Undergraduate Major Minor

The Dance Major at Hunter College nurtures individual creativity, disciplined practice, and rigorous scholarship in the context of a strong liberal arts education. Courses focus on a broad range of topics in the field, taught by recognized artist/teachers active in the New York City dance community. The Dance Program's broad-based curriculum maintains an emphasis on modern dance with three major areas of study:

• Technique (modern, ballet, traditional, folk)
  
• Creative theory and performance (improvisation, composition, production, repertory, Lecture/Demonstration Touring Company)
  
• Theoretical and scientific aspects of dance (musicianship for dancers, dance history, theory and practice of teaching, anatomy and kinesiology, movement re-education)
  

Distribution Requirement: The requirement for humanities and the arts (Stage 2, Group D) may be fulfilled by DAN 102 or 232. Up to two courses from a student's major may be used to satisfy any core requirements except those in 'Focused Exposure' Stage 3, Groups A & B.

Major (34 credits) A placement audition is required of all incoming majors and minors as well as of all second-year majors. Performance, choreography, and technical production requirements are to be fulfilled before graduation. These requirements include:

• Performance in at least two (2) concerts
• Choreography of at least two (2) works (one may be open composition)
• Production crew work on two (2) concerts
  

The following 34-credit curriculum is required of all majors:

• DAN 151 Folk Forms of Dance I 
• DAN 210 Contemporary Dance Technique I
• DAN 213 Basic Musicianship for Dancers
• DAN 220 Contemporary Dance Technique II
• DAN 221 Improvisation as a Creative Process I
• DAN 232 20th Century Dance History
• DAN 245 Ballet I
• DAN 310 Contemporary Dance Technique III
• DAN 320 Contemporary Dance Technique IV
• DAN 321 Composition I
• DAN 324 Production I
• DAN 345 Ballet II
• DAN 350 Anatomy and Kinesiology for Dancers
• DAN 422 Choreographic Projects
• DAN 440 Lecture/Demonstration Touring Group

The undergraduate advisor suggests the appropriate sequence of electives for the career specialization the student chooses.

Preparation for Teaching: Be aware that students must be accepted by the School of Education before they can register for education courses. The program leading to New York State Certification as a Teacher of Dance, Pre-K-12, consists of the 34-credit dance major sequence plus DAN ED 302 (students must obtain permission from a dance advisor in order to register for DAN ED 302), which is offered within the Dance Program. The teacher education pedagogical sequence comprises the minor: see the School of Education section of the catalog for information regarding the teacher education sequence.

Course Advisement for Majors

Fall Semester - Sophomore Year

• Dan 210 – Contemporary Technique 1 – Beginning Intermediate Level (Placement Audition Required)
• Dan 221 – Improvisation as a Creative Process 1 (offered fall only)
• Dan 213 – Basic Musicianship for Dancers (offered fall only)
• Strongly Recommended:
• Dan 145 – Fundamentals of Ballet – Advanced Beginning Level (Preparation Course for Ballet 1)
• Production Hours – ½ production hours earned from Informal Showing**

Spring Semester - Sophomore Year

• Dan 220 – Contemporary Technique 2 – Intermediate Level (Placement Audition Required)
• Dan 321 - Composition 1 (offered spring only)
• Dan 245 – Ballet 1 – Intermediate Level (Placement Audition Required)
• Production Hours – ½ production hours earned from Spring Dance Concert**

Fall Semester - Junior Year

• Dan 151 – Folk Forms – Level 1 (offered fall only)
• Dan 310 – Contemporary Technique 3 – Advanced Intermediate Level (Placement Audition Required)
• Dan 232 – 20th Century Dance History 
• Dan 422 – Choreographic Projects – Fall & Spring (credit for 1 semester only)
• Dan 440 – Lecture Demonstration Touring Group (offered fall only)
• Performance Requirement – Fall & Spring
• Strongly Recommended:
• Dan 441 - Repertory 1 - Audition Required
  

Spring Semester - Junior Year

• Dan 320 – Contemporary Technique 4 – Advanced Level (Placement Audition Required)
• Dan 324 – Production 1 (offered spring only)
• Dan 345 – Ballet 2 – Advanced Intermediate Level (Placement Audition Required)
• Dan 350 – Anatomy and Kinesiology for Dancers (offered spring only)
• Dan 422 – Choreographic Projects – Fall & Spring (credit for 1 semester only)
• Performance Requirement – Fall & Spring (continuation from Fall semester)
• Dan 432/433 – Repertory 1 or 2 – Audition Required

Fall Semester – Senior Year ***

• Auditing any Technique Class is mandatory
• 2nd Choreographic Project – Fall & Spring
• Performance Requirement – Fall & Spring
• Dan 432/433 – Repertory 1 or 2 – Audition Required

Spring Semester - Senior Year ***

• Dance Seminar – Seniors Only (offered spring only)
• Auditing any Technique Class is mandatory
• 2nd Choreographic Project – Fall & Spring
• Performance Requirement – Fall & Spring
• Dan 432/433 – Repertory 1 or 2 – Audition Required
  

Course Advisement for Transfer Majors

Entering in the Spring Semester

Spring Semester - Sophomore Year

• Dan 210 – Contemporary Technique 1 – Beginning Intermediate Level (Placement Audition Required)

Fall Semester - Junior Year

• Dan 220 – Contemporary Technique 2 – Intermediate Level (Placement Audition Required)
• Dan 145 – Fundamentals of Ballet – Advanced Beginning Level (Preparation Course for Ballet 1 - Recommended for majors)
• Dan 232 – 20th Century Dance History (offered fall only)
• Dan 221 – Improvisation as a Creative Process 1 (offered fall only)
• Performance Requirement – Fall & Spring
• Production Hours – ½ Production Hours earned from Fall Informal Concert**

Spring Semester - Junior Year

• Dan 213 – Basic Musicianship for Dancers (offered every other year)
• Dan 310 – Contemporary Technique 3 – Advanced Intermediate Level (Audition Required)
• Dan 321 - Composition 1 (offered spring only)
• Dan 245 – Ballet 1 – Intermediate Level (Audition Required)
• Performance Requirement – Fall & Spring
• Production Hours – ½ Production Hours earned from Spring Dance Concert**
• Strongly Recommended:
• Dan 432 – Repertory 1 – Audition Required

Fall Semester - Senior Year

• Dan 151 – Folk Forms – Level 1 (offered every other year)
• Dan 320 – Contemporary Technique 4 – Advanced Level (Audition Required)
• Dan 422 – Choreographic Projects – Fall & Spring (credit for 1 semester only)
• Dan 440 – Lecture Demonstration Touring Group (offered fall only)
• Performance Requirement – Fall & Spring

Spring Semester – Senior Year

• Dance Seminar – Seniors Only
• Dan 324 – Production 1 (offered spring only)
• Dan 345 – Ballet 2 – Advanced Intermediate Level (Audition Required)
• Dan 350 – Anatomy and Kinesiology for Dancers (offered every other year)
• Performance Requirement – Fall & Spring (Continuation from Fall Semester)
• Dan 432/433 – Repertory 1 or 2 – Audition Required

** Required Production Hours for majors are completed when serving on crew for both Fall Informal Showing and Spring Dance Concert or 2 Spring Concerts.
*** Any Fall semester courses that were not taken prior to this semester must be taken.
*** Any Spring semester courses that were not taken prior to this semester must be taken.

Course Advisement for Majors with Education Minor

Fall Semester - Sophomore Year

• Dan 210 – Contemporary Technique 1 – Beginning Intermediate Level (Audition Required)
• Dan 221 – Improvisation as a Creative Process 1 (offered fall only)
• Strongly Recommended

• Dan 145 – Fundamentals of Ballet – Advanced Beginning Level (Preparation Course for Ballet 1 - Recommended for majors)
• Production Hours – ½ production hours earned from Informal Showing**

Spring Semester - Sophomore Year

• Dan 220 – Contemporary Technique 2 – Intermediate Level (Audition Required)
• Dan 213 – Basic Musicianship for Dancers(offered every other year)
• Dan 321 - Composition 1 (offered spring only)
• Dan 245 – Ballet 1 – Intermediate Level (Audition Required)
• Production Hours – ½ production hours earned from Spring Dance Concert** Apply for Minor in Education Department

Fall Semester - Junior Year

• Any Technique Class (the additional 3 credits may be selected with the approval of a dance adviser from any of the other dance courses under the condition that the prerequisites to these courses have been met) 
• Dan 440 – Lecture Demonstration Touring Group (offered fall only)
• Performance Requirement – Fall & Spring
  

Spring Semester - Junior Year

• Performance Requirement – Fall & Spring (Continuation from Fall Semester)

Proposal for Minor in Dance (waiting approval)

The Hunter College Dance Program proposes a minor in Dance designed to allow students to pursue a variety of interests in the field, from performance to analysis to pedagogy to somatics, as adjunctive study to a major program.

This proposal is based on the firm knowledge that dance provides not only pleasurable and healthful physical activity but also a profound opportunity to bring together a variety of modes of creativity, inquiry and knowledge. Such an integration can enliven many aspects of a student’s education and preparation for the future.

This proposed dance minor requires both studio and classroom courses as a foundation, and then allows student flexibility in choosing other areas of interest and study. Some students, through these courses, will delve into subjects quite different from their chosen major; others will find vital connections across disciplines. Examples of interdisciplinary linkages with potential to develop into professional opportunities are:

English major/dance minor: dance criticism or performance studies

Psychology major/dance minor: dance/movement therapy

Biology major/dance minor: motor learning/neurology/physical therapy

History major/dance minor: history of arts in culture

Anthropology major/dance minor: cultural studies

The pre-requisite courses are survey, foundational courses that provide a broad practical and theoretical base for all Dance Minors. The required courses menu gives practical studio experience in the physical and creative bases of dance as an art form. The array of electives is designed to allow students to organize their experience of the dance curriculum according to personal interests, abilities, and career goals.

Dance Minor Pre-requisites:                                                       5 credits

DAN 101 Fundamentals of Contemporary Dance OR equivalent (can be waived by program permission)

            DAN 102 Dance, Dancers and the Audience

Dance Minor Requirements:                                                12 credits

Required courses (6 credits total):                                                                        

- Improvisation as Creative Process                                     DAN 221

- 2 courses in dance technique, chosen from the following, at least 1 course at the 200 level:

            Fundamentals of Ballet                                                DAN 145

Contemporary Dance Technique I/II/III/IV             DAN 210/220/310/320 

            Ballet I/II                                                                        DAN 245/345 

            West African Dance I/II                                                DAN 252.51/352.51 

Hip Hop Dance 1                                                            DAN 252.65 

Electives (minimum of 6 credits total):                                                                                  

Choice of electives must be approved by a Dance Program faculty advisor

At least one elective must be a 3-credit course.

2-credit courses:

            Contemporary Dance Technique: DAN 210, 220, 310, 320, 352.61

Basic Musicianship for Dance  DAN 213

Ballet Technique:  DAN 245, 345

            West African Dance: DAN 252.51, 352.51

Yoga:  DAN 252.56, 352.56

            Hip Hop Dance: DAN 252.65

Composition: DAN 321

3-credit courses:

20^th Century Dance History: DAN 232

Production: DAN 324 (pre-req: DAN 321)

Anatomy and Kinesiology: DAN 350 (pre-req: DAN 220)

Choreographic Projects: DAN 422 (pre-req: DAN 321)

Production I: DAN 324 (pre-req: DAN 321)

Production II: DAN 424 (pre-req: DAN 324)

Repertory I/II: DAN 432/433 (pre-req: DAN 310)

Lecture/Demonstration Touring Group DAN 440 (pre-req: DAN 220, 221)

Independent Study:DAN 480 (by permission)

Internship: DAN 498 (by permission)

4-credit course:

            Theory and Practice of Teaching Dance:  DAN 302 (by permission)                     

Extra-Curricular requirement:

            Serve on one crew team for a fully-produced Dance Program concert