Bachelor of Performing Arts in Dance Performance

The dance program has a double consumer orientation: It strives to meet the needs of career-oriented students who seek education, training, and experience in a professionally oriented program, and it strives to meet the needs of its own and future audiences by teaching students that audiences must always be remembered and entertained. In fact, the dance program is founded on the belief that art and entertainment are not mutually exclusive. It is also the purpose of the dance program to instill in its students renewed appreciation and respect for the American dance forms. The dances and songs that evolved out of the American experience and traditions communicate to a larger audience than the more traditional Western European art forms. Ballet is taught as a common framework and for the mental and physical discipline and training it provides. Even though the dance program offers more ballet training than most traditional ballet/modern programs at other universities, ballet is not a primary feature of the program, and modern is omitted as a result of a conscious effort to avoid duplication of the many outstanding ballet and modern programs taught throughout the region and nation. The dance program narrows its focus to entertainment and theatre dance and excels in these areas. It is the purpose of the dance department to maintain a national reputation as the university to attend if one wants a college degree and a career in musical theatre or entertainment dance, dance management, or dance instruction and choreography. Being a dance major and enrolling in dance classes is a privilege granted by the university, not a right. Due to the strenuous nature of dance and the career orientation of the dance program, the university reserves the right to determine the eligibility of any student to continue majoring in dance and enrolling in dance classes based on considerations including, but not limited to, health and weight; regular attendance of dance classes; focus and commitment; probable success in attaining the dance degree as determined by the dance faculty’s evaluation of the student’s technical progress measured by leveling examinations at the end of each semester; and a student’s record of active participation and growth as an artist and performer as measured by various performance proficiency examinations and academic progress. Regular class attendance is related to health and safety. A dancer who does not study and train regularly is subject to increased incidents of injury. Weight in dance is both an aesthetic and a health and safety consideration. Excess and maintenance program. Students who are not able to actively participate in dance classes may be counseled out of the program at any time and/or required to drop their dance courses. The dance department adheres to a uniform grading policy that applies the same grading standards to all students in dance technique courses regardless of academic major, prior dance training, or personal goals. The weight and appearance standards for professional dancers in the musical theatre and entertainment industries, as determined by the dance faculty, apply to all ballet, jazz, and tap courses at the A and B levels. Final course grades for students not meeting these standards, as determined by the course instructors, will be reduced one complete letter grade (e.g. a B- to a C-).