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Kent State Dance, Bolero

Dance - B.F.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 Fine Arts in Dance Performance - B.F.A.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance develops technically sound, intellectually diverse and creatively expressive dance artists who can contribute significantly to the art form and society. The curriculum provides students with opportunities for strong and varied technical preparation in contemporary dance forms, including modern, ballet, jazz and improvisation. Opportunities for performance and choreography, along with dance theory courses, complete a degree focused on the artist/scholar.

Program Information for Dance - B.F.A.

Program Description

Program Description

Full Description

The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance develops technically sound, intellectually diverse and creatively expressive dance artists who can contribute significantly to the art form and society. The curriculum provides students with opportunities for strong and varied technical preparation in contemporary dance forms, including modern, ballet, jazz and improvisation. Opportunities for performance and choreography, along with dance theory courses, complete a degree focused on the artist/scholar.

Admissions for Dance - B.F.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 who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

Admission to this major is selective. Students must audition before being admitted to the Dance major. More information about dance auditions can be found on the school website.

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.

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Perform a wide range of dance works with an intentional focus on the inclusion of 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.

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 37035DANCE COMPOSITION II 2
DAN 37070DANCE COMPOSITION III 2
DAN 37072DANCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2
DAN 37092KENT DANCE ENSEMBLE (ELR) (taken six times) 16
or DAN 37192 DANCE PRACTICUM - PERFORMANCE (ELR)
DAN 37292DANCE PRACTICUM - TEACHING (ELR) 1
DAN 37392DANCE PRACTICUM - CHOREOGRAPHY (ELR) 1
DAN 47050BALLET 4 1-3
DAN 47051MODERN 4 1-3
DAN 47060PROFESSIONAL ASPECTS IN DANCE 2
DAN 47063DANCE HISTORY I 3
DAN 47070JAZZ 4 2
DAN 47163DANCE HISTORY II (WIC) 23
DAN 47299BACHELOR OF FINE 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
Dance (DAN) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level)1-3
Ballet Electives, choose from the following: 312
DAN 17011
BALLET 1
DAN 27050
BALLET 2
DAN 37069
BALLET 3
DAN 47050
BALLET 4
Modern Electives, choose from the following: 312
DAN 17002
MODERN 1
DAN 27051
MODERN 2
DAN 37051
MODERN 3
DAN 47051
MODERN 4
Jazz Electives, choose from the following: 3, 46
DAN 17005
JAZZ 1
DAN 27070
JAZZ 2
DAN 37148
JAZZ 3
DAN 47070
JAZZ 4
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major 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)16
Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
1

Students must take a minimum six semesters of DAN 37092 or DAN 37192. Maximum 8 credit hours of DAN 37192 may be applied toward major requirements.

2

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

3

Students must be enrolled in a minimum of one 90-minute daily dance technique course each semester. Promotion to the next level of technique is at the discretion of the dance faculty. Students may take technique courses an unlimited number of times for credit toward their program requirements.

4

Students may substitute a musical theatre dance style course for any of the four required semesters of jazz with approval.

Progression Requirements
  • Promotion to the next level is at the discretion of the dance faculty. Students must be enrolled in daily 90-minute dance technique courses each semester until graduation.
  • All ballet and modern courses must be taken for a minimum 2 credit hours.
  • 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.
  • All students in the Dance major must audition for and perform when cast in all Dance Division concerts. Students may petition for an exception due to either injury or an approved performance opportunity outside of Kent State.

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.500 2.000
  • Students must participate in dance faculty juries and an annual review.
  • Successful completion of DAN 47299 (culminating experience) is required.
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
THEA 11725 FUNDAMENTALS OF THEATRE DESIGN AND PRODUCTION 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Jazz Elective 2
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Two
DAN 37092
or DAN 37192
 KENT DANCE ENSEMBLE (ELR)
or DANCE PRACTICUM - PERFORMANCE (ELR)
1
DAN 47063 DANCE HISTORY I 3
Ballet Electives 3
Jazz Elective 2
Modern Electives 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 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 Electives 3
Modern Electives 3
Dance (DAN) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) 1-3
 Credit Hours14
Semester Four
DAN 27150 KINESIOLOGY FOR DANCERS 3
DAN 37035 DANCE COMPOSITION II 2
DAN 37092
or DAN 37192
 KENT DANCE ENSEMBLE (ELR)
or DANCE PRACTICUM - PERFORMANCE (ELR)
1
Ballet Electives 3
Jazz Elective 2
Modern Electives 3
 Credit Hours14
Semester Five
DAN 37070 DANCE COMPOSITION III 2
DAN 37092
or DAN 37192
 KENT DANCE ENSEMBLE (ELR)
or DANCE PRACTICUM - PERFORMANCE (ELR)
1
DAN 47070 JAZZ 4 2
Ballet Electives 3
Modern Electives 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours14
Semester Six
DAN 37072 DANCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2
DAN 37392 DANCE PRACTICUM - CHOREOGRAPHY (ELR) 1
DAN 47050
or DAN 47051
 BALLET 4
or MODERN 4
1-3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Electives 6
 Credit Hours16
Semester Seven
DAN 37292 DANCE PRACTICUM - TEACHING (ELR) 1
DAN 47050
or DAN 47051
 BALLET 4
or MODERN 4
1-3
DAN 47060 PROFESSIONAL ASPECTS IN DANCE 2
DAN 47163 DANCE HISTORY II (WIC) 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Electives 5
 Credit Hours15
Semester Eight
DAN 37092
or DAN 37192
 KENT DANCE ENSEMBLE (ELR)
or DANCE PRACTICUM - PERFORMANCE (ELR)
1
DAN 47299 BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS CAPSTONE (ELR) 1-3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Electives 5
 Credit Hours16
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120

Program Delivery

Program Delivery

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

Accreditation for Dance - B.F.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 - B.F.A.

The B.F.A. prepares students for careers as performers, creators and presenters. Dancers and choreographers work in a variety of industries, such as public and private educational settings, performing companies, and amusement and recreation venues, such as casinos, theme parks and cruise ships.

Related areas of employment include dance curation, dance administration, and therapeutic modalities such as dance science and medicine, physical and occupational therapy, dance therapy. 

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

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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