Fact Sheet 07: Dance Minor

Revised June 2007

Dance Minor

The dance minor, offered in the Department of Theatre and Dance, requires 21 semester hours of specialization in this field. Those in the minor must take nine semester hours of core courses. You must take the minimum number of semester hours in the remaining categories listed below, but you can obtain more semester hours or courses if you desire. You have the opportunity for course selection in these categories. Free electives will not count as part of the 21 semester hours, but may be beneficial to your overall education in the field of dance.

Required Categories and Courses

I. Core Courses - 9 semester hours required
DAN 344 History of Dance (3)
Electives – Choose six semester hours
DAN 315 Dance Pedagogy (3)
DAN 441 Dance Composition (3)
DAN 442 Musical Theater Dance and Choreography (3)

II. Technique - choose a minimum of 8 semester hours
DAN 210 Conditioning for the Dancer (3)
DAN 232 Modern Dance II (2)
DAN 332 Modern Dance III (2)
DAN 233 Jazz II (2)
DAN 234 Ballet II (2)
DAN 334 Ballet III (2)
DAN 235 Tap II (2)
DAN 335 Tap III (2)
Level I courses are offered and may be taken as an elective prior to taking a Level II course.

III. Performance - choose a minimum of 4 semester hours
?DAN 346 Repertory Development (2)
DAN 446 Repertory Performance (2)

Dance Minor Requirements

As a dance minor student, you must complete the following requirements to receive documentation on your transcript.

1. Course requirements - 21 semester hours of course study in the dance area. You should follow requirements as listed on the sheet of course offerings.

2. Performance area - participation in two performances
This participation can be as a dancer, choreographer, officer, production staff member, or faculty assistant. Credit for this can be obtained through DAN 346 and DAN 446.

3. Extra curricular assignments - Some of these assignments will be part of course requirements.

Teaching assistant - to a dance faculty member in a Level I course.

Choreographic assistant - to a dance faculty member for a specific choreographic project either on or off campus.

Recorded portfolio - a record of all material covered in each dance course you take. You will present this portfolio to the dance coordinator in the first half of the semester of expected graduation.

Informal performance - responsible for participation in two informal performances to be presented in the dance studio or similar small venue.

University Dance Company (UDC)

?The focus of the University Dance Company is to promote dance as an art form at West Chester University and to provide students the opportunity to create and explore their expressive voice within this art form. UDC gives students an opportunity to become actively involved with all aspects of dance production through performance, design, and administrative work. Students have an opportunity to work with both faculty and guest choreographers in the creation of new choreography, and there are ample opportunities for students to explore their creativity through their own choreography. Students involved are exposed to the professional atmosphere of a dance company through aspects of audition, vigorous rehearsals, and several performance opportunities and/or production responsibilities. UDC performs on and off campus several times throughout the school year with invitations to perform at conventions and participating in juried concerts. Each year, UDC students have the opportunity to travel to the American College Dance Festival to take master classes, perform, and watch dance from colleges all over the country. Auditions for dancers are held the first week of the fall semester and in October for both choreographers and dancers.

WCU Dance Team

The West Chester University Dance Team, which started in 1996, is a student-run organization made up of 18-20 students. The styles performed are mainly jazz and hip-hop. The dance team performs at all WCU men's home basketball games, the WCU Homecoming parade, the Homecoming pep rally, and Family Day. The team also performs at other various events on and off campus throughout the school year. The dance team attends the Universal Dance Association college dance team camp in the summer. Auditions for the dance team are held in early fall and late spring.

For More Information

Gretchen Studlien-Webb, Associate Professor
Department of Theatre and Dance
E.O. Bull Center
West Chester University
West Chester, PA 19383
610-436-2942
E-mail: gstudlien-webb@wcupa.edu