Dance Department

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Professor Bower, Chair
Professor E. Rockwell
Professor Tucker Wagnon
Associate Professor Morton
Assistant Professor Oldenburg
Assistant Professor Watts
Specialty Instructor O. Rockwell
Specialty Instructor Sweatt
Specialty Instructor Whitehead

The mission of the dance department is to prepare students spiritually, technically, academically, and artistically to move into the world of dance and affiliated careers in adherence with the mission of the University. This degree program provides a Master of Fine Arts in Dance, Bachelor of Arts in Dance, a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance, and a minor in dance. These tracks enable students the opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge and practice in the field of dance within a Christ-centered environment. Students receive a broad liberal arts dance education to prepare for careers in dance performance, dance education, dance ministry, dance production, choreography, and other related fields. Belhaven University is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD).

Dance Apprentice Program
The Belhaven University dance apprentice program is an opportunity for talented high school students pursuing a highly advanced level of study in dance and desiring instruction and performance experience through Belhaven University courses and faculty.

The program offers apprentices the opportunity to earn college credits while continuing to complete their high school curriculum. Tuition is offered at 50 percent of the current rate per credit hour. Students must be in good scholastic standing and must be available to attend all sessions of the technique and performance courses in which they enroll. Students will participate as apprentice members of the Belhaven University Dance Ensemble.

The following are required at the time of application:

1. Minimum age of 15 by September 1
2. Completed application for admission and $25 nonrefundable application fee
3. Achieved and maintaining a 2.8 GPA
4. Academic reference and recommendation
5. Student’s letter of intent
6. Personal interview with the chair of the dance department and the director of admission.
7. Audition in person for the chair of the dance department and dance faculty for admission to the program.

If eventually degree-seeking, the student would follow the standard requirements for admission while earned credit would be transferable.

The number of semester hours an apprentice can attempt is unlimited, but restricted to dance technique courses only. After attempting six semester hours in lecture or laboratory courses, he or she must either apply as a degree-seeking student or make a request to be continued as an apprentice.

Apprentices are accountable to the chair of the dance department and will be graded on the same scale as Belhaven University dance students. Apprentices will be obligated to continue participation for one full semester at a time unless there is cause for discontinuation on the part of the faculty or due to physical injury or other plausible hardship. Under all circumstances, an exit interview with the chair of the dance department is required.

MFA Dance (DAN)

Professor Bower, Chair
Professor E. Rockwell, MFA Program Director
Associate Professor Morton

The Master of Fine Arts in Dance is a 60-credit terminal degree program with an emphasis on performance and/or choreography within the context of pedagogical, theoretical, and artistic inquiry. The MFA in Dance degree emphasizes the integration of Christian faith and learning with the advanced theoretical and artistic study of dance. Belhaven University is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD).

The Master’s degree in dance will give graduates the opportunity to participate in creative work, inquiry, and investigation through curricular offerings in technique, performance, choreography, research methodology, critical investigation and philosophy of dance, among others. Belhaven’s graduate dance program encourages students to develop career-related skills through the practical application of theoretical knowledge, innovative and compositional techniques, and the experiential methodologies of apprenticeships.

Graduate students will submit their work for peer and faculty review, as well as contribute to the field through attendance and participation in regional and national dance conferences. Graduate students will gain experience in teaching through pedagogy courses and the opportunity for teaching assistantships. The development, compilation, and application of creative work, inquiry, and investigation will culminate in the graduate thesis project.

Objectives:

• Develop and integrate an in-depth understanding of a Christian worldview with their dance studies, and critically assess their practice from such a perspective.
• Cultivate advanced skills in technique and performance which reflect a synthesis of practice-based and theoretical approaches to dance practice.
• Deepen their theoretical and scholarly understanding of dance and its influence in past and present cultures and the ways in which these influences interact with their own body of work.
• Practice a sense of artistry, craft, and voice through exploration, innovation, and development of advanced skills in dance-making.

Master of Fine Arts in Dance Requirements for Graduation:

• Successful completion of the degree curriculum (60 credits) with a minimum program GPA of 3.00.
• Pass all MFA courses with a C or above. If a student earns below a C, s/he will be placed on academic probation. A second grade of C- or below will result in the student’s repetition of the course. A pattern of poor academic performance may result in expulsion from the program.
• Minimum total of 39 credits in studio or related areas, including 12 credit hours in technique, 9 credit hours in choreography, 1 credit hour in performance, and 7-9 credits in Graduate Thesis Project. Additional courses in this area may be selected from the following: DAN 502 - Dance Production (3) , DAN 585 - Somatic Practices for Dance (2) , DAN 671 - Improvisation for Performance (1) , DAN 672 - Improvisation for Performance (1) , DAN 685 - Somatic Practices for Dance II (1)  or other courses approved by the MFA Program Director.
• Minimum total of 15 credit hours in academic courses, including DAN 501 - Kinesiology (3) , DAN 503 - Dance Kinesiology Lab (1) , DAN 511 - Seminar (1) , DAN 575 - Pedagogy (3) , DAN 576 - Pedagogy Lab (1) , DAN 662 - Research and Writing for Dance (3) , and other courses approved by the MFA Program Director.
• Successful completion of 9 credits of Graduate Choreography before advancing to the thesis project phase.
• 6 credit hours of electives in dance or related research area. These credits may come from       DAN 550 - Apprenticeship (1-3) /DAN 650 - Apprenticeship (1-3) , DAN 590 - Independent Study (1-3) /DAN 690 - Independent Study (1-3) , DAN 560 - Dance Technology (3) , DAN 591 - Special Topics (1-3) /DAN 691 - Special Topics (1-3) , or other courses from graduate programs in the University (500 level or higher). Credit: one to three hours.
• Per university and NASD guidelines, the Dance Department accepts up to 6 transfer credits from graduate courses at a regionally accredited college or university. To be eligible for transfer, credits must be completed within six years of matriculation into the MFA in Dance at Belhaven University. Students may be asked to provide additional information, such as a course syllabus or assignments, to verify their applicability to the MFA in Dance program of study. The MFA Program Director, Chair of Dance, and Registrar will determine which courses are eligible for transfer credit.

Programs

• Dance, B.A.

• Dance, B.F.A.

• Dance, M.F.A.

Students at Belhaven University may elect to complete a minor from the following:

• Dance Accompaniment, Minor
• Dance, Minor

• Dance Technical Studies Specialization
• Pilates Specialization

• Dance Apprentice

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