The Master of Fine Arts program is designed to provide opportunities for focused growth in the area of choreography, performance and pedagogy. The emphasis is on mentoring the development of a personally-meaningful artistic mission as a context for the enhancement and refinement of individual approaches to art making.

The hallmark of the M.F.A. program at Texas Woman's University is its goal to prepare liberally-educated and socially responsible dance artists who, in addition to having strong artistic and pedagogical skills, have the ability to speak and write effectively about their work and assume responsibility for the development of their professional careers in dance. To this end, within the context of the student's developing artistic mission, the program seeks to foster an understanding of the nature of dance as an art form and cultural expression in society, an appreciation of how the individual artist is part of a larger world and the leadership skills to implement her or his artistic agenda.

Dancemaking is the core of the program and provides the context for developing 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. At Texas Woman's University intense artistic inquiry helps to catalyze individualized pedagogical development to prepare dance artists for a range of opportunities as choreographers, performers and teachers in artistic institutions in academia and elsewhere.

The Master of Fine Arts is considered a terminal degree and as such is a rigorous and comprehensive program of study designed to provide artistic and theoretical challenges. Intensive studio practice leading to significant artistic growth, as well as developing the skills to understand and theorize from one's own practice, requires sustained inquiry and mentoring over an extended period of time. For these reasons, the M.F.A. program is a three-year course of study. For students entering the M.F.A. program with a Master of Arts degree or extensive professional-level choreography and performance work, it may be possible to complete the degree in two years.

The M.F.A. program at TWU is particularly well suited to returning professionals who are seeking an M.F.A. degree to make the transition to higher education. Acknowledging their records of professional accomplishments, these students are encouraged to pursue course work that will address their evolving professional profiles and allow them to build on their experiential knowledge. The M.F.A. program allows for this flexibility as well as providing opportunities to access some of the experiences that are part of the Ph.D. program in Dance at TWU.

Program of Study

The M.F.A. degree requires a minimum of 60 semester credit hours; typically students complete 61-65 hours. The completion of a number of hours, however, is not in itself sufficient; the nature, quality, rigor, and currency of the artistic work are the major considerations. The program is comprised of six components: 1) the dance core, 2) electives, 3) choreography portfolio, 4) professional paper, 5) professional DVD portfolio, and 6) comprehensive oral presentation/examination.

MFA Core Courses 54 Credit Hours

The dance core provides the student with a theoretical and practical foundation for personal artistic growth. The "core" consists of technique, choreography, performance, and dance theory courses.

Technique (Level III or IV) -- 8 Credits selected from:

DNCE 5281 Styles of Ballet I (Fall)
DNCE 5291 Styles of Ballet II (Spring)
DNCE 5301 Studies in Modern Dance I (Fall)
DNCE 5311 Studies in Modern Dance II (Spring)

Courses presented to satisfy the technique requirement must include at least one semester of ballet and modern dance. Also available are intermediate/advanced jazz, African, and intermediate/advanced tap.

A student must be registered for at least one
technique class every Fall and Spring semester.

Choreography – 22-24 Credits

Minimum of three semesters of MFA Advanced Choreography/Performance Workshops. Offered in the Fall semester; focus varies each year.

DNCE 5233 Workshop: Performance Process
DNCE 5222 or 5233 Workshop: Advanced Choreography Workshop
DNCE 5222 or 5233 Workshop: Advanced Choreography Workshop
DNCE 5233 Workshop: SUMMERDANCE Guest Artist (must complete at least one)

Choreography/Performance Portfolio (12 Credits) – May register for Portfolio only once per semester.

DNCE 5913
DNCE 5913
DNCE 5913
DNCE 5913

Performance – 4 Credit Hours

DNCE 5102 Dance Performance (4 Credits-Two semesters)

Dance Theory -- 18 Credit Hours

DNCE 5162 Laban Movement Analysis: Effort/Shape
DNCE 5211 Experiential Anatomy
DNCE 5253 Choreographic Process: Making, Perceiving, Educating
DNCE 5243 Pedagogical Foundations in Dance
DNCE 5333 Curriculum Inquiry in Dance and the Related Arts
DNCE 5233 Historical & Cultural Study of Dance Performance and Choreography
DNCE 5023 Research Methods in Dance

Interdisciplinary Aspects of the Program and Electives 3-5 Credit Hours

To enhance artistic inquiry M.F.A. students engage in a program of related studies which supports their art making and professional goals. This includes reading and writing projects that are part of core theory courses as well as relevant inquiries related to choreography and performance projects. The professional paper also provides an opportunity to further extend or deepen interdisciplinary study. The value for interdisciplinarity is embedded throughout the M.F.A. course work and is in keeping with the mission of the Department of Dance (See Goal # 2 Collaboration, Integration, Interdisciplinarity). This goal is intended to encourage an exchange of ideas among the various arts, facilitating interdisciplinary creative endeavors, as well as developing a more in-depth understanding of dance as a discipline as it is part of a larger world of knowing.

The elective requirement may be met by taking dance and/or interdisciplinary course(s).

Electives may be selected from graduate dance courses or from any program in the University that offers graduate courses. The Department of Dance, as well as other programs in the University, offer the independent study option for students who are interested in pursuing a problem of individual or professional interest that does not fall within the context of organized courses. The student may initiate independent study problems with any member of the University graduate faculty.

Professional Paper or Professional Project – DNCE 5973 Professional Paper -- 3 Credit Hours

The Professional Paper, intended to facilitate the refinement of communication skills, gives the student the opportunity to pursue in depth a significant theoretical, philosophical, pedagogical, historical, or creative issue in dance. The professional paper is typically written during the third year of full-time study, however, students may begin work on the paper at any time. Specific guidelines for conducting professional paper research, writing the paper, and filing the final draft are contained in the section “Guidelines for Preparing the Professional Paper and Project Report.”

The Professional Project provides the student with an opportunity to engage in an individual project of professional relevance. The project should be of sufficient depth and breadth to demonstrate professional growth and achievement. Typically, the professional project is a practicum related to the student's professional career goals. The Professional Project proposal is developed in consultation with a Research Director and approved by a three-member Research Committee chaired by the Director. The Research Director and the members of the Research Committee provide guidance during the development and implementation stages of the project and serve to evaluate the project at its completion.

Comprehensive Final Examination – Final Oral Presentation

In accordance with Graduate School policy the Master of Fine Arts student is required to take a comprehensive final examination focusing on his or her course work, Professional DVD Portfolio and professional paper. The M.F.A. Committee serves as the Final Examination Committee. Additional members who worked with the student on Professional Paper should be included in the Final Examination Committee. See the section entitled “Final Oral Presentation/Examination for Graduate Degrees in Dance.”

Choreography/Performance Portfolio
Professional Video Portfolio

The choreography/performance portfolio is intended to document the student's abilities and accomplishments in the areas of choreography/performance. It is a record of progress and artistic growth and allows the student and the faculty to evaluate a body of artistic work resulting from extensive engagement in the dance making process over the three-year course of study in the M.F.A. program. The M.F.A. Committee will help each student develop choreography and performance projects proposals that will be tailored to challenge her or his potential, abilities, and choreographic/performance interests. This process will lead to a body of work which will comprise the Choreography/Performance Portfolio. This portfolio will provide the material for the culminating Professional Video Portfolio to be presented at the Final Oral Presentation.

(Updated, Fall, 2006)

Graduate Application Procedures

Application for admission to the Graduate School is made through the Office of Admissions. The University requires applicants to complete the online application at www.applytexas.org/adappc/commonapp.WBX. International students should complete the international student application at www.twu.edu/o-sl/international_ed/gradapp.pdf.

Applicants should submit the completed application and request official copies of transcripts from all previous college work be forwarded directly to the Office of Admissions.

An audition and interview is required for admission to the master's programs at TWU.

The following materials and the Department of Dance Application Form should be sent directly to the Chair of the Department of Dance. These materials must be received no later than one week prior to the scheduled audition date in February.

•  A three to four page, approximately 800-1000 words, double-spaced, one inch margins, 12 point font statement of interests and objectives which includes a) an indication of your professional goals, b) previous artistic, academic, and career experience related to these goals, and c) the importance of graduate study in the pursuit of your professional goals.

•  A resume of dance educational and artistic experience.

•  Three letters of recommendation from people familiar with your teaching, academic and/or artistic work.

•  Applicants to the M.A. program may submit a writing sample, such as a research paper from an undergraduate dance theory course, and/or a video portfolio of artistic work.

Although TWU has a rolling admissions policy, January 26, 2007, is the deadline for all application materials for those seeking consideration for dance scholarships and Graduate Teaching Assistantships.

You may visit the TWU Department of Dance website at www.twu.edu/soa/dance and the TWU Graduate School website at www.twu.edu/o-grad/. If you have questions please e-mail us at dance@twu.edu or lcaldwell2@twu.edu. You may call us at 940-898-2086.

Send materials to:

Dr. Penelope Hanstein
Department of Dance
Texas Woman's University
P.O. Box 425708
Denton , TX 76204