Mar 28, 2024  
2020-2021 Scripps Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Scripps Catalog THIS IS AN ARCHIVED CATALOG. LINKS MAY NO LONGER BE ACTIVE AND CONTENT MAY BE OUT OF DATE!

Dance Major


Requirements for the Major


A major in Dance requires a minimum of 11.5 credits (includes senior thesis), plus the completion of Production Experience (DANC193 SC ). Students wishing to major in Dance must develop both a physical and historical/theoretical understanding of the discipline. The following three tracks are designed to focus the student’s study in order to prepare for different career paths or graduate study. Flexibility exists for designing personal tracks in collaboration with the dance adviser.

  1. Choreography/Performance
  2. Movement Studies
  3. Theoretical Studies (pending faculty approval of this track)

Students wishing to study dance in conjunction with another discipline, such as anthropology, biology, economics, English, history, psychology, or visual arts should choose a self-designed, double, or dual major. All major programs are designed in consultation with a dance adviser. At least half of the major (5.5) courses must be taken at Scripps.

 

Choreography/Performance Track


1. Studio/Physical Practice


Students are encouraged to study a variety of dance forms.  They are required to progress in two forms and achieve competency at an intermediate or advanced level in both to graduate. Students can choose to study from the following sub-groups: African-based Dance, Ballet, Jazz Dance, and Modern Dance.  A minimum of 4 full or half credit courses is required for this track.

The Dance Department is occasionally able to offer intermediate and advanced courses outside of these sub-groups that may count as an elective or towards your areas of depth (with approval of your dance adviser).  Dance practices have complex diasporic histories; therefore, students may be able to apply a course to a different sub-group with their adviser’s approval.   

2. Dance Composition


Students are required to take Dance Composition I (DANC159 SC ) plus one additional full credit choreography course. These courses may be taken in any order; however, Dance Composition I must be taken by the end of junior year.

3. Somatics


Students are required to take Kinesiology as Related to Dance (DANC163 SC ) and earn one additional credit in Somatics-based coursework made up of full or half credit courses.  These courses may be taken in any order. An alternative course may be taken in consultation with the student’s adviser. 

4. History/Theory


Students will select one full credit course. An alternative course may be taken inconsultation with the student’s adviser.

5. Production/Design


Students are required to take one full credit course in consultation with their adviser.

6. Electives


Students are required to take two credits that may be made up of full and/or half credit courses. Students select electives in consultation with their adviser.  An elective in music, theatre, or writing is strongly advised for the Choreography/Performance track. Repertory (DANC162A SC DANC162B SC ) may only be used for up to one full credit.

7. Senior Seminar


This half credit course (DANC190 SC  ) provides students with the resources to prepare for their senior thesis project, a working knowledge of the performing arts sector and somatics fields, and an opportunity to develop their mission as movement practitioners.

8. Senior Thesis


DANC191 SC Senior Thesis  

9. Production Experience


All dance majors are required to complete at least one major production/crew assignment for either In the Works or Scripps Dances and provide production support for two additional Scripps Dance Department related events. Student register for DANC193 SC  on a no-credit, pass/fail basis on the completion of all three events.

Movement Studies Track


1. Somatics


Students are required to take Kinesiology as Related to Dance (DANC163 SC ), Language of the Body: Analyzing Human Movement (DANC103 SC ) and earn two additional credits in somatic coursework made up of full or half credit courses. These courses may be taken in any order. Alternative courses may be taken in consultation with the adviser.

3. History/Theory


Students will select one full credit course. An alternative course may be taken in consultation with the student’s adviser.

4. Anthropology/Sociology/Psychology Elective


Students are required to take one full credit course in consultation with the adviser.

5. Electives


Students will select two electives in consultation with their adviser. One elective may be chosen from a discipline outside of Dance. Those wishing to include choreography as part of their Movement Studies thesis project should have taken Dance Composition I (DANC159 SC ) by the end of junior year.

6. Senior Seminar


This half credit course (DANC190 SC ) provides students with the resources to prepare for their senior thesis project, a working knowledge of the performing arts sector and somatics fields, and an opportunity to develop their mission as movement practitioners.

7. Senior Thesis


DANC191 SC Senior Thesis  

8. Production Experience


All dance majors are required to complete at least one major production/crew assignment for either In the Works or Scripps Dances and provide production support for two additional Scripps Dance Department related events. Students register for DANC193 SC   on a no-credit, pass/fail basis on the completion of all three events.

Honors Requirements


The Dance Department awards honors in the major to exceptional students who meet the following requirements:

  1. A GPA of 11.0 (A-) or higher in the Dance major, and an overall GPA of 9.0 or higher.
  2. Senior Seminar in Dance (DANC 190 ) with a grade of A or A-. It is expected that preliminary work on the senior thesis will begin in conjunction with senior seminar.
  3. A thesis (DANC 191  or ID 191D ) that is more substantial and/or a deeper investigation of its topic than ones submitted by those not working on honors, and that earns a grade of A or A-.
  4. An oral defense of the thesis before the dance faculty and any additional thesis readers.

A student who wishes to be considered as a candidate for honors should notify the Department Chair no later than the first two weeks of the senior year.