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Dance Studies

Dance Studies - B.A.

Where Passion and Opportunity Meet

 

At Kent State University you train for a life in the arts. You will engage daily with your craft through our professionally-modeled production season and join a network of nationally and internationally recognized alumni artists, designers, technicians, and educators. Dance is different at Kent State.

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College of the Arts
School of Theatre and Dance - Dance Division
www.kent.edu/theatredance

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Bachelor of Arts in Dance Studies - B.A.

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance Studies allows students to pair a traditional liberal arts education with a major emphasis in dance. This degree combines the rigor of conservatory training with a liberal arts education, recognizing and supporting our students as individuals and artists contributing to an ever-changing world.

Program Information for Dance Studies - B.A.

Program Description

Program Description

Full Description

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance Studies allows students who have previous dance experience and a strong interest in another subject area, within or outside of the arts, the opportunity to combine the two into one plan of study. The curriculum provides students with a solid foundation in dance techniques and dance academics while allowing flexibility to incorporate another area or minor.

The B.A. degree program encourages exploration of areas that can be combined with dance to enhance opportunities for future employment.

Admissions for Dance Studies - B.A.

Admissions

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of proficiency of the English language (unless they meet specific exceptions) through the submission of an English language proficiency test score or by completing English language classes at Kent State’s English as a Second Language Center before entering their program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students who have not attended another institution since Kent State and were not academically dismissed will complete the re-enrollment process through the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center. Former students who attended another college or university since leaving Kent State must apply for admissions as a transfer or post-undergraduate student.

Transfer Students: Students who attended an educational institution after graduating from high school or earning their GED must apply as transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's Academic Policies.

Students may be required to meet certain criteria to progress in their program. Any progression requirements will be listed on the program's Coursework tab

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Perform a wide range of dance works within Western and non-Western dance forms.
  2. Articulate and communicate an embodied understanding of diverse dance forms; their histories, including the role of oppression; and their relationship and representation in the contemporary era of dance.
  3. Articulate and demonstrate dance theory, aesthetics, pedagogy and choreography.
  4. Create, revise, reflect and present choreography.
  5. Articulate a relationship between their dance studies and a secondary concentration, minor or double major, as applicable.

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
DAN 27074DANCE COMPOSITION I 3
DAN 27150KINESIOLOGY FOR DANCERS 3
DAN 37010DANCE PEDAGOGY 3
or DAN 37020 TEACHING DANCE AND MOVEMENT FOR NONTRADITIONAL POPULATIONS
DAN 37035DANCE COMPOSITION II 2
DAN 37072DANCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2
DAN 37092KENT DANCE ENSEMBLE (ELR) (taken three times) 13
or DAN 37192 DANCE PRACTICUM - PERFORMANCE (ELR)
DAN 37392DANCE PRACTICUM - CHOREOGRAPHY (ELR) 1
DAN 47063DANCE HISTORY I 3
DAN 47163DANCE HISTORY II (WIC) 23
DAN 47199BACHELOR OF ARTS CAPSTONE (ELR) 1-3
MUS 22111UNDERSTANDING WESTERN MUSIC (KFA) 3
or MUS 22121 MUSIC AS A WORLD PHENOMENON (DIVG) (KFA)
NUTR 23511SCIENCE OF HUMAN NUTRITION (KBS) 3
THEA 11725FUNDAMENTALS OF THEATRE DESIGN AND PRODUCTION 3
Ballet Electives, choose from the following:4
DAN 17010
INTRODUCTION TO BALLET
DAN 17011
BALLET 1
DAN 27050
BALLET 2
DAN 37069
BALLET 3
DAN 47050
BALLET 4
Jazz Electives, choose from the following:4
DAN 17004
INTRODUCTION TO JAZZ
DAN 17005
JAZZ 1
DAN 27070
JAZZ 2
DAN 37148
JAZZ 3
DAN 47070
JAZZ 4
Modern Electives, choose from the following:4
DAN 17001
INTRODUCTION TO MODERN
DAN 17002
MODERN 1
DAN 27051
MODERN 2
DAN 37051
MODERN 3
DAN 47051
MODERN 4
Additional Technique Elective, choose from the following: 31-3
DAN 17007
TAP 1
DAN 17008
TAP 2
DAN 17009
TAP 3
DAN 17013
AFRICAN DANCE 1
DAN 17019
HIP HOP 1
DAN 17020
HIP HOP 2
DAN 27080
MUSICAL THEATRE JAZZ AND TAP I
DAN 37069
BALLET 3
DAN 37080
MUSICAL THEATRE JAZZ AND TAP II
DAN 37100
POINTE 1
DAN 47050
BALLET 4
DAN 47051
MODERN 4
DAN 47070
JAZZ 4
DAN 47081
MUSICAL THEATRE DANCE STYLES II
DAN 47095
SPECIAL TOPICS IN DANCE
DAN 47196
INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATION IN DANCE
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in GPA)
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Composition6
Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning3
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each)6
Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines)6
Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory)3-4
Kent Core Additional6
General Electives (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours) 443
Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
1

Maximum 8 credit hours of DAN 37192 may be applied toward the major.

2

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

3

Promotion to the next level of technique is at the discretion of the dance faculty.

4

Students must complete a minimum 15 elective credit hours of courses related to a secondary area of inquiry or in an undergraduate minor.

Progression Requirements
  • Promotion to the next level is at the discretion of the dance faculty.
  • All students in the major must audition for all Dance Division concerts. To perform in the concert, students must be enrolled in a minimum of one dance technique course during the semester of the concert.
  • Students enter on a probationary status and must maintain GPA requirements and professional standards as indicated in the student handbook in order to be allowed to audition for concerts and progress through to graduation.

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.500 2.000
  • All majors must participate in dance faculty juries and an annual review.
  • All graduates must successfully complete a course of study that includes a minimum of 15 credit hours related to a subject or in an undergraduate minor chosen by the student.
  • All graduates must complete a project or presentation through DAN 47199 that demonstrates knowledge of dance and the additional subject chosen by the student.
Roadmap

Roadmap

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
DAN 37092
or DAN 37192
 KENT DANCE ENSEMBLE (ELR)
or DANCE PRACTICUM - PERFORMANCE (ELR)
1
NUTR 23511 SCIENCE OF HUMAN NUTRITION (KBS) 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Ballet or Jazz or Modern Electives 4
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Two
DAN 47063 DANCE HISTORY I 3
THEA 11725 FUNDAMENTALS OF THEATRE DESIGN AND PRODUCTION 3
Ballet or Jazz or Modern Electives 4
General Electives 5
 Credit Hours15
Semester Three
DAN 27074 DANCE COMPOSITION I 3
DAN 37092
or DAN 37192
 KENT DANCE ENSEMBLE (ELR)
or DANCE PRACTICUM - PERFORMANCE (ELR)
1
MUS 22111
or MUS 22121
 UNDERSTANDING WESTERN MUSIC (KFA)
or MUSIC AS A WORLD PHENOMENON (DIVG) (KFA)
3
Ballet or Jazz or Modern Electives 4
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours17
Semester Four
DAN 27150 KINESIOLOGY FOR DANCERS 3
DAN 37035 DANCE COMPOSITION II 2
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Electives 6
 Credit Hours14
Semester Five
Additional Technique Elective 1-3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Electives 5
 Credit Hours15
Semester Six
Requirement: present choreography at Student Dance Festival  
DAN 37010
or DAN 37020
 DANCE PEDAGOGY
or TEACHING DANCE AND MOVEMENT FOR NONTRADITIONAL POPULATIONS
3
DAN 37072 DANCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2
DAN 37392 DANCE PRACTICUM - CHOREOGRAPHY (ELR) 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Seven
DAN 47163 DANCE HISTORY II (WIC) 3
General Electives 12
 Credit Hours15
Semester Eight
DAN 37092
or DAN 37192
 KENT DANCE ENSEMBLE (ELR)
or DANCE PRACTICUM - PERFORMANCE (ELR)
1
DAN 47199 BACHELOR OF ARTS CAPSTONE (ELR) 1-3
General Electives 12
 Credit Hours14
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120

Program Delivery

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

Accreditation for Dance Studies - B.A.

Accreditation

National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD)

Reasons to Choose Kent State
  • The Kent Dance Ensemble (KDE) - a pre-professional contemporary dance company, housed within a vibrant School of Theatre and Dance.
  • An impressive professional faculty offer a BFA focused on performance and choreography.
  • A BA in Dance Studies that allows one to complete a double major!
  • An ongoing roster of professional guest artists including choreographers, instructors and lecturers representing a wide range of dance styles and career perspectives.
  • A balanced curricular approach that combines rigorous training with academic excellence nurturing tomorrow's dance artists and scholars.
  • Small enough to provide personalized training and large enough to offer access to a world of possibilities!

Dance Auditions

Students who apply to Kent State University seeking a Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) in Dance Performance or a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Dance Studies, and are accepted by the university, are automatically accepted as a B.A. in Dance Studies major. Congratulations!

To complete the admission process for the B.A. in Dance Studies degree program, students must schedule an audition for class-level placement.

If you wish to be considered for the B.F.A. Dance Performance degree, you are required to schedule an audition. When the audition has been completed, you will be notified if you have been accepted and class-level recommendations will be made.

An audition is not required for admission to the Dance minor, but Dance minors who wish to be considered for advanced placement must participate in an audition.

Dance Audition Information

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Dance Studies - B.A.

Combining Dance with another major or minor will provide support for careers in areas such as: Dance and Fitness studio ownership or operation (Business, Entrepreneurship, Recreation Management); Dance Therapy (Psychology); Dance Production (Theatre); Dance criticism (Journalism); Arts Management (Event planning, Stage Management); Costume, lighting or scenic design for dance (Theatre); Dance medicine (Athletic Training, Exercise Science) and Dance Photography (Photojournalism) to name a few. Future dance teachers can broaden their potential marketability if they possess skills in ASL or in teaching students with physical or developmental challenges (Special Education).

Art, drama, and music teachers, postsecondary

5.6%

faster than the average

116,300

number of jobs

$69,690

potential earnings

Choreographers

14.0%

much faster than the average

5,500

number of jobs

$43,680

potential earnings

Dancers

2.3%

slower than the average

11,400

number of jobs

$N/A

potential earnings

Tutors and teachers and instructors, all other

7.4%

faster than the average

406,200

number of jobs

$40,590

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
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