Dance

Dance to a Different Beat

Approved as a program in 2009 by the University System of Maryland (USM), the Dance major focuses on technical, cultural and performance education. Our students look at the art form through a critical and creative lens in ways that prepare them for real life dance experiences. We also focus on expanding our students' understanding of dance as an art form, engaged practices, mode of healing, and as areas of interdisciplinary research and creation.

Faculty support students academically and professionally, and encourage conversation around professional opportunities in dance education, performance, and choreography. We also encourage our students to pave their own paths and study a complementary field like English, History, Drama, Urban Arts, Black Studies, Film, Global Studies, Political Science, Marketing, Arts Administration, Education, or Technology. The possibilities for interdisciplinary work are encouraged in our Liberal Arts Dance Program. 

The Program organizes masterclasses, workshops and performance opportunities, both on and off campus.

Incoming Dance Major Requirements

So you’re interested in becoming a dance major? Welcome! We are excited to welcome you into a program committed to preparing you for a career in dance education and performance. Here’s what every hopeful student  must know before officially declaring as a dance major: 

• Dance majors must register for dance technique courses immediately after declaring as a dance major. 
• All dance majors must complete all major courses with a grade of C or higher  
• Any student with a significant movement background (i.e. dance, gymnastics, etc.) may petition to register for an advanced movement and performance course. 
• Dance majors must also complete DANC 226 Introduction to Choreography with a grade of C or higher 

Undergraduate courses and program requirements

The Dance program offers a Bachelor of Science degree requiring 120 credits for graduation. We structure classes to be relatively small so dance faculty can work closely with each student. Our broad range of movement courses include: African Dance, Caribbean dance, ballet, jazz, hip hop, yoga, somatics, and contemporary dance. Our well rounded program engages students in dance studies, improvisation, choreographic practices, production, and opportunities to present dance work. 

To graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Dance, you must complete 120 credit hours. These credit hours split among: 

• General Education Requirements, or GERs  

• Required Theory courses  

• Core Movement Technique courses 

• Dance Performance courses 

• Professional Development and Internship courses 

Required Theory Courses (12 credits)

All dance majors must complete DANC 325 and an additional 9 credits from the following courses:  

Core Movement Techniques Courses (33 credits)

Dance majors must complete 33 dance technique credits. At least 16 credits of these credits must be completed at the 300 or 400 level. Students can petition for faculty approval to register for courses aligned with prior training or level of proficiency. 

Students may repeat these courses for credits toward graduation up to a maximum.

Dance Performance Courses (9 credits)

Any student, including majors and non-majors, taking a dance performance course must also register to take at least one dance technique course at the same time.   

All dance majors must complete the following courses to satisfy dance performance course requirements: 

• DANC 425 or DANC 426 

        and 

• 4 credits of 300-400 Dance Company courses from this list or through substitution as determined with your advisor: 

Please note: Dance performance courses can be repeated for credits towards graduation up to a maximum. 

Professional Development and Internship Courses (6 credits)

All dance majors must complete these courses: 

Repeat Course Policy for Dance Majors

As a dance major, you may repeat courses. You may be able to apply repeated major coursework toward graduation in accordance with our departmental policy: 

• 1 credit courses may be repeated for up to 3 credits towards graduation
• 2 credit courses may be repeated for up to 6 credits toward graduation
• 3 credit courses may be repeated for up to 9 credits toward graduation 
• University policy permits up to 9 credits of substitution

Dance majors can meet upper level course requirements by repeating the following courses in accordance with departmental policy:  

• DANC 320
• DANC 321
• DANC 322
• DANC 323
• DANC 325
• DANC 328
• DANC 329
• DANC 420
• DANC 421
• DANC 422
• DANC 423
• DANC 427
• DANC 440
• DNC 441
• DANC 499
• All core movement technique classes
• All performance courses
• All theory courses