University of Utah

The BFA program in the University of Utah Department of Modern Dance integrates the rigors of intellectual exploration, technical discipline, and creative investigation in order to prepare dancers for the opportunities and challenges of the profession. The undergraduate curriculum is the foundation of the department upon which the graduate program rests. The department is a contemporary dance community which is distinguished by its sense of excellence, professionalism, humanism, and a proud commitment to a lively spirit of creative inquiry. Diversity is welcomed, respected and encouraged; creative and intellectual integrity is required; professional discipline is expected. The quality of faculty instruction, the rigors of the curriculum, the facilities available to the students, and the national/international reputation of the program all contribute to the high standards set by the department. As is noted in Dance Teacher Now, November 1997, the Department's undergraduate program is ranked third nationally and the graduate program is ranked first.

The mission of our BFA Program is to promote the growth and development of students as dance artists, critical inquirers, and community members. The students’ technical training and creative investigation are aligned with coursework in the theoretical, pedagogical, and scientific parameters of the art form. Through the breadth and depth of the curriculum, the students develop competencies in artistic expression, somatic literacy, critical thinking, empirical knowledge, self-esteem, collaboration, and problem solving.

Beginning in the fall semester of the freshman year, the BFA Program focuses on the students’ technical, creative, and theoretical development. This integrated development is achieved through the sequential progression of the entire undergraduate curriculum. In the beginning level studio work (workshop and technique courses), emphasis is placed on the acquisition of basic locomotor skills, movement sequencing, problem solving techniques, and improvisational abilities. During the freshman year, students are also introduced to body conditioning, somatic training, musical theory, and cultural dance forms. The intermediate level studio work focuses even more specifically on dance technique and conditioning, on individual/group performance, and on abstraction and thematic development in choreography. In the kinesiology courses, sophomore students pursue an in-depth scientific understanding of the mechanics and workings of the human body along with a clear and detailed understanding of the prevention and care of dance injuries. In the advanced level studio work, students continue to work on technique but focus more intensively on the creative process. During this time, students are more deeply involved in the production of their creative and/or scholarly research. During their junior and senior years, students expand their critical thinking abilities by investigating dance within a contextual framework that incorporates history and cultural practice, philosophy, aesthetics, and musical theories. During this same time, students are given pedagogical experiences in the elementary and secondary public schools through the teaching methods courses (Children's Dance and Secondary Teaching Methods).

Our pedagogy supports the very basis of the BFA Program– improvisation, choreography, and performance with theoretical, pedagogical, and scientific support. Because of this integrated curriculum, the students experience and utilize interactive, relational, and process-oriented pedagogy. The program is both teacher-directed and student-centered. Upon graduation from our undergraduate program, our students are fully prepared for the demands and expectations of the dance profession as future performers, choreographers, teachers, scholars, dance artists, and dance advocates.

II. Philosophy Statement: Department of Modern Dance

BFA Undergraduate Program Schematic

III. Admission

All incoming undergraduate students (including both incoming freshman and transfer students) must audition for admission into the Department of Modern Dance as well as comply with regular University admission procedures. Incoming students must be aware that the faculty of the Department of Modern Dance presumes that majors will have the physical stamina and coordination as well as mental focus to take major classes safely. If the faculty feels a student’s safety is in jeopardy, the student will be graded accordingly and advised out of the program.

IV. Evaluation

Students are evaluated by their studio and classroom instructors each semester. If a student performs below departmental expectations in a modern dance course, she/he will receive a substandard grade in that course (D+ or lower). One substandard grade will result in a departmental probation. Two substandard grades in dance department courses could result in the student’s dismissal from the program. The student should not rely solely on course grades for feedback and is responsible to contact instructors according to the departmental advising policy regarding progress in each course.

1. University Academic Standards: All undergraduates are required to maintain a cumulative University GPA of not less than 2.0. A student who fails to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above shall be placed on scholastic probation. A student with a cumulative GPA below a 2.0 for two consecutive semesters is subject to dismissal from the university. See semester schedules for more information regarding University academic standards.

2. Departmental Grading Policy: A modern dance major must maintain a C- or above in ALL department courses (a D+ or lower is a substandard grade). A dance major receiving one substandard grade will be placed on departmental probation, and two substandard grades could result in dismissal from the program. If a student receives an E in a department course, he/she must re-take that course for credit and receive a passing grade.

Students who receive a substandard grade and are placed on departmental probation are ineligible for department merit awards (i.e. If you receive a substandard grade in the Fall, you would be ineligible for a Spring semester scholarship award.) Students will be re-considered for awards when their grades once again meet departmental standards.

3. Grading: Faculty will spend class time and provide a syllabus at the beginning of each semester explaining their personal expectations and criteria for grading. Students will also be issued a written course syllabus from the instructor. Grading criteria will be included in the syllabus of each instructor. Departmental grading criteria for all modern dance courses is as follows:

Grade Equivalents

A Consistently excellent quality of work and superior effort, far exceeding course requirements

B Good, well done, distinctly above average work and effort, exceeding course requirements

C Average, moderately well done in work and effort; successfully completing the requirements of the course

D Below average, insufficient effort and below average quality of work

E Not an acceptable level of work and effort to receive credit for the course

4. Class Attendance: It is the student’s responsibility to make sure she/he understands the attendance policy for each course. The attendance policy will be included in the syllabus of each instructor.

5. Cell Phone Use: No cell phone use during class. Students must turn off their cell phones before class begins. Recurrent infringement of this policy will jeopardize the student’s grade.

6. Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities: Students are responsible to familiarize themselves with their rights and responsibilities. These can be found on the University website. The Department of Modern Dance expects students to behave ethically at all times. The following is a statement from the Dean of Undergraduate Studies:

“The student code is spelled out in the student handbook. Students have specific rights in the classroom as detailed in Article III of the code. The code also specifies proscribed conduct. (Article X) that involves cheating on tests, plagiarism, and/or collusion, as well as fraud, theft, etc…Students should read the code carefully to become aware of these issues, and know they are responsible for the content. Students may receive sanctions for violating one or more of these proscriptions. The instructor(s) of this class will enforce the code in the course; cheating and plagiarism, will result in appropriate penalties, such as a failing grade on a specific exam or in the course and/or expulsion from the course. Students have the right to appeal such action to the student behavior committee.”

7. Injury and Illness:

a. If a student is ill and cannot participate in technique class, she/he may observe that class. If a student has an illness that is contagious (i.e. cold, flu, etc.) he or she should stay home and get better. The technique instructor is to be notified as to the student’s illness before class begins.

b. If an injury or illness prevents a student from full participation in class for an extended period, the policy is as follows:

1. The student may request to take the course for reduced credit (technique courses only).

This will require the student to register, at a later date, for the number of missing credits and attend class accordingly. This arrangement must be worked out with the individual technique instructor. Please note: In order to receive reduced credit, the student must submit a request to the department’s Student Request Committee accompanied by a doctor’s note.

Course Credit Adjustment Form: Accommodations for injury, illness, or special circumstance in the form of reduced credit must be dealt with through the appropriate faculty member and through the Student Request Committee. Once a reduction of credit has been approved by the Student Request Committee and the instructor, it is then the student’s responsibility to complete the Course Credit Adjustment Form (available from the department secretary), have it signed by the instructor, and take it to the Dean’s office at least two weeks before the last day of classes.

Reduction of credit is allowed only in technique courses. See the Chair of the Student Request Committee for specific details.

2. If the student is injured and unable to participate in class, she/he may request permission to drop the course. The student will consult with the Student Request Committee to determine how the missing studio credits will be recovered. Possible alternatives may include the following courses:

- modern dance classes for ballet majors

- summer workshops

- DCE classes

- modern & ballet department technique class