Performing Arts - Dance Performance
Note: Admission for Fall 2023 into the Performing Arts/Dance Studio degree program has been temporarily paused.
La Roche University Dance Department Mission and Vision
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the La Roche University Dance Department is to prepare a competent, educated, and mature professional who is viable in the current creative work force. We are committed to nurturing our students through extensive technical training, a deep historical and kinesthetic knowledge of the art form, and an enriched artistic awareness that is developed through performance and practicum.
The La Roche University Dance Department is a ballet-based program offering a Bachelor of Arts Degree in professional performance and pedagogy. The concentration of the dance department is rooted in classical ballet; however, the artists are to reach proficiency in multiple genres including: contemporary ballet, modern technique, jazz, Pilate’s technique, and dance composition.
VISION
The La Roche University Dance Department strives to educate and coach our students in a nurturing and compassionate way, developing each of their individual talents through a comprehensive and cohesive academic and creative environment.
DEPARTMENTAL GOALS
The La Roche University Dance Department is committed to the development and enhancement of our artist’s abilities in an effort to articulate our pristine accelerated programmatic goals on a national level.
- Students study and train primarily with the Director of Dance for the duration of four years while receiving enrichment from company artists and esteemed guests of Bodiography Contemporary Ballet.
- Students are required to reach equal proficiency in both classical ballet technique and contemporary technique upon graduation.
- Students are required to demonstrate their competency and knowledge of all techniques through the production of a student guided senior thesis, which identifies their technical balance while highlighting their individual artistic strengths.
REQUIREMENTS: To successfully complete the Performing Arts-Dance Studio major, the following coursework is required:
- 88 credits as listed under “Major Component/Requirements” (58 Dance Studio requirements, 30 Dance Academic Requirements)
- 37 CORE credits
- A minimum number of 125 credits are required for degree, the last 30 of which, and 50% of the major must be earned at La Roche University. (Developmental course work does not count toward the minimum number of required credits for graduation.)
Summary of Requirements
Dance Requirements: 58 credits
PART1000FR PERFORMANCE
Credits (Min/Max): 1/1
This course is designed to develop the artist's comprehension and execution of various forms of repertoire in an effort to guide the student's body and mind towards an articulate performance. This course is designed to offer the artist an array of dance voices via the recruitment of various guest choreographers to set original works for performance, the rights to learn and perform previously established works by established choreographers, and the opportunity to create and set creative works among the student population.
PART1004FR BALLET TECHNIQUE
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This course is designed to develop the artist's knowledge of ballet technique through the emphasis of style, musicality, sensitivity, and precision. The artist will work to demonstrate a clear articulation of the French ballet vocabulary, the direct translation of the vocabulary into English, and the exact articulation of each movement as it is accomplished at both the barre and in centre practice.
PART1005FR CONTEMPORARY/MODERN
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This class is designed to develop the artist's use of space, emotion, mood, and the deliberate use of gravity. This course will focus on traditional modern dance techniques such as Graham, Lewitsky, and Cunningham technique in addition to contemporary dance styles inclusive of release technique, contemporary ballet, and Bodiography technique.
PART1009FR POINTE/PAS DE DEUX
Credits (Min/Max): 1/1
This course is designed to develop the artist's knowledge of pointe technique through the emphasis of strength, mechanics, artistry, and precision. The artist will work to demonstrate a clear articulation of the ballet vocabulary via the exact articulation of footwork in each movement as it is accomplished at both the barre and in centre practice. This class also designed to develop the artist's understanding of ballet and contemporary partnering. It will work to define the practices and techniques of shared movement and will encourage the artist to explore and examine how their individual body moves in space with another.
PART1012FR VARIATIONS/REPERTOIRE
Credits (Min/Max): 1/1
Variations/Repertoire - is a course that explores various notable ballet and contemporary variations. Focusing on ballet technique and performance quality, this course seeks to expand on the student's dance performance knowledge and ability while exposing them to a wide selection of repertoire.
PART2001SO PERFORMANCE
Credits (Min/Max): 1/1
This course is designed to develop the artist's comprehension and execution of various forms of repertoire in an effort to guide the student's body and mind towards an articulate performance. This course is designed to offer the artist an array of dance voices via the recruitment of various guest choreographers to set original works for performance, the rights to learn and perform previously established works by established choreographers, and the opportunity to create and set creative works among the student population.
PART2004SO BALLET TECHNIQUE
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This course is designed to develop the artist's knowledge of ballet technique through the emphasis of style, musicality, sensitivity, and precision. The artist will work to demonstrate a clear articulation of the French ballet vocabulary, the direct translation of the vocabulary into English, and the exact articulation of each movement as it is accomplished at both the barre and in centre practice.
PART2005SO CONTEMPORARY/MODERN
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This class is designed to develop the artist's use of space, emotion, mood, and the deliberate use of gravity. This course will focus on traditional modern dance techniques such as Graham, Lewitsky, and Cunningham technique in addition to contemporary dance styles inclusive of release technique, contemporary ballet, and Bodiography technique.
PART2009SO POINTE/PAS DE DEUX
Credits (Min/Max): 1/1
This course is designed to develop the artist's knowledge of pointe technique through the emphasis of strength, mechanics, artistry, and precision. The artist will work to demonstrate a clear articulation of the ballet vocabulary via the exact articulation of footwork in each movement as it is accomplished at both the barre and in centre practice. This class also designed to develop the artist's understanding of ballet and contemporary partnering. It will work to define the practices and techniques of shared movement and will encourage the artist to explore and examine how their individual body moves in space with another.
PART2012SO VARIATIONS/REPERTOIRE
Credits (Min/Max): 1/1
Variations/Repertoire - is a course that explores various notable ballet and contemporary variations. Focusing on ballet technique and performance quality, this course seeks to expand on the student's dance performance knowledge and ability while exposing them to a wide selection of repertoire.
PART3000JR PERFORMANCE
Credits (Min/Max): 1/1
This course is designed to develop the artist's comprehension and execution of various forms of repertoire in an effort to guide the student's body and mind towards an articulate performance. This course is designed to offer the artist an array of dance voices via the recruitment of various guest choreographers to set original works for performance, the rights to learn and perform previously established works by established choreographers, and the opportunity to create and set creative works among the student population.
PART3004JR BALLET TECHNIQUES
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This course is designed to develop the artist's knowledge of ballet technique through the emphasis of style, musicality, sensitivity, and precision. The artist will work to demonstrate a clear articulation of the French ballet vocabulary, the direct translation of the vocabulary into English, and the exact articulation of each movement as it is accomplished at both the barre and in centre practice.
PART3005JR CONTEMPORARY/MODERN
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This class is designed to develop the artist's use of space, emotion, mood, and the deliberate use of gravity. This course will focus on traditional modern dance techniques such as Graham, Lewitsky, and Cunningham technique in addition to contemporary dance styles inclusive of release technique, contemporary ballet, and Bodiography technique.
PART3009JR POINTE/PAS DE DEUX
Credits (Min/Max): 1/1
This course is designed to develop the artist's knowledge of pointe technique through the emphasis of strength, mechanics, artistry, and precision. The artist will work to demonstrate a clear articulation of the ballet vocabulary via the exact articulation of footwork in each movement as it is accomplished at both the barre and in centre practice. This class also designed to develop the artist's understanding of ballet and contemporary partnering. It will work to define the practices and techniques of shared movement and will encourage the artist to explore and examine how their individual body moves in space with another.
PART4000SR PERFORMANCE
Credits (Min/Max): 1/1
This course is designed to develop the artist's comprehension and execution of various forms of repertoire in an effort to guide the student's body and mind towards an articulate performance. This course is designed to offer the artist an array of dance voices via the recruitment of various guest choreographers to set original works for performance, the rights to learn and perform previously established works by established choreographers, and the opportunity to create and set creative works among the student population.
PART4004SR BALLET TECHNIQUES
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This course is designed to develop the artist's knowledge of ballet technique through the emphasis of style, musicality, sensitivity, and precision. The artist will work to demonstrate a clear articulation of the French ballet vocabulary, the direct translation of the vocabulary into English, and the exact articulation of each movement as it is accomplished at both the barre and in centre practice.
PART4005SR CONTEMPORARY/MODERN
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This class is designed to develop the artist's use of space, emotion, mood, and the deliberate use of gravity. This course will focus on traditional modern dance techniques such as Graham, Lewitsky, and Cunningham technique in addition to contemporary dance styles inclusive of release technique, contemporary ballet, and Bodiography technique.
PART4009SR POINTE/PAS DE DEUX
Credits (Min/Max): 1/1
This course is designed to develop the artist's knowledge of pointe technique through the emphasis of strength, mechanics, artistry, and precision. The artist will work to demonstrate a clear articulation of the ballet vocabulary via the exact articulation of footwork in each movement as it is accomplished at both the barre and in centre practice. This class also designed to develop the artist's understanding of ballet and contemporary partnering. It will work to define the practices and techniques of shared movement and will encourage the artist to explore and examine how their individual body moves in space with another.
Performing Arts Academics - 30 credits:
BIOL1002INTRO TO THE HUMAN BODY:SYSTEMS THAT MOVE YOU
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This course will explore the basic concepts of human anatomy and physiology of the body systems responsible for movement. Specifically, the structure, function, interrelationships, and control of the skeletal muscle, and nervous systems will be studied. This course is designed for students majoring in dance.
PREREQUISITES:
Dance Majors Only
NSCI1025NORMAL AND CLINICAL NUTRITION
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This course covers the fundamental principles of nutrition and their relationship to health. The role of diet in the prevention and treatment of representative pathophysiological conditions will be examined. This course is designed for students majoring in Nursing or interested in careers in the Health Sciences.
NSCI2005DANCE KINESIOLOGY
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
The student will study the skeletal and muscular systems of the body in depth, as well as analyze their interrelationship to one another. The interrelationship of nerves to muscle and bone movement will also be investigated. Analysis of movement is an important component. The interrelationships of one part of the body to another will be investigated. Applications will be made to athletic ability and dance technique.
PART1022FUNDAMENTALS OF MUSIC I (SLAE)
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
A hands-on introduction to the language of music (notation, scales, melody, harmony, etc.) using recorders, percussion and listening examples from various musical genres. This class is built for the non-musician. (SLAE)
PART2010DANCE HISTORY I
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
Overview of the development of dance in the western world, within the context of the historical, practical, theoretical, and cultural.
PART2015DANCE HISTORY II
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
An introductory history of the development of dance. Dance will be examined as a form of human expression. Forms of ritual as well as art forms will be analyzed. Ballet, modern and jazz will be emphasized from their beginnings through their evolution to contemporary choreographed styles.
PART3015DANCE PEDAGOGY I
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
This course is an overview of dance teaching as a profession including requirements, challenges, and opportunities. Includes 10 hours of clinical laboratory experiences, directed observations, and limited participation in classroom settings. The material covered in this course equips the teaching candidate with a basis for forming a personal teaching philosophy and methods in its practical application to dance technique classes in a variety of teaching settings.
PART3030DANCE COMPOSITION I
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
Dance composition is a comprehensive study, navigation, and connection of choreographic structures to create a unified work of choreography that is prepared for performance. All movement language is taken from the techniques of ballet, contemporary, jazz, hip hop, folk, religious, and pedestrian movement.
PART4030DANCE COMPOSITION II
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
Dance composition II is a comprehensive development and departure from the studies of choreographic development in the preliminary composition course. This course is primarily focused on the creation of a larger group work and the presentation of that work without utilizing oneself as a key-performing participant.
PART4055SENIOR SEMINAR IN PER ARTS/DANCE
Credits (Min/Max): 3/3
An exploration of current trends, innovation and developments in dance in a seminar format. Students will discuss, compare and analyze ideas generated by assigned readings, as well as their work on capstone projects.