Dance - Major/Minor
For information, contact Professor Roxanne Amico, rtamico@cedarcrest.edu, 610-437-4471 ext 3619
Program Description
The Dance Program at Cedar Crest College is grounded in the Liberal Arts and is an interdisciplinary approach of synergizing the Liberal Arts. Dance is a form of specialized knowledge that enables the creation of expressiveness. It is also, however, a mode of problem solving, analyzing and developing insights. It is a way of thinking, understanding, and knowing. Other disciplines such as the sciences, social sciences and humanities provide critical context for the work of the dancer and are critical to the development of thoughtful, engaged, inquiring dance students. Dance is an art form critical to providing balance to the work of the aforementioned majors. It provides an opportunity, for example, for the science-driven student to balance modes of learning in a holistic manner. A convergence of dance and other disciplines enhances students’ knowledge base as well as open more doors of opportunity regarding career choices. It enables all members of the college community to benefit from an experience in the Performing Arts. Courses provided engage students in the exploration of ideas which affect society and the human condition. Nu Delta Alpha, the dance honor society, provides students the opportunity of civic engagement through community outreach. The Cedar Crest College student who majors in dance is an independent thinker and displays self-initiative through creative projects both in research and performance.
Program Mission Statement
The mission for this dance program is to provide multiple perspectives and experiences for understanding dance as a discipline of study. Emphasis is placed on how dance connects with other disciplines within a liberal arts Education. The dance program provides all students with a framework for the exploration of creativity and individual artistic and intellectual expression. The purpose of dance as a discipline of study in liberal arts education is to provide students interested in including dance in their education the opportunity to develop an understanding and appreciation for dance as art. Movement styles and technical understandings are used to support this philosophical and aesthetic concept of education through movement. The study of dance is used to develop discipline-specific technical skills, enhance perpetual and analytical skills, develop aesthetic and cultural awareness and explore new venues.
The mission of the dance major is communicated to students in the Dance Program Student Handbook as well as in the production philosophy of the department. That philosophy is communicated to students in production rehearsal process, during advising sessions, during senior project mentoring, in daily contact and instruction with work-study students and throughout traditional classroom instruction. The faculty also lead by example and are working artists who demonstrate through their own creative works and collaboration, the mission of the program.
Program Requirements
All dance majors are obliged to abide by the written Performing Arts Departmental Policies. A grade of C or better is required in all courses taken for application toward all major requirements in the performing arts. At least 15 credits of course work in the major must be taken at Cedar Crest College.
Dance Major
Total number of credits required: 50 credits
Requirements
DNC 226 Dance Improvisation 2 credits
DNC 235 Dance History I 3 credits
DNC 237 Dance History II 3 credits
DNC 380 Dance Pedagogy 3 credits
DNC 320 Dance Composition 3 credits
EXS 202 Kinesiology 3 credits
PER 100 First Friday (4 x 1) 4 credits
PER 101 Collaborative Arts 1 credit
PER 252 Sophomore Seminar 1 credit
PER 351 Junior Year Prospectus 1 credit
PER 352 Senior Thesis Project 1 credit
PER 353 Senior Thesis Project 1 credits
THS 105 Public Speaking 3 credits
THS 251 Practicum: Arts Management 3 credits
SPS 270 Internship 3 credits
ACC 101or MKG 230 3 credits
Studio requirements - Technical Courses (choose 12 credits) may be repeated.
Fulfillment of LAC Requirements
The Information Literacy requirement for Dance majors is fulfilled through:
PER 100 First Friday and PER 252 Sophomore Seminar
The Technology requirement for Dance majors is fulfilled through:
PER 100 First Friday; PER 351 Junior Year Prospectus, 352-353 Senior Seminar
Oral Presentation requirement for Dance majors is fulfilled through:
THS 105 Public Speaking; PER 351 Junior Year Prospectus 352-353 Senior Thesis Project
Student Learning Outcomes for the Dance Major
Student Learning Outcomes are articulated on all departmental course syllabi and are reinforced through production work (THS 250/ 251/DNC 252 and 253) and through regular traditional classroom instruction. Technical and compositional work is the lab component of the entire dance program. All courses essentially support production in some way. Experiential and practical training activities are grounded in the Student Learning Outcomes.
1. The student will demonstrate knowledge of the historical development of different dance genres, specific movement styles and identify different cultural movement styles and cultural influence on movement.
2. The student will utilize proper dance terminology, demonstrate solid skills of movement retention, execution of movement and reversal of movement and apply kinesthetic and anatomical awareness of movement.
3. The student will demonstrate the ability to recognize their personal movement style and demonstrate basic teaching skills of multiple dance genres.
4. The student will demonstrate an awareness of the effects of political and societal influences on dance and the future of dance in education. The student will communicate the relationship between original work or research and defend the impact of their creative contributions.
Dance Minor
Program Requirements
At least 12 credits of course work in the minor must be taken at Cedar Crest College.
18 credits
DNC 102 Introduction to Dance 3 credits
DNC 235 History of Dance I 3 credits
DNC 380 Dance Pedagogy 3 credits
EXS 202 Dance Kinesiology 3 credits
Studio Requirements -Technique Classes 6 credits
Student Learning Outcomes for the Dance Minor
1. The student will demonstrate knowledge of the historical development of different dance genres, specific movement styles and identify different cultural movement styles and cultural influence on movement.
2. The student will utilize proper dance terminology, demonstrate solid skills of movement retention, execution of movement and reversal of movement and apply kinesthetic and anatomical awareness of movement.
3. The student will demonstrate the ability to recognize their personal movement style and demonstrate basic teaching skills of multiple dance genres.
4. The student will demonstrate an awareness of the effects of political and societal influences on dance and the future of dance in education. The student will communicate the relationship between original work or research and defend the impact of their creative contributions.
