Dance Education, B.A.

Purpose Statement

Our purpose is to foster academic and artistic excellence in a nurturing and challenging educational environment. Within a liberal arts and science tradition, the dance experience at SUU engages students in a rich diversity of experiences aimed to cultivate their aesthetic, creative, and scholarly potential. Central to our purpose is superior teaching and personalized mentorship that empowers and transforms the learner to be a dynamic individual.

Intended Outcomes/Objectives for Dance Education

A successful student will:

• Have a working knowledge of how principles of composition are used as tools for choreography.
• Understand basic production processes (i.e. performing, dancing, choreographing, and technical production).
• Have a working knowledge of the historical development of dance as an art form.
• Examine perspectives of critical analysis of the artistic process and aesthetics.
• Be prepared to become educators with a strong practical knowledge of dance in education and its ability to educate the whole person.
• Have an appreciation of dance as a world art form.
• Have a working knowledge of human movement and anatomy and how it relates to the teaching of dance technique.
• Demonstrate advanced proficiency in modern dance technique and intermediate level in ballet.
• Have a working knowledge of the state of Utah and national dance standards.
• Have the methods and skills of teaching with the ability to communicate the art of dance to students.

Other Information

• Students will complete a Capstone connected to a realized project. The Capstone consists of a written paper and an oral presentation to faculty of the concept, process, and realization of the project, together with an assessment of the student’s entire learning experience and its impact on the work as a whole. Students who show areas of deficiency may pass with qualifications. In these cases an individualized learning strategy will be developed to be completed before graduation.
• Juries will be held annually for all dance majors to assess progress and determine each student’s level of skill and competency.
• Exit interviews will be held for all graduating seniors.
• Every student is required to abide by the policies and procedures set up in the Departmental Student Handbook: https://www.suu.edu/pva/ta/pdf/student-handbook.pdf.
• Every student is required to pass all classes in their major with a grade of “C” (2.0) or higher.
• Dance Education majors not seeking secondary licensure must complete additional requirements (see below).
• To qualify for technique classes that are level III or above requires a placement audition.

Students desiring to become candidates for licensure to teach in secondary schools or secondary licensure with K-6 endorsement must complete the following admission procedures:

1. Be admitted to the secondary education program (contact the Beverley Taylor Sorensen College of Education and Human Development for procedures).
2. Receive department admission approval for pre-licensure that is a separate procedure from the placement audition that is required for technique classes that are level III or above.

The department admission requirements for dance education pre-licensure students include the following:

• Completion of DANC 2080 , DANC 2170 , DANC 3180 , and DANC 3510  with a 3.0 prior to admission. (All courses are also requirements in the Dance Performance major.)
• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Performance in one department mainstage dance concert prior to admission.
• Submission of a portfolio that includes samples of student choreography, composition studies, performance, and writing skills.
• Interview with the dance faculty. The interview will be scheduled for 30 minutes during jury week. Students will be asked a variety of questions relating to dance and dance education. Students will be assessed on their ability to orally communicate, critically think and organize thoughts, share knowledge and understanding of dance education, and respond interpersonally.
• A minimum of 12 credit hours are required in Modern Dance Technique.
• Please see Secondary Education Licensure.  

Admission is on a provisional basis until students demonstrate mastery of Dance Education requirements, competencies, and skills. Upon completion of all requirements of both the Dance Education and Teacher Education Program requirements and verification of competencies and skills, students become candidates for teacher licensure.