Last update: 10/25/96

Dance

College of Creative Arts
Dean:

Department of Dance
CA 101
415-338-2062
Chair: Nontsizi Cayou

Undergraduate Advisers: Cayou, Duke, Rose, Sandri, Whipp

Faculty

 Professors--Cayou, Duke, Rose, Whipp

Associate Professor--Sandri

Programs

B.A. in Dance: Concentration in Dance Ethnology

B.A. in Dance: Concentration in Performance/
Choreography

Minor in Dance

Program Scope

The curriculum for the B.A. program is designed to provide an in-depth study of dance on both a practical and theoretical level, preparing students for performance and choreographic opportunities, teaching and research, and graduate programs in dance.

The dance ethnology concentration is designed to provide students with a strong level of proficiency in the areas of folk/ethnic/traditional dance forms, technique, and style; composition/choreography for both solo and group work; understanding dance in relation to specific cultural contexts, history, aesthetics, research methods, notation, and the science of dance movement. This concentration prepares students in the practical and theoretical aspects of folk/ethnic/traditional dance.

The performance/choreography concentration is designed to provide students with a strong level of proficiency in the areas of contemporary dance technique, composition/choreography for both solo and group work, performance creativity, history, production related media technology, and the science of movement. In addition to providing preparation for graduate study, the performance/choreography concentration will develop dancers/choreographers for dance as an art by exposing them to several techniques and contemporary styles and guide them to discover their own creativity and choreographic approach. Students of this concentration are required to produce a final choreographic project.

Facilities

Dance related facilities are presently located in three different buildings on campus. The primary studio is located in the Gymnasium. This studio is fully equipped as a dance studio and a small performance laboratory. Adjacent to this studio is a small dance rehearsal studio and two other studios used for classes. The second principal teaching studio is located in the Arts and Industry Building. Departmental concerts and productions take place in either a 350-seat proscenium theatre or a large 700-seat theatre located in the Creative Arts Building. Special projects with the Department of Broadcast and Electronic Communication Arts provide access to television production studios and there is access to several smaller theatres on campus.

Career Outlook

Majors graduating from this program will seek employment in a variety of dance-related areas: performing, choreography, dance production, teaching in public or private schools, community recreation centers, or dance studios. Other graduates will continue their education and pursue advanced degrees in dance, creative arts, or related fields.

The San Francisco Bay Area has a very active dance community with more than three hundred performance ensembles, from contemporary to traditional. There are many performance opportunities for talented and trained graduates.

Teaching opportunities are available throughout the region and nationally in private and public education, K-12, community college, and university settings. The State of California requires a teaching credential for K-12. A Subject Matter Program credential is available at San Francisco State University through the Department of Dance.

Choreography for the stage and film remains an option for those interested. The relatively new field of dance medicine is growing and creating opportunities for graduates who are interested and who will pursue graduate work. Other areas that offer dance-related opportunities include dance criticism, dance therapy, and dance production and company management.

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN DANCE

All students are required to complete all courses in the core. It is imperative that students consult with their adviser each semester to assure proper scheduling. Some Dance courses are offered only every third semester. All students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 in the major as specified in the grading policy of the university.

Courses for this program are listed in alphabetical sequence (consult Index for page reference).

Units

Core

Any Level I Dance technique class					1
DANC 231	Fundamentals of Dance Movement Theories			2
DANC 232	Dance Composition/Choreography I			3
DANC 233	Orientation to Dance History andPhilosophy		3
BIOL 328	Human Anatomy						4
KIN 480		Anatomical Kinesiology					3
DANC 430	Historical Survey of Dance in the Western World		3
DANC 431	Movement Notation Systems				3
DANC 433	Rhythm and Music for the Dancer				3
BIOL 100	Human Biology						4
Total for core								29

Concentration in Dance Ethnology

 
ANTH 120	Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology	3
DANC 203	Introduction to Dance Ethnology				2

Technique, Theory, and Practice (select from the following)		13
DANC 161	African-Haitian Dance, Level II (1)
DANC 169	Folk Dance, Level II (1)
DANC 205	African-Haitian Dance, Level III (1)
DANC 207	Dance in Cultural Context (2)
DANC 235	Folklore of European and American Dance (2)
DANC 236	Folklore of Dance--African Haitian (2)
DANC 350	Dance Watching
DANC/BL S 617 Black Dance Experience

Recommended elective from the following:				3
DANC 415	Dance in Religion
ANTH 315	Regional Ethnography
ANTH 580	Anthropology and the Arts (4)
BL S 217	African Rhythm and Drum Expressions
LARA 425	Comparative Music Folklore
DANC 699	Special Study (1-3)

Additional courses required for the major:
DANC 657	Dance Ethnology						3
DANC 404	Production Techniques in Folk/Ethnic Dance		1
DANC 443	Workshop in Folk/Ethnic Dance				3
Minimum total for concentration						28
Minimum total for major							57
A mid-term review is given to students in this concentration prior to enrollment in DANC 404. Each student is required to complete a senior project which includes a dance ethnology topic on which a research paper and a related performance will be presented.

Concentration in Performance/Choreography

Technique classes selected from the following:				7
DANC 164	Ballet II (1)
DANC 206	Ballet III (2)
DANC 208	Modern Dance III (2)
DANC 308	Modern Dance IV (2)
DANC 309	Modern Jazz Dance IV (2)
DANC 399	Dance Rehearsal and Performance (1)
		[Dance majors are expected to enroll in this
		course for one year]					2
DANC 434	Composition/Choreography II				3
DANC 416	Advanced Contemporary Dance Repertory and Skills	1
TH A 312	Costuming and Makeup					2
TH A 313	Stage Lighting and Sound				2
TH A 315	Theatre Production Technical Crew			2
DANC 461	Principles of Dance Production and Management (3)	6
Electives (can be selected from within departments in the
College of Creative Arts)						3
Minimum total for concentration						28
Minimum total for major							57
A mid-term review is given to students in this concentration prior to enrollment in DANC 434. Each student is required to complete a senior project which includes performance and choreography by the student and is formally presented in concert. Students pursuing this concentration are expected to take a technique class each semester, and to the extent possible, take advantage of outside studio classes.

MINOR IN DANCE

The Dance Minor consists of a core curriculum of four courses (11 units) plus thirteen (13) units taken from a list of electives on advisement. A total of twelve (12) units in the minor must be upper division. Students seeking the minor must do the placement audition through the Department of Dance. This audition is scheduled several times each academic year. For specific dates and times, contact Department of Dance, CA 101, 338-2062.

Units

Core

DANC 231	Fundamentals of Dance Movement Theories			2
DANC 233	Orientation to Dance History and Philosophy or
DANC 232	Dance Composition: Choreography I			3
DANC 430	Historical Survey of Dance in the Western World:
		1300 to Present						3
DANC 433	Rhythm and Music for the Dancer				3
Total for core								11

Electives

 
Courses selected from the following on advisement			13
DANC 161	African-Haitian Dance, Level II (1)
DANC 164	Ballet, Level II (1)
DANC 167	Ballroom, Level II (1)
DANC 174	Modern Dance, Level II (1)
DANC 177	Modern Jazz Dance, Level II (1)
DANC 203	Introduction to Dance Ethnology and Field Study (2)
DANC 206	Ballet, Level III (2)
DANC 207	Dance in Cultural Context (2)
DANC 208	Modern Dance, Level III (2)
DANC 209	Modern Jazz Dance, Level III (2)
DANC 235	Folklore of Dance: European and American (2)
DANC 236	Folklore of Dance: Haitian (2)
DANC 302	Humphrey/Weidman Technique and Repertory (2)
DANC 304	Issues in Dance Medicine I
DANC 306	Issues in Dance Medicine II
DANC 308	Modern Dance IV (2)
DANC 309	Modern Jazz Dance IV (2)
DANC 310	Dance Fitness (2)
DANC 340	Creative Dance in Basic Subject Development
DANC 350	Dance Watching
DANC 399	Dance Rehearsal and Performance (1)
DANC 400	Technique Workshop in Contemporary Dance (1)
DANC 402	Technique Workshop in Modern Jazz Dance (1)
DANC 415	Dance in Religion
DANC 416	Advanced Contemporary Dance Repertory and Skills (1)]
DANC 431	Movement Notation Technology
DANC 434	Dance Composition: Choreography II
DANC 461	Principles of Dance Production
DANC 463	Performance in Dance (1)
DANC 560	Theory and Practice Dance (2)
DANC/BL S 617 	Black Dance Experience
DANC 640	Movement, Intermedia, and Virtual Response
DANC 657	Dance Ethnology
DANC 699	Special Study (1-3)
Total for electives						13
Total for minor							24