Dance Courses
BUS121 Fundamentals of Arts Management (3 credits) Spring
This survey course explores the theories, processes, and practices behind strategic planning and decision-making in arts organizations today. Practical applications will focus on developing concrete strategies and plans for managing arts organizations, including business plans, managing boards, fund-raising, human resources, facilities, and program development.
BUS225 Finance for the Arts (3 credits) Fall
This course will present basic concepts of budgeting and the use of standard financial reports as essential financial management. This course is arranged to de-mystify basic financial management and raise student’s level of comfort with the concepts and decision making. We will discuss ways of promoting fiscal responsibility and practices throughout an organization, including understanding of roles and responsibilities of different positions within an organization.
BUS331 Arts and Entertainment Law (3 credits) Spring
This course is a practical examination of the legal rights and responsibilities of artists, (intellectual property, contracts, insurance). The course is an introductory view of an area of law that involves numerous disciplines, which protect, regulate, and facilitate the creation, use and marketing of arts.
DAB101R Fundamentals of Classical Ballet I (3 credits) Fall Spring
This course helps students develop the knowledge and experience of ballet at the barre and au milieu. Focus will be on developing strength, agility, and body awareness of the ballet’s foundations. The work at the barre focuses on developing the turn-out, the flexibility and strength in the legs, feet, and back, as well as the coordination of ballet movements. The exercises au milieu (in the center) focus on developing ballet technique and artistic expression through different combinations, port de bras, pirouettes, and petit and grand allegro. (This course must be repeated once with credits awarded.)
DAN101R Fundamentals of Classical Chinese Dance I (3 credits) Fall Spring
This studio course helps students develop a command of the fundamental techniques and movements in classical Chinese dance. The training focuses on extending the body’s flexibility and capabilities. (This course has to be repeated once with credits awarded.)
DAB102R Pointe & Partnering I (1 credit) Fall Spring
This course gives an introduction of the work on pointe and partnering. The work on pointe will focus on developing strength and an anatomically correct basic technique. The partnering will focus on weight shift and balance points as preparation for pas de deux. The work on pointe includes relevés, echappés, pas de bourrés, sissonne simples, retiré passés, suivis and balances at the barre (at the bar) and au milieu (at the center). For male students,exercises for strengthening the upper-body. (This course must be repeated once with credits awarded.)
DAN102R Shen Yun (身韻) I (1.5 credits) Fall Spring
This studio course introduces the basic components and body postures/movements in shen yun (bearing), one of the major characteristics of classical Chinese dance. (This course must be repeated once with credits awarded.)
DAN141 Introduction to Performing (2 credits) Fall
This course is open to everyone, regardless if they are a Dance major or not. Students will learn acting, dancing, and music skills. There will be an open studio presentation at the end of the semester.
DAN103R Special Techniques in Chinese Dance I (1 credit) Fall Spring
This studio course trains students progressively in the basic techniques used in classical Chinese dance. (This course must be repeated once with credits awarded.)
DAN104R Chinese Folk and Ethnic Dances I (1 credit) Fall Spring
This course introduces the basic movements, stylistic characteristics, and genres in the major traditions of Chinese ethnic and folk dances. (This course must be repeated once with credits awarded.)
DAN121R Introduction to Repertoire of Dance (1 credit) Fall Spring
This studio course helps student develop basic understanding on performance and rehearsal skills through analyzing and rehearsing of works of classical Chinese dance and/or classical ballet. With each piece of work, students will familiarize with the structural design, and understand the emotions and meanings associated with the movements as well as the relation between dance and music.
DAN131 Performing and Acting (2 credits) Spring
This course develops students' appreciation and understanding of the art of acting, with the purpose of strengthening their acting skills and expressive power in dance performances.
DAN132 Modern Dance (2 credits) Fall
This course is an introduction of Modern dance. Students will study level I Graham-based technique. They will also learn about the history, cultural background, and choreography by Martha Graham. Prerequisite: Instructor consent.
DAB201R Fundamentals of Classical Ballet II (3 credits) Fall Spring
This course strengthens students' foundation of ballet training: dance technique, artistic expression, and musicality. The focus will be to develop a versatility within the framework of the classic ballet’s style in consideration of musical tempi and phrase as well as the quality of the movement. Exercises par terre (on the floor) and en l’air (in the air) at the barre will develop strength, flexibility, and coordination. Exercises au milieu (at center) focus on different combinations with battements, pirouettes, port de bras, adagios, petit and grand allegro. Prerequisite: 6 credits of DAB 101R or instructor consent. (This course must be repeated once with credits awarded.)
DAN201R Fundamentals of Classical Chinese Dance II (3 credits) Fall Spring
This studio course continues to develop students' body flexibility and capabilities, with an emphasis on practicing and mastering individual techniques, as well as technique variations in classical Chinese dance. Prerequisite: 6 credits of DAN101R or instructor consent. (This course must be repeated once with credits awarded.)
DAB202R Pointe & Partnering II (1 credit) Fall Spring
This course deepens the students understanding and performance of the foundation of work on pointe and partnering. The work on pointe includes relevés, echappés, pas de bourrés, sissonnes, retiré passés, suivis, balances and pirouettes at the barre and au milieu. The partnering will focus on balances, promenades and pirouettes for female students and exercises for strengthening the upper-body for male students. Prerequisite: 2 credits of DAB 102R or instructor consent. (This course must be repeated once with credits awarded.)
DAN202R Shen Yun (身韻) II (1.5 credits) Fall Spring
This course continues to develop students' individual artistry, while achieving freedom and dexterity in the application of shen yun. Students will integrate their skills and refine their expression, by performing dance combinations that utilize various components and movements. Prerequisite: 3 credits of DAN102R or instructor consent. (This course must be repeated once with credits awarded.)
DAN203R Special Techniques in Chinese Dance II (1 credit) Fall Spring
Built upon the first year’s training, this studio course further develops students' command of classical Chinese dance technique, by practicing advanced technique combinations within different variations. Prerequisite: 2 credits of DAN103R or instructor consent. (This course must be repeated once with credits awarded.)
DAN204R Chinese Folk and Ethnic Dances II (1 credit) Fall Spring
This course is a continuation of DAN104R. It helps students master more advanced styles Chinese folk and ethnic dances. Prerequisite: 2 credits of DAN104R or instructor consent. (This course must be repeated once with credits awarded.)
DAB221R Repertory & Rehearsal I: Classical Ballet (1.5 credits) Fall Spring
The course offers an insight into classical ballet repertoire. Excerpts from full-length ballets (as well as choreographed new dance works) will be rehearsed and performed. The repertory includes the staging of solos, pas de deux, pas de trois and chorus. Students will deepen their understanding and performance of the ballet technique, style, artistry, and musicality in rehearsals and on stage. Prerequisite: 2 credits of DAN121 or instructor consent. (This course must be repeated once with credits awarded.)
DAN221R Repertory & Rehearsal I: Classical Chinese Dance (1 credit) Fall Spring
This studio course develops students' overall performance and rehearsal skills through rehearsing works ranging from classical Chinese dance to Chinese folk dances. Prerequisite: DAN121R or by instructor consent. (This course must be repeated once with credits awarded.)
DAN232 Dance Anatomy (2 credits) Spring
This course teaches basic human body alignment, structures of muscles and bones, and energetic forces which make body movements. The course also covers skills for preventing and recovering from injuries.
DAN242 History of Dance: East and West (2 credits) Fall
This is a survey of the development of the major dance traditions of the East and the West. It examines the origins of the dance traditions and major milestones while reflecting on the philosophical and aesthetic underpinnings of the different dance forms.
DAB301R Fundamentals of Classical Ballet III (4 credits) Fall Spring
A continuation of DAB201R, this course further develops students' capabilities in the performance of the ballet technique and artistic expression. Students will further explore the expressive and dramatic qualities of the bodily moments. An important part will be the work au milieu as adagio with promenads and different cambrés, grand pirouettes, petit allegro with battus and turns and grand allegros and combinations with different dynamic qualities. Prerequisite: 6 credits of DAB 201R or instructor consent. (This course must be repeated once with credits awarded.)
DAN301R Fundamentals of Classical Chinese Dance III (4 credits) Fall Spring
This 300-level course serves as a gateway for students to discover their individual potential. It draws upon foundational skills acquired from previous studio courses, and requires students to increase their range of motion while performing challenging movement sequences. Students will focus on expanding their artistic expression, synthesizing form, and technique, and developing their individual strengths. Prerequisite: 6 credits of DAN201R or instructor consent. (This course must be repeated once with credits awarded.)
DAB302R Pointe & Partnering III (2 credits) Fall Spring
A continuation of DAB 202R, this course further develops students' capabilities in the performance of work on pointe and partnering. The work on pointe includes exercises on one foot in different poses, combinations, pirouettes from different positions, piqué pirouette en dedans and en dehors and sissonne ouverte. The partnering will focus on combinations including balances, promenades, pirouettes on pointe for girls, as well as basic lifts. Prerequisite: 2 credits of DAB 202R or instructor consent. (This course must be repeated once with credits awarded.)
DAN302R Shen Yun (身韻) III (1.5 credits) Fall Spring
This course further trains students in shen yun (bearing) by focusing on the interpretation of different dance styles in classical Chinese dance. Prerequisite: 3 credits of DAN202R or instructor consent. (This course must be repeated once with credits awarded.)
DAN304R Chinese Folk and Ethnic Dances III (1.5 credits) Fall Spring
This course further develops students' command of the techniques and artistic expression in Chinese folk and ethnic dances. Prerequisite: 2 credits of DAN204R or instructor consent. (This course must be repeated once with credits awarded.)
DAN311A Dance Pedagogy A (2 credits) Fall
This course introduces the basic principles, approaches, and materials in the teaching of dance at different levels and settings, ranging from K–12 and private studio to higher education.
DAN311B Dance Pedagogy B (3 credits) Spring
Through seminar and praxis formats, this course helps students apply the knowledge and competencies acquired in DAN311A. Students will be guided in developing pedagogical approaches and making lesson plans for teaching either classical ballet or classical Chinese dance in multiple settings. Prerequisite: DAN311A or instructor consent.
DAB312A Choreography I: Classical Ballet (2 credits) Fall
This studio course introduces the basic elements of choreography and the different choreographic devices. Students will experiment with various compositional techniques, and use the devices to compose their own works. Emphasis is on classical ballet. Prerequisite: DAB 201R or instructor consent.
DAN312A Choreography I: Classical Chinese Dance (2 credits) Fall
This studio course introduces the basic elements of choreography and the different choreographic devices. Students will experiment with various compositional techniques, and use the devices to compose their own works. Emphasis is on classical Chinese dance. Prerequisite: DAN101R, DAN102R, DAN103R, DAN104R and their repeats or instructor consent.
DAB312B Choreography II: Classical Ballet (2 credits) Spring
This course explores choreography as a creative problem-solving endeavor and focuses on the principles in choreographing group dances and narrative dances in Classical Ballet. There will be close examination of the phrasing of the movement, its musical structure, compositions of pes de duex, formations of the ensembles. The topics covered include the basic musicality, study of characters, dramatic impact, roles of male and female dancers, lighting, and costume design. Students will engage in exploratory and compositional practices both singly and collaboratively. Prerequisite: DAB312A or instructor consent.
DAN312B Choreography II: Classical Chinese Dance (2 credits) Spring
This course explores dance making as a creative problem-solving endeavor and focuses on group dances in classical Chinese dance and/or folk and ethnic dances. Students will engage in exploratory and compositional practices both singly and collaboratively. Course activities comprise lecture, watching of course-related videos, project presentation, and class discussion. Prerequisite: DAN312A or instructor consent.
DAB321R Repertory & Rehearsal II: Classical Ballet (1.5 credits) Fall Spring
A continuation of DAB221R, this course focuses on mastering repertory work at intermediate level. The student offers an insight into ballet repertoire from different centuries. Scenes from full-length ballets as well as new dance works will be rehearsed and performed. The repertory includes staging of solo, pas de deux and chorus. Focus will be on the performance quality of the ballet technique, style, artistry, and musicality as well as developing awareness of the interpretation of different role characters and scenarios. Prerequisite: 4 credits of DAB 221R or instructor consent. (This course must be repeated once with credits awarded.)
DAN321R Repertory & Rehearsal II: Classical Chinese Dance (1.5 credits) Fall Spring
This is a continuation of DAN221R and further develops students' overall performance and rehearsal skills. Prerequisite: 2 credits of DAN221R or instructor consent. (This course must be repeated once with credits awarded.)
DAB401R Fundamentals of Classical Ballet IV (4 credits) Fall Spring
This course consolidates the techniques covered in the previous three years. The last year of training focuses on the ballet syllabi at an advanced level. The interpretation of the ballet style will provide the opportunity to further explore the expressive and dramatic qualities of the bodily moments. An important part will be the work au milieu as adagio with promenads and different cambrés, grand pirouettes, petit allegro with battus and turns and grand allegros and combinations with different dynamic qualities. Prerequisite: 8 credits of DAB 301R or instructor consent. (This course must be repeated once with credits awarded.)
DAN401R Fundamentals of Classical Chinese Dance IV (4 credits) Fall Spring
Chinese dance program aims to help students achieve a level of professionalism and artistry. With the fundamentals at their disposal, students will learn to perform challenging combinations with ease, become fluent in a range of styles, and learn to project their feelings by unifying technique with artistic expression. Prerequisite: 8 credits of DAN301R or instructor consent. (This course must be repeated once with credits awarded.)
DAB402R Pointe & Partnering IV (2 credits) Fall Spring
This course focuses on pointe and partnering work at an advanced level. The work on pointe includes combinations with pirouettes, piqué pirouettes, fouettés, temps levé, renversé and tours en manegé. The partnering will focus on combinations including balances, promenades, pirouettes and penchée for girls on pointe as well as lifts. Prerequisite: 4 credits of DAB 302R or instructor consent. (This course must be repeated once with credits awarded.)
DAN411 Dance in Education (1 credit)
This course examines the role of dance in education, and in arts education in particular. Students will reflect on the principles and philosophies of creative movement as a basic human means for understanding themselves, other people, and the world around them. Prerequisite: DAN311A, and DAN311B or instructor consent.
DAN412A Advanced Choreography (3 credits) Fall
This course focuses on choreographing narrative dance pieces, in the form of small dance dramas. Students will learn to create different motifs to portray different characters, and find ways to express various emotions while presenting a complete storyline. Prerequisite: DAN312B or instructor consent.
DAN413 Principles of Guidance and Pedagogy (2 credits)
This course explores issues in teaching dance at the college level, including topics such as lesson planning, class structure, student learning objectives, assessment methods, and grading. It includes preparation of a syllabus and studio teaching practice. This course takes the form of reading assignments, in-class discussions, lectures, observation and teaching summaries, self-reflective critical journal entries, and portfolio building. Prerequisite: DAN312B or instructor consent.
DAB421R Repertory & Rehearsal III: Classical Ballet (2 credits) Fall Spring
In this course, students will work on ballet repertoire at an advanced level. Ballets from different centuries as well as new dance works will be rehearsed and performed. The interpretation of different role characters will provide students with the opportunity to further explore the expressive and dramatic qualities of ballet and music in repertory work. Prerequisite: 3 credits of DAB 321R or instructor consent. (This course must be repeated once with credits awarded.)
DAN421R Repertory and Rehearsal III: Classical Chinese Dance (2 credits) Fall Spring
This course enhances students' performance and rehearsal skills through the study of dance narratives and character portrayal. Prerequisite: 3 credits of DAN321R or instructor consent. (This course must be repeated once with credits awarded.)
DAN455 Senior Internship (4 credits) Spring
Senior Internship is a capstone course that serves as a culmination of students' dance skills and theoretical knowledge. It further develops their professionalism before they become working professionals. An internship lasts for an entire semester, with at least 10 hours of on-site work a week, for a total of 160 hours. Possible senior internships can be within the areas of pedagogy, choreography, or performance.
DAN461 Senior Project (4 credits)
The Senior Project is a capstone course that course challenges students to conduct research on the historical, cultural, and theoretical background, and analyze the composition and choreography of select repertoire. It also serves to give students experience in practical applications of their coursework, to develop the necessary core competencies—including communication, critical thinking, research, problem-solving, and professional orientation—which help prepare students to enter the professional dance field.
MUS243 History of Chinese Music (3 credits)
This course is an introduction to the basic history of Chinese Music that will form a foundation of Chinese Music knowledge for more advanced learning both in music and dance fields