Dance Studies Option

BA in Interdisciplinary Studies with an Option in Dance Studies
Concentration areas:

Dance as Language and Culture
Dance Performance as Arts Integration
Dance as Sacred Tradition

In many interesting and intriguing ways, our world is getting smaller. As boundaries that were once rigid begin to blur, we find ourselves in a unique time of sharing and exploring new cultures, technologies, paradigms of thought, and artistic perspectives. The Interdisciplinary Dance Studies program strives to embrace the changing world by integrating traditional and fundamental dance education with experiences in multicultural and multidisciplinary approaches to creativity, thematic content, human expression, education and performance.

The Interdisciplinary Dance Studies program is based on the goals of the National Dance Education Organization and the California Dance Educators Association. These goals encourage and promote dance education as:

A fundamental human experience that enriches life through the development of creative potential, discipline, and self-expression.
A means for developing effective cognitive and motor learning.
A basic and integral part of the cultural, historical, educational, and artistic experiences of young adults.
An integrating force in a culturally diverse society.
A distinct discipline sharing commonalities with all other art forms and cultural expressions.

The Interdisciplinary Dance Studies degree is designed to offer students exposure to diverse creative and cultural experiences. All course offerings strive to provide a means for unifying the physical, intellectual, and emotional aspects of student learning while developing the capacity to form and transform thought into expressive movement. Study in the Interdisciplinary Dance Studies program fosters the recognition and respect of other art forms, various ethnic groups and cultures, and historical periods, thus providing a diverse perspective for present world culture and the current state of the art.

Each of the three concentration areas provide a different approach to the study of dance. There is a dance core of thirty units with ten units of dance electives. Each concentration has one required academic course and twelve units of additional academic courses, (at least nine units must be upper division), to support the particular focus of the chosen concentration. Students are highly encouraged to participate in the international exchange programs as means to deepen and broaden their experience in the Interdisciplinary Dance Studies program.

The Dance Studies Option prepares students for careers as dance choreographers and performers of innovative, multidisciplinary and multicultural works; performance artists; dance teachers/instructors; designers of lights, sets costumes; teachers of mind/body integration techniques; presenters of sacred/religious dance; special arts events coordinators; and further study at the graduate level.

Interdisciplinary Dance Studies Program participates annually in American College Dance Festival Association conferences.

Dance Core - 30 units
Dance Electives - 10 units
Concentration Area - 15 units
Total units for degree - 55

Dance as Language and Culture:

Provides a unique perspective for cultural understanding by placing emphasis on the study of dance as an expressive form able to cross language barriers through the use of the human body. Additional course work on global awareness, intercultural communication, anthropology, multicultural issues, and the arts provide a rich foundation for examination, interpretation, and reflection on past and current trends that have shaped today's world.

Dance Performance As Arts Integration:

Provides a course structure for students to experience and to examine those elements that all the arts share with dance. Additional course options in historical periods of music and art, acting and directing, physical theatre, film and video, theatre arts theory and criticism, lighting and scenery design, etc, provide a multilevel foundation for students who want to perform, choreograph, or pursue dance at the graduate level.

Dance As Sacred Tradition:

Provides a framework for students to study dance from its origins in sacred ritual and ceremony to its current day uses as a tool for transcending human limitations in religion, therapy, education and performance. The body is experienced as a direct channel for spiritual and emotional integration of one's outer world. Additional course work in Religious and Ethnic Studies assists students in their understanding of the religious dogmas and racial prejudices that have influenced today's world.

 

Additional Dance at HSU:

Thrive Dance Ensemble is primarily a jazz club although many dancers have training in ballet, modern, tap, hip-hop, Middle Eastern and other forms. There is a wide range of experience in the ensemble, but dancers of every skill level are encouraged to participate. Thrive meets weekly to have technique class or work on choreography and has performed at various HSU and other community events. Thrive's goal is to give dancers at HSU another place to dance, work with guest teachers and perform.

For further information on this major contact
Sharon Butcher at sgb14@humboldt.edu or call 707-826-3549.

For specific course requirements: HSU Catalog