Nov 27, 2024  
Undergraduate Catalog 2022-2023 
    
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Undergraduate Catalog 2022-2023 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Department of Dance

Faculty

Associate Professor

  • Jinyoung Lee Hanley, M.A.

Artist in Residence

  • Eileen Hebron, B.A.

Statement of Purpose

The purpose of the Department of Dance is to develop dancers whose creative expression combines artistic beauty and technical mastery within a community of shared Christian values that integrates Christian faith and learning. Graduates are expected to demonstrate a mastery of a variety of dance techniques, display articulate verbal and non-verbal communication, understand dance from a historical and cultural perspective, and perform with a unique artistic voice. The successful student combines these competencies to prepare, present and teach dance in a professional manner.

Programs of Study

The Department of Dance offers programs leading to the Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Arts degree. The Bachelor of Fine Arts professional degree focuses on intensive work in dance, supported by a program in general studies and intended to prepare students for professional practice in dance. The Bachelor of Arts degree is intended for those students who seek a thorough grounding in dance technique, including opportunities for performance experience within the traditional, broad-based liberal arts curriculum. The B.A. in dance offers concentrations in dance ministry, dance pedagogy, or dance studies. The department also offers a minor in dance. Unless specified in the course description, all courses offered in the Department of Dance are open to qualified students regardless of their major. Some applied dance courses and ensembles require an audition or instructor permission before students may be admitted. Students are encouraged to consult a dance advisor for information about specific course offerings.

Admission Requirements

In addition to PBAU application procedures, prospective students seeking to major in dance must file an application and complete an audition with the Department of Dance. Application materials must include:

  • Audition form  
  • A letter of recommendation from a high school dance teacher or other dance professional familiar with your work and character
  • A one-page resume including dance trainings, performance experiences, achievements and awards, skills, and academic GPA
  • A one-page essay describing why you want to pursue dance as a major. Consider goals in college and beyond
  • A  head shot
  • A full-body dance shot

Application materials should be received and auditions completed at least six weeks before the student’s first term as a dance major to ensure a place in as many required courses as possible.

Auditions and Placement Examinations

All prospective students must complete a live audition and interview with the dance faculty prior to the semester of initial enrollment. If a student lives too far from an audition site for a live audition to be practical, a video file or YouTube link may be submitted for provisional consideration, to be followed up by a live audition and interview when the student arrives on campus. All freshmen and transfer students will be evaluated to be considered to receive dance scholarships, recommendation of their degrees and concentrations, and placement in their appropriate technique course level. Audition requirements are listed below:

  • Group ballet class
  • Group modern dance class
  • Presentation of solo: one to two minutes choreographed solo of your own dance style.
  • Interview with faculty members

Scholarship Information

PBAU offers scholarships in varied amounts to a select number of highly talented and promising students each year. These scholarships are available through a competitive process that includes an interview and an audition with the dance faculty of the university. 

Students who accept these grants-in-aid must fulfill the following criteria:

  • Enrollment as a full-time student pursuing a major in the Department of Dance
  • Maintain a 3.0 overall grade point average for all courses taken at Palm Beach Atlantic University
  • Enrollment each semester in Dance Ensemble
  • Participate in the Student Choreography Showcase each semester
  • The award may not exceed nine (9) semesters for first-term college students and up to seven (7) semesters for transfer students.
  • Abide by PBA’s Core Values as outlined in the Navigator

For further information, please review the Dance Department Handbook.

Review of Satisfactory Progress

All dance majors will have their progress reviewed annually and must maintain a 2.75 grade point average in all dance courses attempted at Palm Beach Atlantic University. a grade of C+ in all dance courses. For further information, please review the Dance Department Handbook.

Residency Requirement

All dance majors must complete a minimum of two years in full-time residence at PBA, including their senior year. Transfer students will not be admitted beyond the first semester of their junior year. Dance technique credits transferred from another institution toward a major or minor may not exceed ten (10) credit hours for B.F.A. students and seven (7) credit hours for B.A. students. Majors may not use transient study to fulfill courses in the Dance Core or Major Requirements and Electives.

Dance Productions

The Department of Dance presents at least two fully-produced dance concerts and several student showcases each academic year. Productions range from classical to contemporary in nature, in order to give the student an opportunity to work in various dance genres. Participation in productions requires an audition and is open to all PBA students regardless of major. Dance majors are required to participate in productions, which may include Dance Ensemble Concerts, Senior Dance Concerts, Student Choreography Showcases, and other dance concerts pre-approved by the Chair of the Department. At a minimum, all majors must participate in:

For B.F.A. Students:

  • Two performances as a dancer
  • Two performances created as a choreographer (which may include the audition for Student Choreography Showcase)

For B.A. Students:

  • One performance as a dancer
  • One performance created as a choreographer (which may include the audition for Student Choreography Showcase)

Backstage Requirements

Students will gain production experience and skills by working as backstage crew and production assistants in the following courses, which are required for all dance majors:

  • DAN 1113 Dance Production
  • DAN 3473 Creative Dance Practices I
  • DAN 4473 Creative Dance Practices II
  • DAN 4121 Senior Project

It is recommended that students take only one of these courses per semester. All dance majors are required to complete a minimum of two backstage and/or production assistant assignments per academic year. Additionally, it is the responsibility of the student to track and record their participation and involvement for submission in their annual student evaluation. Examples of tasks include, but are not limited to:

  • Load-in and strikes
  • Programing of the performances
  • Coordinating music
  • Creating a master cue sheet
  • Sign-in and Sign-out
  • Stage manager
  • Backstage crew

Concert Attendance Requirements

All dance majors are required to attend at least eight (8) performances each year of full-time enrollment (a total of 32 over the course of the four-year degree, and pro-rated for transfer students and students graduating midyear). Attendance at off campus concerts in professional arts venues are encouraged to be used to meet a portion of the annual requirement, but must be approved by the student’s advisor. 

The requirements for concert attendance are as follows:

  • At least six (6) out of the eight (8) yearly performances attended must be dance concerts
  • A minimum of three (3) dance performances at professional theatres (provision of ticket and program required)
    • Maximum one virtual concert (full length production and provision of citation/resource)
    • Attendance at tech/dress rehearsals are allowed (provision of date/place/name/photo of the event required)

Dance Ensemble Requirements

The dance department is committed to ensemble performance as a primary means of instruction in dance. All dance majors must earn a minimum requirement (as stated below) in DAN 1501 - Dance Ensemble or DAN 3501 - Dance Ensemble while enrolled at PBA.

For B.F.A. Students: Every semester

For B.A. Students: Two semesters

Dance Ensemble Intensive Attendance

All returning dance students enrolled in PBA Dance Ensemble are required to attend an annual retreat. PBA Dance Ensemble retreat is generally held the week before fall semester.

Senior Graduation Project

All B.F.A. students are required to present a senior dance concert as part of their senior graduation project.  B.A. students may complete their senior project in other ways.  The content and type of the project will be tailored to the individual student’s needs and interests. Students must register for DAN 4120 - Senior Graduation Project after the professor has approved the student’s graduation project.. Please consult with the professor of this course at least two semesters prior to graduation.

Dancers’ Seminar

Dance students and faculty gather for one hour a week to relay and discuss pertinent information about the program and the current state of dance in culture and society. Students share their choreographic works-in-progress and receive critical feedback from classmates and faculty. Auditions for Student Choreography Showcase may be held during this class. All declared dance majors must take DAN 0110 - Dancers’ Seminar every semester. All declared dance minors must take the course every semester until they complete their minor requirements, including semesters without dance course enrollment. 

 

The Department of Dance offers a Bachelor of Arts and a more rigorous degree program with the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. The B.A. has three areas of study with a concentration in Dance Pedagogy, Performance/Choreography, or Dance Ministry. 

Dance*:

Dance, B.A. with a concentration in Pedagogy, Performance, or Dance Worship

Dance, B.F.A 

*A minor in the degree program is also available.