Program Overview

Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Dance

The bachelor of arts program in dance at GW's Corcoran School trains students to tell their own stories through movement. The strength of the program is in the relationships between students and faculty mentors. Dance faculty are dedicated to educating the dancers and choreographers of the future through the program's global, interdisciplinary community in the heart of Washington, DC.

Overview

The program focuses on modern, postmodern, and contemporary dance techniques with an emphasis on experimentation through the creative process. Courses are allied with the body of knowledge found in somatic theories. Modern technique classes are offered at four levels, and students take additional classes in dance history, production, and career strategies.

Working with national and internationally known guest artists through classes and rehearsals, students establish professional connections to a variety of geographies and heritages with a wide variety of performative opportunities both in and outside of the studio. Program graduates are prepared for professional careers in the multifaceted field of dance as artists, entrepreneurs, managers, or dance specialists.

Admissions

For information about the admission process, including deadlines, the following requirements must be fulfilled:

• The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Undergraduate Programs.

Requirements

The following requirements must be fulfilled:

• 39 credits in four categories:
  • 15 credits in one of three concentrations (theory, technique, or creative process and performance)
  • 9 credits in each of the two remaining categories
  • 6 elective credits
• Course List:
  • Dance theory:
    • CTAD 1015: Understanding Dance
    • CTAD 2191/2191W: Dance History
    • CTAD 2185: Trends in Performance–Action into Art
    • CTAD 3131W: Performance, Identity, and Social Change
    • CTAD 4274: Hip-Hop Theatre
  • Dance technique:
    • CTAD 1152: Beginning Modern/Postmodern Dance
    • CTAD 1153: Beginning–Intermediate Modern and Postmodern Dance
    • CTAD 1170: Intermediate Modern/Postmodern Dance I
    • CTAD 1171: Intermediate Modern/Postmodern Dance II
    • CTAD 2172: Intermediate/Advanced Modern/Postmodern Dance I
    • CTAD 2173: Intermediate/Advanced Modern/Postmodern Dance II
    • CTAD 3174: Advanced Modern/Postmodern Dance I
    • CTAD 3175: Advanced Modern/Postmodern Dance II
    • CTAD 1151: Beginning/Intermediate Ballet
    • CTAD 2160: Intermediate Ballet
    • CTAD 2193: Dance Styles I
  • Creative process and performance:
    • CTAD 4184: Choreography and Performance
    • CTAD 2192: Repertory/Performance
    • CTAD 3182: Dance Composition I
    • CTAD 3183: Dance Composition II
    • CTAD 2180: Movement Improvisation/Performance
    • CTAD 4595: Selected Topics
    • CTAD 4273: Devising New Works in Performance
    • CTAD 1330: Basics of Production Design
  • Electives:
    • All Corcoran, CORX, and CTAD courses, with permission from advisor
    • CTAD 4596: Independent Study
    • CTAD 4597: Senior Project
    • CTAD 4598: Internship
    • CTAD 4599: Honors Thesis

General Education

In addition to the University General Education Requirement, undergraduate students in Columbian College must complete a further, College-specific general education curriculum—Perspective, Analysis, Communication (G-PAC) as well as the course CCAS 1001 First-Year Experience. Together with the University General Education Requirement, G-PAC engages students in active intellectual inquiry across the liberal arts. Students achieve a set of learning outcomes that enhance their analytical skills, develop their communication competencies, and invite them to participate as responsible citizens who are attentive to issues of culture, diversity, and privilege.

Coursework for the University General Education Requirement

• One course in critical thinking in the humanities
• Two courses in critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, or scientific reasoning in the social sciences
• One course that has an approved oral communication component
• One course in quantitative reasoning (must be in mathematics or statistics)
• One course in scientific reasoning (must be in natural and/or physical laboratory sciences)
• UW 1020 University Writing
• After successful completion of UW 1020, 6 credits distributed over at least two writing in the discipline (WID) courses taken in separate semesters

Coursework for the CCAS G-PAC requirement

• Arts—one approved arts course that involves the study or creation of artwork based on an understanding or interpretation of artistic traditions or knowledge of art in a contemporary context
• Global or cross-cultural perspective—one approved course that analyzes the ways in which institutions, practices, and problems transcend national and regional boundaries
• Local or civic engagement—one approved course that develops the values, ethics, disciplines, and commitment to pursue responsible public action
• Natural or physical science—one additional approved laboratory course that employs the process of scientific inquiry (in addition to the one course in this category required by the University General Education Requirement)
• Humanities—one additional approved humanities course that involves critical thinking skills (in addition to the one course in this category required by the University General Education Requirement)
• CCAS 1001 First-Year Experience

Special Honors

In addition to the general requirements stated under University Regulations, in order to be considered for graduation with Special Honors in Theatre or Dance, students must have a grade-point average of 3.4 in the major and complete CTAD 4599 Honors Thesis with a grade of . They must consult a faculty advisor at the beginning of the second semester of the junior year to determine eligibility, area of study, and the director of the research or creative project.