Dance, BA

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The BA program is intended for students who wish to make dance the focus of their undergraduate education but who also desire the opportunity to electively explore other areas of interest (including coursework that will complement and support their commitment to dance) as part of their college learning experience. The Dance major requires substantial practice in physical performance across a variety of movement disciplines. The program features additional coursework in the breadth of the field, including work in somatic practices, historical and cultural perspectives, and a core-course sequence in dance making. The requirements for the BA allow enough time and credit hours for students to explore other fields and additional courses in dance through elective courses or minors. The majority of our students pursue the BA degree.

Upon completion of their coursework dance majors graduating with a BA in Dance shouldl:

be skilled contemporary dancers with substantial physical performance abilities.
be able to actively engage in dancemaking through choreography, improvisation and performance.
be knowledgeable concerning historical, cultural, scientific and theoretical information and perspectives on dance.
be knowledgeable concerning dance pedagogical practices and functional body mechanics.
be able to describe, analyze and interpret dance works.

For students who have earned a Bachelor’s degree previously, a Second Bachelor of Arts in Dance is available.

Program Requirements

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Standards of Performance

The Dance Department expects exemplary effort and accomplishment from our BA candidates. Failure to meet one or more of the following expectations will result in review of the advisability of a candidate’s continuation within the program. BA candidates in dance must:

Pass all required courses with grades of C or better.
Advance through technical requirements in a timely manner.
Exhibit engagement and presence in their artistic and scholarly practices and conduct themselves in a manner beneficial to their own and others’ education.

Transfer Students Seeking a BA in Dance

Transfer students seeking the BA degree must be in full-time residence a minimum of three semesters (excluding summers) and must complete: a minimum 10 credit hours of technical requirements, both required courses in the dance making sequence, and no fewer than 21 credits total within the department. Any prior dance courses will be evaluated for equivalency with Columbia College’s Dance Department requirements. A limited number of transferred courses may be allowed to stand in place of program requirements.

For students who have already earned a Bachelors degree, a Second Bachelor of Arts is offered in Dance.