School of Education
Dance
125 Lathrop Hall, 1050 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706; 608-262-1691; www.education.wisc.edu/dance/
Professors Koykkar, Li (chair), Yu; Assistant Professors Choy, Corby, Harris, Walker
Degrees granted: B.S. in Dance; Bachelor of Fine Arts-Dance.
Dance is an art form, an integral part of education, an element of interdisciplinary technological experimentation, and a part of daily life. Dance courses focus on the study and/or practice of various dance techniques (i.e., ballet, modern, world dance), dance repertory theater, improvisation, composition, movement analysis, anatomy, theory, history, and more. Courses stress personal creativity, individual growth, and strong technical training. An undergraduate major in dance is an excellent means of gaining in-depth knowledge of the art form and its related fields, and Dance elective courses are open to all university students.
Two undergraduate options are offered in Dance. The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) undergraduate degree program in Dance is for students with a strong interest and aptitude in dance and/or professional dance theater. The Bachelor of Science-Dance option was designed for students who wish to prepare for graduate work in theoretical areas of dance or who wish to combine their interest in dance with other fields of study. The BFA requires a minimum of 79 major credits, including public presentations of original work, while the B.S. degree requires a minimum of 59 major credits. These major requirements highlight the differences between the two options: B.S. students can pursue other interests with their remaining credits, while BFA students are able to spend more time in the studio.
Admission to the Dance department is by performance audition only. For more information on the audition schedule and process, contact the Dance Program Office, 139 Lathrop Hall, 1050 University Avenue, phone: 608-262-1641; www.education.wisc.edu/dance. Students enrolling in a dance major are expected to have had previous dance experience. Junior-level transfers should expect to spend three additional years in the program unless they have had previous experience.
The Dance Program also offers a Dance minor for students in the School of Education's Elementary Education program, as well as a Dance certificate program for students across campus. Finally, the program offers a certificate program in Introductory Studies in Dance/Movement Therapy.