [AH] [3]
MUSC 100
Introduction to Music [AH] [3]
MUSC 170
Beginning Voice Class [1]
MUSC 188
Percussion Class [1]
MUSC 230
Musics of the World [AH] [3]
PHIL 260
Philosophy of Art [AH] [3]
THTR 110
Introduction to Acting [AH] [3]
THTR 210
History of the Theatre I [AH] [3]
THTR 220
History of the Theatre II [AH] [3]
THTR 234
Makeup for the Stage [2]
THTR 235
Lighting Design [3]
THTR 237
Sound Design [3]


G. Capstone Experience (3 credits)

DANC 475
Senior Projects [3]

Requirements for the B.A. in Visual and Performing Arts with a Concentration in Dance

The requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Visual and Performing Arts with a concentration in dance consist of a minimum of 56 credits. A grade of “C” is the minimum acceptable for credit toward the major, with the exception of DANC 320: Intermediate Modern Dance Technique II, the gateway course for the major, which requires a minimum grade of “B.”

A. Dance Techniques (minimum 20 credits)

Modern Dance Technique

A minimum of 12 credits in modern dance technique, which must include the following courses:
DANC 310
Intermediate Modern Dance Technique I [3]
DANC 320
Intermediate Modern Dance Technique II [3]
DANC 410
Advanced Modern Dance Technique I [3]
DANC 420
Advanced Modern Dance Technique II [3]

Other Techniques

A minimum of four credits in ballet technique, which must include the following repeatable courses:
DANC 216
Intermediate Ballet [2]
DANC 316
High Intermediate Ballet [2]
Four credits in elective dance techniques from the following:
DANC 301 [2]
Special Studies in Dance (special offerings each spring semester, including jazz workshop, tap, Feldenkrais technique or other special techniques)
Students may choose two 301: Special Studies courses OR one Special Studies course AND DANC 260
DANC 260
African Dance [2]

B. Choreographic Process and Performance (14 credits)

DANC 230
Improvisation [3]
DANC 330
Dance Composition I [3]
DANC 331
Dance Composition II [3]
DANC 350
Dance Workshop [2]

PLUS one of the following:

DANC 340
Dance and Technology [3]
DANC 450
Repertory [3]
DANC 390
Performance Workshop [3]
DANC 326
Methods of Teaching Dance [3]

C. Dance History (6 credits)

DANC 201
History of Dance I [3]
DANC 202
History of Dance II [3]

D. Visual and Performing Arts Core (8-12 credits)

VPA 225
Ideas in the Arts [3]
VPA 325
Contemporary Art in Process [3]
Two courses in the arts outside the discipline of dance [2-6]

E. Technical Theater (3 credits)

DANC 399
Dance Practicum [3]


F. Capstone Experience (3 credits)

One of the following:
DANC 475
Senior Projects [3]
DANC 400
Independent Study [3]

Sample Program


Freshman

DANC 110**
DANC 116**
DANC 201
DANC 202
DANC 220**
DANC 230
Electives

Sophomore

DANC 216**
DANC 310***
DANC 320***
DANC 350
VPA 225
Electives

Junior

DANC 260*
DANC 310***
DANC 316***
DANC 320***
DANC 331
DANC 340
DANC 399
DANC 450
Electives

Senior

DANC 400
DANC 410
DANC 416
DANC 420
DANC 450
DANC 475
VPA 325
Electives

*    Recommended but not required.
**May be waived for students with a high skill level in ballet and modern dance. Must be repeated before moving to the next level.
***    Most students are advised to remain at the intermediate level for two years.

Minor Program

The minor in dance requires 19 credits.


Core Courses:

One course in the history of dance
(either DANC 201: Dance History I OR DANC 202: Dance History II) [3]
DANC 230
Improvisation [3]
DANC 310
Intermediate Modern Technique I [3]
DANC 350
Dance Workshop [2]

One course in ballet technique at the appropriate level (Ballet I, II, III or IV) [2]

PLUS six credits in dance electives from the following:
DANC 201 OR DANC 202
(if not selected as a core course) [3]
An additional course in ballet technique (Ballet II, III, or IV) [2]
DANC 220*
Beginning Modern Technique II [2]
DANC 260
Introduction to African Dance [3]
DANC 320
Intermediate Modern Technique II [3]
DANC 301x
Special Studies in
Dance [1-3]
DANC 330
Dance Composition I [3]
DANC 331
Dance Composition II [3]
DANC 399
Dance Practicum [3]
DANC 390
Dance Production Workshop [3]
DANC 399
Dance Practicum [3]
DANC 450
Repertory [3]
*    Prerequisite for DANC 310, which may be waived based on the student’s dance background and experience

Special Opportunities

The dance department produces six full-length dance concerts each year. Four of these concerts feature students only. Upper-classmen frequently are asked to work as apprentices with the Phoenix Repertory Dance Company, UMBC’s professional company in residence. The company performs throughout the region and has performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. The company runs an outreach program called Project REACH, in which company members and student apprentices perform lecture/demonstrations and workshops in area public schools.

Student Organizations

Council of Majors

The dance department has an active Council of Majors. This student-run group puts on benefit concerts, sponsors master classes and supports an annual trip to the American College Dance Festival.

Recognized UMBC Dance Alumni

UMBC dance alumni on the professional stage include:

Rebecca Marie Jung ‘87
A featured performer with Pilobolus

Robin Branch ‘93
Toured Africa with Taylor 2

Jennica Lee ‘02
Performed with Disney in Tokyo

Eileen Mitchell ‘02
Performs with City Dance Ensemble in Washington, D.C.

Ali Linthicum ‘04
Performs in a variety of venues in New York City

Renee Brozic ‘99
Received her M.F.A. from George Mason University and choreographs and performs in the Baltimore/Washington area

Sarah Seeley ‘99
Received her M.F.A. from Smith College and is currently Paul Taylor’s administrative assistant

Julie Peoples-Clark ‘95
Is an area representative for DARE America ®

and many UMBC alumni teach dance in public and private schools.