Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts



Undergraduate Major

VCU Dance offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and Choreography. Daily modern technique classes are supported by a strong ballet curriculum and additional offerings in contact improvisation, African, somatics, yoga, tap, and jazz. The creative track is especially strong, with two semesters of improvisation, composition and choreography before the culminating senior project. The required curriculum includes dance history and music for dancers. Electives in video choreography, dance management and design for dancers are offered. VCU Dance is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Dance.

All students must satisfactorily complete the required courses in the technique/performance track, choreography track, theoretical studies and general education to graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and Choreography. Specific course descriptions can be found in the Undergraduate Bulletin.

Technique and Performance Track Technique courses

Primary components include disciplined training and concentration in the medium of modern dance and a diverse range of technical training and performance opportunities. Within the technique track, students must acquire technical information and integrate it into performance. The primary concern in the study of technique is enhancement of student performance capacities – qualitatively, expressively and kinesthetically. Classes include modern, ballet, tap, jazz, African-Caribbean, ballroom, yoga and Pilates.

Performance courses

A wide range of performance courses and opportunities are presented to students beginning at the freshman level. All incoming students learn the basics of rehearsing and performing with a professional choreographer, and students may audition for repertory and guest artists works. Rehearsing with student and faculty choreographers on new works during the academic year provides flexible opportunities for credit and often results in performance opportunities. Solo and group works are creatively explored during the composition and choreography course sequence. Studies at VCU Dance culminate in the senior project in which students have the opportunity to choreograph, present work and perform.

 

Performance opportunities
  • VCU Dance NOW concert – a combined evening of faculty and guest artist works in an annual event held in the spring semester at the Grace Street Theater.
  • Senior project concerts – the culminating projects for the B.F.A. degree. Senior students must choreograph and also perform in a peer’s senior project. The senior choreographer selects dancers from the entire VCU Dance major population. Performances are at the Grace Street Theater.
  • Student Concert – spring evening concert of student work adjudicated and produced by students themselves. All dance majors may submit work for adjudication to the Student Concert. The evenings offer students the opportunity to create and perform a diverse range of work.
  • Festivals – the VCU Department of Dance and Choreography traditionally attends numerous dance festivals including the American College Dance Festival, International Association of Blacks in Dance Conference and Black College Dance Exchange. Choreography chosen to be performed at a festival goes through a faculty adjudication process. Festivals offer VCU dance majors opportunities to perform and take master classes in formal and informal settings beyond the VCU campus.
  • Salon – an informal showing of any number of student works moderated by a professional in the dance field. The VCU Dance Salon is modeled on “The Field” and provides an opportunity to discuss works-in-progress with student choreographers. “The Field” is a dance service organization that offers independent artists workshops centered on peer feedback and performances with facilitated discussions.
  • Informal showings – biannual informal showings of student works – complete and in progress – occur during Workshop class in the Dance Center. A peer audience of dance majors may provide written feedback and comments at their discretion.
Creative Track

Students have an opportunity to develop their choreographic potential in seven semesters of creative track work. From improvisation to the senior project, students are exposed to sources, elements and processes from which they develop their own creative voice. Both traditional and experimental processes are explored, including but not limited to: improvisation, structural forms inspired by sound, visual arts, text, kinesthetic awareness, chance forms, non-traditional spaces and music compositions. The Department of Dance and Choreography considers the creative track a highly evolved component of the B.F.A. degree.

Creative Track Courses Creative Track courses build on each other and must be taken in the following order:

Year 1

  • DANC 105 Improvisation (Fall)
  • DANC 107 Music and Dance Forms (Spring)

Year 2

  • DANC 205/206 Composition (Fall and Spring)
  • DANC 291 Studies in Music for Dancers (Spring)

Year 3

  • DANC 303/304 Choreography & Performance (Fall and Spring)

Year 4

  • DANC 490/491 Senior Project (Fall or Spring, depending on completed credit requirements)

 

Theoretical Courses

Dance practice and theory are interwoven in interesting and exciting ways throughout the VCU Dance curriculum. Students physically learn examples of non-Western dance forms while studying the history and context in courses such as Dance in World Cultures and African American Presence in American Dance. Students learn about trends in dance by viewing and discussing videos in Dance Workshop and Dance History. Theories of teaching are introduced, discussed and practiced through student Teaching Methods for Dance.

 

General Studies

VCU is a large state university with three campuses: the Monroe Park (academic) campus, the Medical campus, and VCUQatar. Dance students have a profound range of academic opportunities. One of the goals of our advising program is to design each student’s curricular program with individual interests and career goals in mind. Students are able to select minors in other disciplines or choose from a variety of courses in subjects of interest.