Dance

College of Arts and Humanities
Department of Theatre and Dance

Program Description

The Bachelor of Arts in Dance offers each student the opportunity to develop creative and technical skills to become leaders in the ﬁeld of dance as dancers, choreographers, and teachers in studios, private, and public schools. The B.A. in Dance also prepares students looking to further their education by attending graduate school to receive their M.F.A, M.A., or Ph. D. in Dance or related ﬁelds. The Dance program is multicultural and multi-ethnic by nature and offers a wide range of dance styles and techniques to explore. Students are encouraged to create, produce, and assess their work in relation to the broad knowledge of dance history and its traditions.

The Dance Minor offers courses designed for students who wish to augment their Bachelor's degree or desire to become a performer, choreographer, teacher, or further their dance training.

CSU Dominguez Hills Dance faculty are professional dancers, choreographers, and teachers who offer classes in Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Tap, Hip-Hop, Latin Social Dance, African dance and more. Students will have the opportunity to participate in master dance classes taught by nationally known artists and attend the American College Dance Association Conference. Complimenting dance technique classes, student will take classes in Dance Composition, Dance Production, Global Dance Perspectives, Rhythmic Analysis, Dance for Children, Forces & Figures in Dance, Dance Kinesiology, and more to round out the B.A. in Dance.

Features

Two large dance studios are available to students. Both studios are equipped with sprung floors, mirrored walls and the main studio has ballet barres, a grand piano, and digital audio and visual systems. Ballet and modern classes have live music accompaniment. Ample locker and shower facilities are also available. Dance students perform in the fully equipped University Theatre, which seats over 400 audience members. Two dance concerts are held each year, one in each semester, the Mosaic Dance Company offers screen dance opportunities along with outreach performances, and our Theatre Productions regularly incorporate dance. There are also opportunities to perform at on and off-campus events throughout the year.

The Dance program is a member of the American College Dance Association. Students have the opportunity to participate in the ACDA annual conference and adjudication concerts in the Baja Region and other performance venues

Academic Advisement

We request that students meet with the dance advisor and program coordinator, Doris Ressl or Amy Allen, before starting their ﬁrst semester at CSU Dominguez Hills. This is when educational goals and previous dance experience will be discussed. Based on this discussion, the progression of the student's major or minor requirements will be planned. Career opportunities will also be discussed. If transferring from a community or 4-year college, students should bring a copy of their transcripts.

Dedication and commitment are the keys to the successful pursuit of a career in theatre and dance. To help students achieve high academic and production standards, the department requires all majors and minors to pass their required classes with a "C" grade or better. Students who receive lower than a "C" will need to "Repeat and Cancel" that course in the following semester.

Graduation with Honors

An undergraduate student may graduate with Honors in Dance if the following criteria are met:

A minimum of 36 units in residence at CSU Dominguez Hills.
A minimum GPA of at least 3.5 in all courses used to satisfy the upper-division requirements.

Preparation

For the B.A. in Dance and Dance Minor, it is strongly suggested that students pursuing a career in dance study ballet, modern, jazz dance techniques and dances of world cultures such as African, Latin Social, and Hip Hop. Students should take advantage of all available choreography and performance opportunities and view as many dance performances as possible. In addition to high school graduation requirements, the student should study art music, acting, literature, philosophy, and kinesiology. While attending community college, students should seek choregraphic and performance experience in theatre presentations and attend as many dance performances as possible. Most dance technique courses are taken at community colleges in ballet, modern, jazz, tap, and other selected dance styles will transfer to satisfy the lower-division requirements for the B.A. in Dance and Dance Minor.

Dance Opportunities

Mosaic Dance Company – is a semi-professional touring dance company is comprised of students at CSUDH. Guest artists, faculty members, and students create dance works with the company, which are performed in concerts on campus and in the surrounding community. Through a variety of dance styles, the Mosaic Dance Company provides a professional training experience for the students involved and provides dance education and performances to underserved populations in the community.

American College Dance Association (ACDA) – Interested dance students have opportunities to attend the annual conference and participate in the adjudication concerts. Students will meet students from college dance programs in and out of the Baja Region, take master dance classes, perform in adjudication concerts, receive feedback, and experience dance from other undergraduate and graduate academic institutions.

Career Possibilities

The B.A. in Dance provides students with a broad-based foundation in dance and prepares them for graduate school, auditioning for and performing in dance companies, teaching opportunities in public schools, private dance studios, ﬁtness programs, theatre, television, industrial shows, and working in “the business.”

The Dance Minor is designed for students who desire to become performers, choreographers, or teachers, or to complement their major.

Courses

DAN 110. Dance of World Cultures. (1 Units)

Introduction to a variety of ethnic and social dance forms; and appreciation of their historical and cultural origins. Repeatable for credit. Two hours of activity per week.

Offered Fall, Spring

DAN 120. Tap Dance. (1 Units)

Development of proficiency in performing elementary tap technique with emphasis on skills, steps, combinations and terminology. Appreciation of the origin and evolution of tap dance. Repeatable for credit. Two hours of activity per week.

Offered Fall

DAN 125. Tap Dance II. (1 Units)

Prerequisites: DAN 120 or permission from instructor. Develop proficiency in performing beginning intermediate tap technique with emphasis on skills, steps, combinations and terminology. Be able to speak and write appropriate vocabulary steps when necessary, and gain a further appreciation of the origin and evolution of tap dance and current tap trends.

Offered As needed

DAN 130. Global Dance Perspectives. (3 Units)

Global Dance Perspectives provides an understanding and appreciation of dances from all cultures of the world as an expression of people's imaginative and creative urges/ Diversity in dance is explored through a global perspective addressing social, cultural, and historical topics.

Offered Fall, Spring, Summer

DAN 200. Jazz I. (2 Units)

Development of proficiency in performing beginning jazz dance technique. Emphasis on theory, terminology, steps and combinations in a variety of jazz styles. Appreciation of origin and evolution of jazz. Repeatable for credit. Four hours of activity per week.

Offered Fall

DAN 205. Jazz II. (2 Units)

Prerequisite: DAN 200 or consent of instructor. Continuing development of proficiency in performing beginning jazz dance technique. Emphasis on theory, terminology, steps and combinations in a variety of jazz styles. Appreciation of origin and evolution of jazz. Repeatable for credit. Four hours of activity per week.

Offered Fall

DAN 210. Ballet I. (2 Units)

Development of proficiency in performing elementary ballet technique. Emphasis on basic theory, positions, steps, combinations and French terminology. Appreciation of ballet as an art form. Repeatable for credit. Four hours of activity per week.

Offered Fall, Spring

DAN 215. Ballet II. (2 Units)

Prerequisite: DAN 210 or consent of instructor. Continuing development of proficiency in performing elementary ballet technique. Emphasis on basic theory, positions, steps, combinations and French terminology. Appreciation of ballet as an art form. Repeatable for credit. Four hours of activity per week.

Offered Fall, Spring

DAN 220. Modern Dance I. (2 Units)

Development of proficiency in performing beginning modern dance technique. Emphasis on basic technical development, movement theories, movement phrasing and terminology. Appreciation of basic movement discoveries of early pioneers in modern dance, and of modern dance as an art form. Repeatable for credit. Four hours of activity per week.

Offered Fall

DAN 225. Modern Dance II. (2 Units)

Prerequisite: DAN 220 or consent of instructor. Continuing development of proficiency in performing beginning modern dance technique. Emphasis on basic technical development, movement theories, movement phrasing and terminology. Appreciation of basic movement discoveries of early pioneers in modern dance, and of modern dance as an art form. Repeatable for credit. Four hours of activity per week.

Offered Fall

DAN 230. Dance Touring Ensemble. (1 Units)

Co-requisite: Enrollment in a Dance Technique class. Dance Touring Ensemble members will discover and cultivate their own talents as performers and educators. Multiple performances will be held during the semester. Auditions and an Interview will be required.

Offered All terms

DAN 300. Jazz III. (2 Units)

Prerequisite: DAN 205 or consent of instructor. Development of proficiency in performing intermediate jazz dance technique. Emphasis on theory, terminology, steps and combinations in a variety of jazz styles. Appreciation of the origin and evolution of jazz. Repeatable for credit. Four hours of activity per week.

Offered Spring

DAN 305. Jazz IV. (2 Units)

Prerequisite: DAN 300 or consent of instructor. Continuing development of proficiency in performing intermediate jazz dance technique. Emphasis on theory, terminology, steps and combinations in a variety of jazz styles. Appreciation of the origin and evolution of jazz. Repeatable for credit. Four hours of activity per week.

Offered Spring

DAN 310. Ballet III. (2 Units)

Prerequisite: DAN 215 or consent of instructor. Development of proficiency in performing intermediate ballet technique. Emphasis on theory, positions, steps, combinations and French terminology. Appreciation of ballet as an art form. Repeatable for credit. Four hours of activity per week.

Offered Fall, Spring

DAN 315. Ballet IV. (2 Units)

Prerequisite: DAN 310 or consent of instructor. Continuing development of proficiency in performing intermediate ballet technique. Emphasis on theory, positions, steps, combinations and French terminology. Appreciation of ballet as an art form. Repeatable for credit. Four hours of activity per week.

Offered Fall, Spring

DAN 320. Modern Dance III. (2 Units)

Prerequisite: DAN 225 or consent of instructor. Development of proficiency in performing intermediate modern dance technique. Emphasis on intermediate technical development, movement theories, movement phrasing and terminology. Appreciation of intermediate movement discoveries of early pioneers in modern dance, and of modern dance as an art form. Repeatable for credit. Four hours of activity per week.

Offered Spring

DAN 325. Modern Dance IV. (2 Units)

Prerequisites: Upper division class standing; KIN 448 is recommended. Planned internship in alternative dance careers at a cooperating institution, agency, organization or company under professional supervision. Application of principles and skills acquired in student's chosen professional preparation program.

Offered Spring

DAN 330. Dance Composition I. (2 Units)

Use of improvisation in choreography as an introduction to structural form; individual and group problems.

Offered Fall

DAN 335. Dance Composition II. (3 Units)

Prerequisites: DAN 330 Co-requisite: Concurrent enrollment in a dance technique class. Theory and practice in the immediate elements of dance composition.

Offered Spring

DAN 340. Dance Production. (1 Units)

Prerequisites: DAN 330 and DAN 335 or consent of instructor. Designed to teach students how to coordinate and produce a dance concert. Emphasis on technical aspects of dance production such as lighting design, costume design and construction, recording sound, applying dance makeup, staging dances, and concert publicity and promotion. Repeatable for credit. Three hours of activity per week.

Offered Spring

DAN 345. Rhythmic Analysis. (3 Units)

Prerequisites; DAN 330. Basic music exploration of simple and complex rhythmic patterns, time, styles, and a brief survey of the historical periods and styles of music used in wester and non-western cultures.

Offered Fall even

DAN 355. Forces and Figures in Dance. (3 Units)

Prerequisite: DAN 130 required. Survey of the historical development of dance from the 18th century to the 21st centuries.

Offered Spring even

DAN 375. Dance Kinesiology & wellness. (1 Units)

Investigation of the kinesiology and physiology of the human body as it relates to dance. Students will develop a basic understanding of human anatomy, the biomechanics of human movement, and wellness concerns as they relate to dance.

Offered Spring

DAN 385. Somatics and Conditioning. (3 Units)

The discipline of somatic studies emphasizing the unity of mind and body, and an integrated experience from within, through conscious guided movement and opportunities for increased self-awareness.

Offered As needed

DAN 395. Dance Pedagogy. (3 Units)

Prerequisites: DAN 205, DAN 315, DAN 325, DAN 335 or permission of instructor, Dance Pedagogy explores the art and instructional methods of teaching dance technique and choreography.

Offered As needed

DAN 410. Ballet V. (2 Units)

Prerequisite: DAN 315 or consent of instructor. Development of proficiency in performing intermediate-advanced ballet technique. Emphasis on intermediate-advanced theory, positions, combinations and French terminology. Appreciation of ballet as an art form. Repeatable for credit. Four hours of activity per week.

Offered Spring

DAN 415. Ballet VI. (2 Units)

Prerequisite: DAN 410 or consent of instructor. Continuing development of proficiency in performing intermediate- advanced ballet technique. Emphasis on intermediate-advanced theory, positions, combinations and French terminology. Appreciation of ballet as an art form. Repeatable for credit. Four hours of activity per week.

Offered Spring

DAN 420. Modern Dance V. (2 Units)

Prerequisite: DAN 325 or consent of instructor. Development of proficiency in performing intermediate-advanced modern dance technique. Emphasis on intermediate-advanced technical development, movement theories, movement phrasing and terminology. Appreciation of movement discoveries of contemporary modern dancers, and of modern dance as an art form. Repeatable for credit. Four hours of activity per week.

Offered Spring

DAN 425. Modern Dance VI. (2 Units)

Prerequisite: DAN 420 or consent of instructor. Continuing development of proficiency in performing intermediate-advanced modern dance technique. Emphasis on intermediate-advanced technical development, movement theories, movement phrasing and terminology. Appreciation of movement discoveries of contemporary modern dancers, and of modern dance as an art form. Repeatable for credit. Four hours of activity per week.

Offered Spring

DAN 430. Dance Composition III. (3 Units)

Prerequisites: DAN 330, and DAN 335 required. Co-requisites: Concurrent enrollment in a dance technique class. Development of theme and style in a dance technique class.

Offered Fall

DAN 440. Dance for Children. (3 Units)

Study of developmentally appropriate creative movement experiences for children. Examination of teaching methodology designed to develop foundational movement skills, artistic exploration of movement elements, improvisational techniques, imagination and creativity, and how these learning activities can be taught across the curriculum.

Offered Fall, Spring, Summer

DAN 450. Musical Theatre Studies. (3 Units)

Prerequisites: DAN 203, DAN 315, DAN 325, DAN 335 or permission of instructor, Musical Theatre Studies is an exploration of American Musical Theatre, Students will study the work of the actor/singer/dancer and develop as performers.

Offered As needed

DAN 480. Dance Rehearsal & Performance. (2 Units)

Prerequisites: DAN 200, DAN 205, DAN 210, DAN 215, DAN 220, DAN 225 are recommended. Participation as a performer and/or choreographer in a Dance Program approved, University sponsored production. Concert participation is by audition only. Repeatable for credit. Four hours of activity per week.

Offered Fall, Spring

DAN 494. Independent Study. (1-3 Units)

Advanced study in dance, with each student participating in a special project mutually agreed upon by student and instructor.

Offered Fall, Spring

DAN 495. Special Topics:. (1-3 Units)

Intensive study of a dance topic of current interest. May be repeated for credit to a maximum of 6.0 units.

Offered Infrequent

DAN 496. Internship in Dance. (1-3 Units)

Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Collaborative production activity on various projects in the digital media arts curriculum. Repeatable for credit for up to three units. Two hours of activity per week.

Offered Infrequent

DAN 499. Senior Dance Thesis. (2 Units)

Prerequisites: Dan 430 or permission of instructor. Co-requisite: DAN 340 A capstone course culminating in the production of a final, collaborative project. Selected in consultation with and evaluated by a faculty panel. Restricted to seniors.

Offered Spring

Dance

Program Description

Features

Academic Advisement

Graduation with Honors

Preparation

Dance Opportunities

Career Possibilities

Undergraduate Programs

Bachelor

Minor

Faculty

Emeritus Faculty

Courses

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