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.

Choreography/Performance
Movement Studies
Theoretical Studies

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 take 1) a minimum of three full credits of studio practice, 2) achieve competency at an intermediate or advanced level in two different styles, and 3) take two courses in different styles for full credit.

*Half of the studio practices courses must be taken at Scripps.

Students can choose to study from any of the courses below and take either full or half credit courses. (.25 credit & P/F courses do not count toward the major.)

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 in consultation with the student’s advisor.

5. Production/Design

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

DANC 168 SC - Dance Production
THEA 022 PO - Lighting and Projection Technology
THEA 082 PO - The Magic of Theatrical Light
THEA 084 PO - Projection and Media Design Theater
WRIT 120 SC - Tech Rhetorics
Music, Theater, Art, or Media Studies courses proposed in consultation with the student’s adviser.

6. Electives

Students are required to take one credit that may be made up of full and/or half credit courses. Students select an elective in consultation with their advisor. An elective in music, theater, or writing is strongly advised for the Choreography/Performance track. Repertory (DANC 162A/B 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.

2. Studio/Physical Practice

To meet the Movement Studies major requirements, students must complete a total of 2 full credits worth of studio practice. Students are encouraged to explore a variety of styles. Half credits may be combined to make full credits. Alternative courses may be proposed.

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

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:

A GPA of 3.67 or higher in the Dance major, and an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.
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.
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-.
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.