Program at a glance
Department
Made possible through a partnership between Morehouse College and Spelman College, dance at Spelman is a critical and creative thinking laboratory that nurtures students of the African diaspora.
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Bachelor of Arts in Dance Performance and Choreography
The Dance Performance and Choreography major consists of 48 semester credits. The major is divided into four areas: Technique, Theory, Composition, and Performance.
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Dance Performance and Choreography Minor
The dance performance and choreography minor requires 21 hours.
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About Dance Performance and Choreography
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Overview
Overview
Made possible through a partnership between Morehouse College and Spelman College, dance at Spelman is a critical and creative thinking laboratory that nurtures students of the African diaspora. Students investigate intersections of experimental creative practices, cultural discourse, and technology. In keeping with the college’s focus on social justice and innovation, the department’s theory and composition classes fuse technology and womanist theory along with other social discourse. The curriculum centers on the choreographic process through the lens of Black feminist theories, contemporary dance techniques, and interdisciplinary collaborative practice. Students engage with an exciting roster of visiting artists who explore and push boundaries through the Spelman College Dance Artist Incubation Residency. Department faculty includes globally recognized working artists who mentor and guide students through scholarship, artistic production, and entrepreneurial strategies. The department cultivates freethinkers and intelligent movers interested in becoming creators, innovators, writers, historians, and scholars within the evolving field of dance.
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Outcomes
Outcomes
After completing the major, students will be able to:
- Engage in dance as a mode of inquiry, knowledge production, and critical thinking through embodied creative process, theoretical research, literature, and performance
- Articulate verbally and through embodied practice historical and contemporary socio-cultural contexts of dance practice
- Demonstrate high-level choreographic skills to investigate, engage in, and develop creative processes
- Demonstrate the ability to self-generate professional opportunities and creative spaces, and maneuver within various concert, commercial, and social communities locally, regionally, and internationally
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Earn the Major
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN DANCE PERFORMANCE AND CHOREOGRAPHY
General Education (Core) – 33-48 hours
Refer to the general education requirements for more information.
Dance Performance and Choreography – 48 hours
Dance Performance and Choreography Core Technique – 7 hours
- SDAN 121 African Dance Forms
- SDAN 161 Principle of Jazz
- SDAN 202 Jazz Funk
- SDAN 252 Commerical Hip Hop
- SDAN 171 Improvisation
- SDAN 131 Beginning Contemporary Modern Dance
- SDAN 233 Intermediate Contemporary African
- SDAN 333 Advance Contemporary Modern Dance
- SDAN 111 Beginning Ballet
- SDAN 215 Intermediate Advanced Ballet
Theory – 19 hours
- SDAN 105 Dance Perspectives and Process
- SDAN 241 Black Presence in Dance History
- SDAN 203 Critical Writing for Dance
- SDAN 206 Navigating the Business of Dance
- SDAN 211 Dance, Community and Social Change
- SDAN 300 The Art of Teaching Dance
- SDAN 241 Black Presence in American Dance
Choreographic Process – 12 hours
- SDAN 201 Choreographic Process I – Solo/Womanist Theories
- SDAN 301 Choreographic Process II – Group/Art as Activisim with lab
- SDAN 494 Independent Study (Dance Capstone) (4)
Performance – 4 hours
- SDAN 200 Dance Performance (Spelman Dance Theatre)
Dance Performance and Choreography Electives – 8 hours
- SDAN 209 Contemplative Practices and the Arts
- SDAN 211 Dance, Community and Social Change
- SDAN 262 Dance for the Camera
- SDAN 300 The Art of Teaching Dance
- SDAN 377 Women in Dance: Sexism, Sexuality and Subversion
- SDAN 396 Choreographing Lives: Women’s Autobiography and Dance
Additional Requirements
Department Productions
All majors must audition for Spelman Dance Theatre, the department’s performance company beginning their second year and participate in the company for four consecutive semesters in performance, production, or administrative. Entrance and Exit Interview/Exam Majors are required to participate in an interview/exam when they begin the major and as graduating seniors. Auditions The audition for Spelman Dance Theatre, the department’s dance company, will be held at the beginning of each academic year. Spelman Dance Theatre performs original works by dance faculty and graduating seniors presented in the fall and spring semesters. The company also provides platforms for students to create and present their own original works mentored by faculty. Non- Majors are welcomed to audition for Spelman Dance Theatre.
Audition Process
Performance Audition
Students attend a two-hour audition process led by dance faculty. Students will learn contemporary movement phrases and perform phrases in small groups. Students will also perform structured improvisation phrases. Auditions are evaluated by faculty. Open to all classes and majors.
Choreography Audition
Students attend a two-hour process led by dance faculty. Students will participate in an improvisation class followed by presenting their two minute choreography. Students are required to submit a work description of their proposed choreographed project that details their content, inspiration/resource material, sound score, description of casting, and an outline of rehearsal strategy. Internships Majors are encouraged to participate in at least one internship during their time in the department. While internships will earn students credit toward graduation, they will not count as a core credit.
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Earn the Minor
MINOR IN DANCE PERFORMANCE AND CHOREOGRAPHY
The dance performance and choreography minor requires 21 hours.
- Dance Technique
- SDAN 200 Dance Performance (Spelman Dance Theatre)
- SDAN 201 Choreographic Process I: Solo/Womanist Theories
- SDAN 301 Choreographic Process II: Group/Art as Activism
- SDAN 203 Critical Writing for Dance
- SDAN 206 Navigating the Business of Dance
- SDAN 241 Black Presence in American Dance
Overview
Made possible through a partnership between Morehouse College and Spelman College, dance at Spelman is a critical and creative thinking laboratory that nurtures students of the African diaspora. Students investigate intersections of experimental creative practices, cultural discourse, and technology. In keeping with the college’s focus on social justice and innovation, the department’s theory and composition classes fuse technology and womanist theory along with other social discourse. The curriculum centers on the choreographic process through the lens of Black feminist theories, contemporary dance techniques, and interdisciplinary collaborative practice. Students engage with an exciting roster of visiting artists who explore and push boundaries through the Spelman College Dance Artist Incubation Residency. Department faculty includes globally recognized working artists who mentor and guide students through scholarship, artistic production, and entrepreneurial strategies. The department cultivates freethinkers and intelligent movers interested in becoming creators, innovators, writers, historians, and scholars within the evolving field of dance.
Outcomes
After completing the major, students will be able to:
- Engage in dance as a mode of inquiry, knowledge production, and critical thinking through embodied creative process, theoretical research, literature, and performance
- Articulate verbally and through embodied practice historical and contemporary socio-cultural contexts of dance practice
- Demonstrate high-level choreographic skills to investigate, engage in, and develop creative processes
- Demonstrate the ability to self-generate professional opportunities and creative spaces, and maneuver within various concert, commercial, and social communities locally, regionally, and internationally
BACHELOR OF ARTS IN DANCE PERFORMANCE AND CHOREOGRAPHY
General Education (Core) – 33-48 hours
Refer to the general education requirements for more information.
Dance Performance and Choreography – 48 hours
Dance Performance and Choreography Core Technique – 7 hours
- SDAN 121 African Dance Forms
- SDAN 161 Principle of Jazz
- SDAN 202 Jazz Funk
- SDAN 252 Commerical Hip Hop
- SDAN 171 Improvisation
- SDAN 131 Beginning Contemporary Modern Dance
- SDAN 233 Intermediate Contemporary African
- SDAN 333 Advance Contemporary Modern Dance
- SDAN 111 Beginning Ballet
- SDAN 215 Intermediate Advanced Ballet
Theory – 19 hours
- SDAN 105 Dance Perspectives and Process
- SDAN 241 Black Presence in Dance History
- SDAN 203 Critical Writing for Dance
- SDAN 206 Navigating the Business of Dance
- SDAN 211 Dance, Community and Social Change
- SDAN 300 The Art of Teaching Dance
- SDAN 241 Black Presence in American Dance
Choreographic Process – 12 hours
- SDAN 201 Choreographic Process I – Solo/Womanist Theories
- SDAN 301 Choreographic Process II – Group/Art as Activisim with lab
- SDAN 494 Independent Study (Dance Capstone) (4)
Performance – 4 hours
- SDAN 200 Dance Performance (Spelman Dance Theatre)
Dance Performance and Choreography Electives – 8 hours
- SDAN 209 Contemplative Practices and the Arts
- SDAN 211 Dance, Community and Social Change
- SDAN 262 Dance for the Camera
- SDAN 300 The Art of Teaching Dance
- SDAN 377 Women in Dance: Sexism, Sexuality and Subversion
- SDAN 396 Choreographing Lives: Women’s Autobiography and Dance
Additional Requirements
Department Productions
All majors must audition for Spelman Dance Theatre, the department’s performance company beginning their second year and participate in the company for four consecutive semesters in performance, production, or administrative. Entrance and Exit Interview/Exam Majors are required to participate in an interview/exam when they begin the major and as graduating seniors. Auditions The audition for Spelman Dance Theatre, the department’s dance company, will be held at the beginning of each academic year. Spelman Dance Theatre performs original works by dance faculty and graduating seniors presented in the fall and spring semesters. The company also provides platforms for students to create and present their own original works mentored by faculty. Non- Majors are welcomed to audition for Spelman Dance Theatre.
Audition Process
Performance Audition
Students attend a two-hour audition process led by dance faculty. Students will learn contemporary movement phrases and perform phrases in small groups. Students will also perform structured improvisation phrases. Auditions are evaluated by faculty. Open to all classes and majors.
Choreography Audition
Students attend a two-hour process led by dance faculty. Students will participate in an improvisation class followed by presenting their two minute choreography. Students are required to submit a work description of their proposed choreographed project that details their content, inspiration/resource material, sound score, description of casting, and an outline of rehearsal strategy. Internships Majors are encouraged to participate in at least one internship during their time in the department. While internships will earn students credit toward graduation, they will not count as a core credit.
MINOR IN DANCE PERFORMANCE AND CHOREOGRAPHY
The dance performance and choreography minor requires 21 hours.
- Dance Technique
- SDAN 200 Dance Performance (Spelman Dance Theatre)
- SDAN 201 Choreographic Process I: Solo/Womanist Theories
- SDAN 301 Choreographic Process II: Group/Art as Activism
- SDAN 203 Critical Writing for Dance
- SDAN 206 Navigating the Business of Dance
- SDAN 241 Black Presence in American Dance