The Performance and Choreography/Contemporary Track in the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Dance prepares students to perform and create original dance choreography for theatrical productions. Dance BFA students complete a rigorous technical and creative curriculum designed to develop the student's individual artistic voice. Contemporary Track majors additionally study body/mind sciences, dance pedagogy, historical and cultural contexts for dance, and the interactive collaboration skills necessary to bring dance to the theatre with a high degree of excellence.
Requirements
Laptop Requirement
Preparing for a future defined by digital technology is an important step in developing artists. Our digitally integrated curriculum helps you achieve a professional level with leading art-related software and practices.
Laptop ownership is strongly recommended for all undergraduates. However, it’s required for the programs below. For more information please visit the Peck School of the Arts admission page.
- Art & Design (BA and BFA Programs)
- Dance (BA and BFA Programs)
- Film, Video, Animation & New Genres (BA and BFA Programs)
- Music (Composition & Technology Program)
- Theatre (BFA Production and BA Theatre Education Programs)
Credit Overview
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| University Core | 42 | |
| Dance Technique | 38 | |
| Dance Creative | 21 | |
| Dance Academic | 14 | |
| Dance Electives | 5 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
University Core
The minimum number of credits required to complete the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Fine Arts is 120. Students who need background preparation courses in math, English, foreign language, and chemistry may need additional credits.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements 1 | ||
| Competencies 1 | ||
| Oral and Written Communication – Part A and Part B 2 | ||
| Quantitative Literacy (QL) – Part A and Part B 2 | ||
| Foreign Language 2 | ||
| Distribution Requirements 1 | ||
| Humanities | 6 | |
| Natural Sciences (Must include one lab) | 6 | |
| Social Sciences | 6 | |
| Cultural Diversity 2 | ||
| Electives | ||
| Additional Electives | 12 | |
| Credits in Peck School of the Arts 3 | 9 | |
| University Credits | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 42 | |
- 1
Learn more about the General Education Requirements.
- 2
Credits may be utilized in required curriculum areas.
- 3
Chosen from three of the following departments in PSOA: Art & Design, Fine Arts, Theatre, or Film, Video, Animation, and New Genres.
Please note: For all Dance majors and minors, dance courses with a grade C- or below will not be counted toward any departmental degree.
Dance Foundations Curriculum
Students in both the BFA and BA dance degree programs must complete the following Dance Foundations curriculum in their freshman year:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DANCE 111 | Ballet I | 3 |
| DANCE 113 | Modern Dance Technique I | 3 |
| DANCE 233 | Improvisation for Dancemaking | 3 |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Dance Technique Courses | ||
| Contemporary Dance Practice: Modern Tradition 4 | ||
| Select a minimum of 5 semesters: | 15 | |
| Modern Dance Technique I | ||
| Contemporary Dance Practice: Modern Tradition II | ||
| Contemporary Dance Practice: Modern Tradition III | ||
| Contemporary Dance Practice: Modern Tradition IV | ||
| Contemporary Dance Practice: Modern Tradition V | ||
| Contemporary Dance Practice: Modern Tradition VI | ||
| Contemporary Dance Practice: Ballet Tradition 4 | ||
| Select a minimum of 5 semesters: | 15 | |
| Ballet I | ||
| Contemporary Dance Practice: Ballet Tradition II | ||
| Contemporary Dance Practice: Ballet Tradition III | ||
| Contemporary Dance Practice: Ballet Tradition IV | ||
| Contemporary Dance Practice: Ballet Tradition V | ||
| Contemporary Dance Practice: Ballet Tradition VI | ||
| Complementary Dance Technique 5,6 | ||
| DANCE 115 | Jazz Dance I | 2 |
| or DANCE 122 | African Dance & Diaspora Technique I | |
| Choose one: | 2 | |
| Jazz Dance I (if not selected above) | ||
| Jazz Dance II | ||
| Tap I | ||
| African Dance & Diaspora Technique I (if not selected above) | ||
| African Dance & Diaspora Technique II | ||
| Tap II | ||
| African Dance & Diaspora Technique III | ||
| Pointe and Variations | ||
| Dance for the Musical Theatre I | ||
| World Movement Traditions: | ||
| Dance for the Musical Theatre II | ||
| Feldenkrais for Performers | ||
| Somatic and Conditioning Practices 7 | ||
| Choose 4 credits from the following: | 4 | |
| Introduction to Iyengar Yoga | ||
| Body Sense | ||
| Alexander Technique for the Performer | ||
| Body Conditioning: Pilates Method | ||
| Intermediate Yoga For Dancers | ||
| Alexander Technique Practicum | ||
| Body Conditioning: Pilates Method II | ||
| Feldenkrais for Performers | ||
| Dance Creative Courses | ||
| DANCE 231 | Music and Dancers I | 3 |
| DANCE 233 | Improvisation for Dancemaking 8 | 3 |
| DANCE 352 | Digital Media Portfolio for Performers | 3 |
| DANCE 412 | Dance Composition I 8 | 3 |
| DANCE 413 | Dance Composition II | 3 |
| DANCE 490 | Repertoire and Ensemble 9, 10 | 3 |
| DANCE 601 | Senior Project | 3 |
| Dance Academic Courses | ||
| DANCE 209 | Dance Production 8 | 2 |
| DANCE 251 | Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analysis | 3 |
| DANCE 314 | Contemporary Dance History | 3 |
| DANCE 371 | Dance Anatomy & Kinesiology | 3 |
| DANCE 460 | Teaching Dance in Community Settings | 3 |
| Dance Elective Courses | 5 | |
| Choose from the following: | ||
| Survey of Global Dance: Rituals, Performance and Community | ||
| Jazz Dance I | ||
| Jazz Dance II | ||
| Tap I | ||
| Dance Production Practicum | ||
| Jazz III | ||
| History of Dance in the African Diaspora | ||
| History of the American Musical Theater | ||
| Dance Service-Learning | ||
| Rituals and Culture | ||
| Alexander Technique for the Performer | ||
| Body Conditioning: Pilates Method | ||
| Dance for the Musical Theatre I | ||
| World Movement Traditions: | ||
| Intermediate Yoga For Dancers | ||
| Dance Composition III 11 | ||
| Creating Dance in the Community | ||
| Alexander Technique Practicum | ||
| Dance for the Musical Theatre II | ||
| Workshop in Dance: | ||
| Repertoire and Ensemble | ||
| Repertory/Student Choreographer | ||
| Total Credits | 78 | |
- 4
100- and 200-level technique classes taken for 3 credits; 300-level for 2 credits
- 5
One Jazz or African technique class is required during sophomore year. If GER-Cultural Diversity credits are desired for DANCE 122, 3-credit section is mandatory.
- 6
Option: Students wishing to substitute one or two semester(s) of either ballet or modern (minimum 5 semesters of ballet and modern are required) for additional Complementary Dance Technique course(s) in Jazz, Africa and Diaspora Technique, Tap, Music Theatre Styles: choose from DANCE 116, DANCE 117, DANCE 123, DANCE 217, DANCE 222, DANCE 327, DANCE 427. Student must approach his/her Dance Faculty Advisor the semester prior to enrollment for substitution approval.
- 7
Yoga, Pilates, Body Sense, Alexander Technique
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Coursework involved in MPPR guidelines.
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Any dancer cast in faculty or guest artist choreography must be enrolled in at least 3 UWM Department of Dance technique classes per week during the rehearsal semester.
- 10
Per departmental policy, any time a student is cast in a faculty or guest artist work and is enrolled for less than 18 credits, he/she must enroll in Dance 490 for 1 credit during the appropriate semester.
- 11
DANCE 415 may be substituted only with prior dance faculty approval.
Recommended Course of Study
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| DANCE 111 | Ballet I | 3 |
| DANCE 113 | Modern Dance Technique I | 3 |
| DANCE 209 | Dance Production | 2 |
| University Core | 6 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| DANCE 112 | Contemporary Dance Practice: Ballet Tradition II | 3 |
| DANCE 114 | Contemporary Dance Practice: Modern Tradition II | 3 |
| DANCE 233 | Improvisation for Dancemaking | 3 |
| University Core | 6 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Somatic Course #1 (see list on Requirements tab) | 2 | |
| DANCE 115 or DANCE 122 | Jazz Dance I (3 cr. in 122 if GER-CD is desired) or African Dance & Diaspora Technique I | 2 |
| DANCE 213 | Contemporary Dance Practice: Modern Tradition III | 3 |
| DANCE 412 | Dance Composition I 3 | 3 |
| University Core | 6 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| DANCE 211 | Contemporary Dance Practice: Ballet Tradition III | 3 |
| DANCE 231 | Music and Dancers I 3 | 3 |
| DANCE 371 | Dance Anatomy & Kinesiology | 3 |
| DANCE 490 | Repertoire and Ensemble 1 | 1 |
| PSOA Core | 6 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| DANCE 214 | Contemporary Dance Practice: Modern Tradition IV | 3 |
| DANCE 251 | Laban/Bartenieff Movement Analysis (QL-B) | 3 |
| DANCE 314 | Contemporary Dance History | 3 |
| DANCE 413 | Dance Composition II | 3 |
| DANCE 490 | Repertoire and Ensemble 1 | 1 |
| PSOA Core | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| DANCE 212 | Contemporary Dance Practice: Ballet Tradition IV | 3 |
| DANCE 352 | Digital Media Portfolio for Performers | 3 |
| Dance Elective (see list on Requirements tab) | 2 | |
| PSOA Core | 6 | |
| Credits | 14 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Somatic Course #2 (see list on Requirements tab) | 2 | |
| DANCE 317 | Contemporary Dance Practice: Modern Tradition V | 3 |
| DANCE 460 | Teaching Dance in Community Settings | 3 |
| DANCE 601 | Senior Project | 3 |
| PSOA Core | 6 | |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| Complementary Technique (see list on Requirements tab) | 2 | |
| Dance Elective (see list on Requirements tab) | 3 | |
| DANCE 312 | Contemporary Dance Practice: Ballet Tradition VI | 3 |
| DANCE 490 | Repertoire and Ensemble 1 | 1 |
| PSOA Core | 3 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
- 1
Per departmental policy, any time a student is cast in a faculty or guest artist work and is enrolled for less than 18 credits, he/she must enroll in DANCE 490 for 1 credit during the appropriate semester.
- 2
Any student cast in a student work must be enrolled in at least 1 UWM Department of Dance technique class that meets at least 2 times per week during the rehearsal semester.
- 3
Coursework involved in MPPR guidelines.
Admission and Retention Requirements for the Dance BFA and BA
Admission Requirements
Please see uwm.edu/arts/apply for information on admission starting spring 2017.
Students must meet general university admission requirements to be admitted to any of the undergraduate curricula as a freshman or transfer student. Passing the Dance Entrance Audition (on-campus or video) is required for entrance into the Dance BA or BFA degree programs.
On-campus auditions consist of a variety of technique classes, writing sample, one-minute solo performance (can be self-choreographed), and Q&A session. Video submission (only with prior authorization via email to dance-admission@uwm.edu) consists of writing sample, 5 minutes each of two contrasting dance techniques, and 2-3 minutes of performance video (DVD or URLs in online form). Auditions after the last on-campus audition will be by appointment or via video submission. If unsuccessful, students may re-audition, but are limited to auditioning twice per academic year (via any method).
To RSVP for a specific audition date, or to submit the video audition form (after authorization), prospective students must:
- complete the appropriate online form at uwm.edu/arts/apply and
- submit separate copies of their high school and/or college transcripts (unofficial copies are acceptable for this purpose).
Transcripts and/or video footage should be sent to dance-admission@uwm.edu or UWM Dance Admission, P.O. Box 413, Milwaukee, WI 53201.
UWM priority application deadline is March 1.
Transfer students must complete a minimum of half of the required dance credits while in residence at UWM in order to graduate. The exact total is available upon admission to the program. Transcript evaluation by a dance advisor is required before placement into dance major courses.
Once accepted, students may enter the program during either fall or spring semesters, but are strongly encouraged to enter in the fall term to progress more smoothly through the BA or BFA curricular sequence.
Retention Requirements
Each undergraduate dance major's coursework will be reviewed at the end of his/her sophomore year to determine continuance in the major, as part of the Mid-Program Portfolio Review. Students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 in the dance major.
All students are expected to demonstrate a strong commitment to their health and overall conditioning in order to fulfill the department's academic requirements. Each student's ability to undertake the demands of the dance program, including his/her overall physical ability to perform in classes, auditions, rehearsals, and/or performances, will be a factor in the following: grading at the end of each semester; the audition/rehearsal/performance process for departmental productions and outreach events; the Mid-Program Portfolio Review assessment; determining "probation" status; and potentially removing a student from the program.
Laptops
Dance BA and BFA students are required to have a laptop computer (or comparable tablet meeting minimum specifications) by the beginning of their sophomore year, but are strongly encouraged to have one when they enter the program. The hardware and software must meet or exceed the current departmental requirements, as stated on the website (uwm.edu/arts/apply/laptop/) and in the Dance Undergraduate Student Handbook. Website also includes information on using financial aid to fund this expense.
Advising
Location: Theatre 120
Hours: M–Th 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Fri. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (closed on university holidays)
Contact: 414-229-4763 | Contact Form
Academic advising is an important aspect of long-term academic success. At the Peck School of the Arts, we offer professional advising in the undergraduate disciplines of art, dance, film, music and theatre.
Our advisors provide students with individualized appointments to assist them in areas such as: degree requirements, major options, course selection, campus resources, college success strategies, graduation assessment, academic policies and procedures, and more.
For more information please visit the Peck School of the Arts advising and student services page.
Honors in the Major
Honors in the Major is granted to students who have earned a GPA of 3.500 or greater in the major and the academic department's recommendation.
High Honors in the Major is granted to students who have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or greater and the academic department's recommendation.
Departmental Honors are granted to students recommended by their academic department for Honors excellence in performance not reflected in the GPA.
Dean's Honors are granted to students with major achievements in one or more of the arts.
College of the Arts and Architecture Dean's Honor List
GPA of 3.750 or above, earned on a full-time student's GPA on 12 or more graded credits in a given semester.
Honors College Degree and Honors College Degree with Distinction
Granted to graduating seniors who complete Honors College requirements, as listed in the Honors College section of this site.
Commencement Honors
Students with a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or above, based on a minimum of 40 graded UWM credits earned prior to the final semester, will receive all-university commencement honors and be awarded the traditional gold cord at the December or May Honors Convocation. Please note that for honors calculation, the GPA is not rounded and is truncated at the third decimal (e.g., 3.499).
Final Honors
Earned on a minimum of 60 graded UWM credits: Cum Laude - 3.500 or above; Magna Cum Laude - 3.650 or above; Summa Cum Laude - 3.800 or above.