PROGRAMS IN DANCE

Director: Penelope Hanstein, Professor

The programs in dance are designed to prepare dance artists, scholars and/or educators who are well-grounded in the theories and contexts of dance as an art form. Integrating the aesthetic, critical, historical, cultural and dance making dimensions, the various programs of study provide a comprehensive approach to dance learning which merges technique, performance and choreography with in-depth study of dance as art.

The Master of Arts program emphasizes dance pedagogy and scholarly research. The “dance educator pathway’’ develops a broad knowledge of the dance discipline and focuses upon issues in dance in American education, multi-cultural dance and pedagogical foundations. The “dance scholar pathway’’ prepares students for scholarly study in dance in the areas of theory, history, aesthetics, criticism and movement analysis and focuses upon methods of scholarship necessary to undertake independent research.

The Master of Fine Arts program is designed to provide opportunities for focused growth in the areas of performance and choreography. The hallmark of the M.F.A. program at the Texas Woman’s University is its goal to prepare liberally educated dance artists. While focusing on the enhancement and refinement of personally relevant approaches to art making, the program seeks to foster the development of an understanding of the nature of dance as an art form in society and an appreciation of how the individual artist is part of a larger world.

The Doctor of Philosophy degree in dance has as its goal the preparation of dance scholars to assume leadership positions in the dance professions. Focusing on the historical, cultural, critical, philosophical and pedagogical dimensions of dance as an art form, the doctoral program provides opportunities for students to engage in the various modes of inquiry that comprise the dance discipline. The program is designed to prepare students in an integrated core of dance knowledge which serves as the foundation for pursuing interdisciplinary scholarly inquiry which will lead to the contribution of new knowledge to the field of dance.

Specific application procedures, detailed programs of study and relevant Dance Program policies and procedures for each of the degree programs are available in the Dance Program Office.

General Requirements for Master of Arts Degree

Total Hours Required: 37 hours, including hours for thesis, professional paper, or professional project (“Dance Educator’’ or “Dance Scholar’’ focus)

Core: 20-25 hours

Minor: Optional

Comprehensive Final Examination: Oral examination encompassing academic and artistic aspects of the program. May be repeated at discretion of the committee.

General Requirements for the Master of Fine Arts Degree

Total hours required: 60 hours, including choreography portfolio and professional paper.

Core: 32 hours

Special Requirements: Continuation in the program is contingent upon successful completion of the first year review.

Comprehensive Final Examination: Oral examination encompassing academic and artistic aspects of the program. May be repeated at discretion of the committee.

Special Requirements for all Master’s Degrees: Students are required to maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or better in all courses applied to the degree. A grade of “C’ or below in any course will not count toward the Master of Arts or Master of Fine Arts degree.

General Requirements for the Doctoral Degree

Total Hours Required: 90 hours, including master’s degree credits, research tools and 12 hours for dissertation.

Core: 24 hours

Cognate Area(s): The cognate area is comprised of 12-18 hours and is intended to enhance scholarly inquiry in dance. The courses submitted to meet this requirement must represent focused in-depth study in one or more areas which contribute directly to achievement of the objectives set forth in the preliminary program proposal.

Research Tools: Two tools selected from such courses/competencies as the following: Foreign Language, Elementary and Intermediate Labanotation competency, Laban Movement Analysis as a Research Tool, American Sign Language, Computer Science, Electronic Information Retrieval and Workshop on the Internet; and 6 hours of research methods.

Residence Requirement: Two consecutive long semesters are required. However, due to the structure of the curriculum, four semesters and one summer in residence are necessary to complete course requirements for the degree.

Qualifying Examination: A written and oral examination will be taken covering areas selected by the candidate in consultation with the Advisory/Examination Committee. The content, format, administration and evaluation of the examination will be the responsibility of the Examination Committee. The Qualifying Examination may be repeated once.

Final Examination: An oral defense of the dissertation is required. The defense may be repeated once.

Certification Programs Offered

Texas State Teacher’s Certification
Course work leading to Certification in Labanotation

The requirements for a minor in dance at the master’s level and doctoral level are determined in consultation with the student’s advisory committee and a member of the graduate faculty in dance. A minor for a master’s degree requires a minimum of 6 hours and a minor for a doctoral degree requires a minimum of 12 hours.

Courses of Instruction in Dance

DNCE 5023. Methods of Research in Dance. The role and tools of research in dance. Types of strategies and investigative techniques with focus on qualitative research. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

DNCE 5102. Dance Performance/Choreography. Participation in the choreographic, performance, and/or production aspects of dance concerts. Prerequisite: Dance major or permission of instructor. May be repeated for additional credit. Six laboratory hours a week. Credit: Two hours.

DNCE 5162. Laban Movement Analysis: Effort/Shape. Rudolf Laban’s theoretical framework for the study of functional and expressive movements from a qualitative perspective emphasizing movement exploration, observation, analysis, description, and notation. One lecture, two laboratory hours a week. Credit: Two hours.

DNCE 5172. Space Harmony/Choreutics. Rudolf Laban’s harmonic spatial forms within the context of choreography and performance. One lecture, two laboratory hours a week. Credit: Two hours.

DNCE 5183. Intermediate Labanotation. Theory with emphasis on the reading and writing of dance scores. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

DNCE 5211, 5222, 5233. Workshop in Dance. Enrichment experiences in dance with distinguished guest artists: technique, performance, or choreography. Credit: One hour to three hours. May be repeated for additional credit.

DNCE 5213. History of Dance I: Non-Western & Western Cultures. Ethnocentric functions of dance in non-western and pre-literature societies. The role of dance as an expressive agent in major historic eras: Greek to the Renaissance. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

DNCE 5223. History of Dance II: Baroque to Contemporary Times. The unfolding of dance as a theatrical art form in Europe and the United States. Emphasis on ballet, modern and contemporary dance: expressive forms; semiotic issues; and significant contributions of dancers, choreographers, repertoire, collaborative artists, and writers. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

DNCE 5243. Pedagogical Foundations for Dance. Analysis of dance genres and application of learning theories and teaching models to dance technique. Examination of concepts related to the development of the technically proficient and artistically expressive dancer. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

DNCE 5253. The Choreographic Process: Making, Perceiving, Educating. Aesthetic and theoretical issues related to the nature of art making in dance and educating the dance artist: emphasis on the person, process, and product. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

DNCE 5273. Adapted Dance. Field practice in leading and adapting dance activities for the differently abled with intensive work in group settings. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

DNCE 5281. Styles of Ballet I. Advanced technique class in ballet. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Four and one-half laboratory hours a week. Credit: One hour. May be repeated for additional credit.

DNCE 5291. Styles of Ballet II. Advanced technique class in ballet continuing from Advanced Ballet I. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Four and one-half laboratory hours a week. Credit: One hour. May be repeated for additional credit.

DNCE 5301. Studies in Modern Dance I. Advanced technique in modern dance. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Four and one-half laboratory hours a week. Credit: One hour.

DNCE 5311. Studies in Modern Dance II. Advanced technique in modern dance continuing from DNCE 5301. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Four and one-half laboratory hours a week. Credit: One hour. May be repeated for additional credit.

DNCE 5323. Philosophy of Dance. Readings and discussions related to philosophical issues inherent in dance and dance education. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

DNCE 5333. Curriculum Inquiry in Dance and the Related Arts. Study of the arts as disciplines of knowledge focusing on the identification of modes of inquiry and the conceptual structures that constitute dance knowledge and the translation of these concepts into meaningful patterns for dance teaching/learning. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

DNCE 5433. Dance in American Education. Historical overview of the development of dance in education as a context for the exploration of current issues and trends. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

DNCE 5901, 5903. Special Topics. Specially scheduled course on topic of current interest. Lecture or lecture and laboratory. Credit: One or three hours. May be repeated for additional credit.

DNCE 5911, 5913. Individual Study. Individual research leading to the solution of a problem of professional interest and significance. Prerequisite: DNCE 5023. Credit: One hour or three hours. May be repeated for additional credit.

DNCE 5973. Professional Paper. Research and preparation of a scholarly paper on a topic of interest and value to the student. May be repeated but only three hours may apply on degree. Credit: Three hours.

DNCE 5983. Thesis. Prerequisite: DNCE 5023. Credit: Three hours.

DNCE 5993. Thesis. Prerequisite: DNCE 5983. Credit: Three hours.

DNCE 6023. Critical Analysis of Professional Literature. A thorough study and critical analysis of the literature in the student’s major and/or minor areas of specialization; emphasis on theory analysis and theory development. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours. May be repeated for additional credit.

DNCE 6113. Seminar. Informal, small group study of special problems or current issues in dance. Credit: Three hours. May be repeated for additional credit.

DNCE 6911, 6913. Individual Study. Individual research leading to the solution of a problem of professional interest and significance. Prerequisite: DNCE 5023. Credit: One hour or three hours. May be repeated for additional credit.

DNCE 6983. Dissertation. Prerequisite: DNCE 5023. Credit: Three hours.

DNCE 6993. Dissertation. Prerequisite: DNCE 6983. Credit: Three hours.