Dance BA
The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Dance prepares students to teach participatory movement traditions in community settings, and to lead community groups in creating and performing their own participatory dances and movement rituals. Community-based service-learning experiences provide many opportunities to realize these goals. The expectation is also that BA majors will participate in a community dance/movement setting during their undergraduate studies.
For further information:
Online Info Request Form
(414) 229-2571
danceinfo@uwm.edu
Dance Undergraduate Student Handbook
BA Admission
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 is required for entrance into the Dance BA or BFA degree programs. Auditions are typically scheduled four times a year (October, February, April and June). If unsuccessful, students may re-audition, but are limited to auditioning twice per academic year.
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.
To obtain more information about the admission requirements or to be placed on the mailing list for the entrance auditions, please call the Dance Office at (414) 229-2571 or email danceinfo@uwm.edu or complete our online form.
Each undergraduate dance major's coursework will be reviewed at the end of their 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.
Dance BA and BFA students are required to have a laptop computer after they have passed the Mid-Program Portfolio Review. The hardware and software must meet or exceed the current departmental requirements, as stated on the website (arts.uwm.edu/dance). Students are strongly encouraged to have laptops when they enter the program.
BA Degree Requirements
Completion of 120 credits, fulfilling the following curriculum requirements:
- General University Core Curriculum, 45 cr. (includes Music 101 as part of PSOA credits)
- Required Dance Courses, 61 cr. (includes Dance Foundations credits)
- General Electives, 14 cr.
Students must maintain a level of personal fitness necessary to participate fully in their classes and performances.
View University Course Requirements for the BA Degree in Dance.
BA Dance Curriculum
Suggested Course of StudyDance Technique and Somatics Courses:
| Dance 103 | Intro to Iyengar Yoga | 2 |
| Dance 111 | Ballet I | 3 |
| Dance 113 | Modern Dance Technique I | 3 |
| Dance 112, 211, and 212 | Ballet II-IV | |
| OR | 9 | |
| Dance 114, 213, and 214 | Modern Dance Technique II-IV | |
| Dance 122 | African Dance & Diaspora Tech I | |
| OR | 2 | |
| Dance 370 | World Movement: subtitle Hip Hop | |
| Dance 220 | Body Sense | 3 |
| Dance 370 | One subtitle from each choice below | |
| Salsa/Merengue OR Tango | 2 | |
| Martials Arts OR Tai Chi | 2 | |
| Ballroom OR Dances of the World | 2 | |
| Total | Technique and Somatics Courses | 28 |
Dance Creative and Academic Courses
| Dance 110 | Intro to the Art of Dance | 3 |
| Dance 135 | Intro to Dancemaking Skills | 3 |
| Dance 192 | Dance Freshman Seminar | 0 |
| Dance 219 | Arts in Community Service | 1 |
| Dance 233 | Improvisation for Dancemaking | 3 |
| Dance 250 | Dance Sophomore Seminar | 0 |
| Dance 251 | Laban Movement Analysis | 3 |
| Dance 261 | Dance Junior Seminar | 0 |
| Dance 314 | Contemporary Dance History | 3 |
| Dance 319 | Dance Service-Learning | 1 |
| Dance 320 | Rituals and Culture | 3 |
| Dance 350 | Dance Senior Seminar | 0 |
| Dance 352 | Digital Media Portfolio for Dancers | 1 |
| Dance 360 | Movement and Learning | 3 |
| Dance 371 | Applied Anatomy | 3 |
| Dance 420 | Creating Community Rituals | 3 |
| Dance 601 | Senior Project | 3 |
| Total | Creative and Academic Courses | 33 |
Recommended General Electives
Dance, Movement, and Theatre electives from the following Dance, Health Sciences (Sport & Rec), and Theatre courses
| Dance 115 | Jazz Dance I | 2 |
| Dance 117 | Tap I | 2 |
| Dance 221 | Body Sense II | 3 |
| Dance 313 | History of Dance in the African Diaspora | 3 |
| Dance 323 | Body Conditioning: Pilates Method | 2 |
| Dance 361 | Dance in Elementary Education | 3 |
| Dance 490* | Repertoire and Ensemble | 0-3** |
| Dance 491 | Repertory/Student Choreographer | 1 |
| Sport & Rec 114 | Weight Training | 1 |
| Sport & Rec 115 | Aerobic Dance | 1 |
| Theatre 460 | Storytelling | 3 |
* Students participating in department productions must be enrolled in one ballet, modern or Africa & the Diaspora technique class per department performance criteria.
** Per departmental policy, any time a student is cast in a faculty or guest artist work, he/she must enroll in Dance 490 for a minimum of 0 or 1 credit during the appropriate semester.
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Course of Study:
(Dance BA curriculum courses only; does not include University Core)
Freshman Year (includes Foundations Curriculum)
| Fall Semester | ||
| Dance 111 | Ballet I | 3 |
| Dance 113 | Modern Dance Technique I | 3 |
| Dance 135 | Intro to Dancemaking Skills | 3 |
| Dance 192 | Dance Freshman Seminar | 0 |
| Dance 220 | Body Sense | 3 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Dance 110 | Introduction to the Art of Dance | 3 |
| Dance 112 | Ballet II | |
| OR | 3 | |
| Dance 114 | Modern Dance Technique II | |
| Dance 233 | Improvisation | 3 |
| Total | Freshman Year | 2 |
Sophomore Year
| Fall Semester | ||
| Dance 103 | Intro to Iyengar Yoga | 2 |
| Dance 122 | African Dance & Diaspora Tech I | |
| OR | 2 | |
| Dance 370 | World Movement: subtitle Hip Hop | |
| Dance 211 | Ballet III | |
| OR | 3 | |
| Dance 213 | Modern Dance Technique III | |
| Dance 219 | Arts in Community Service | 1 |
| Dance 250 | Dance Sophomore Seminar | 0 |
| Music 101 | Fundamentals of Music (PSOA GER req.) | 3 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Dance 212 | Ballet IV | |
| OR | 3 | |
| Dance 214 | Modern Dance Technique IV | |
| Dance 320 | Rituals and Culture | 3 |
| Dance 370 | World Movement: Martial Arts OR Tai Chi | 2 |
| Dance 371 | Applied Anatomy | 3 |
| Total | Sophomore Year | 22 |
Junior Year
| Fall Semester | ||
| Dance 251 | Laban Movement Analysis | 3 |
| Dance 261 | Dance Junior Seminar | 0 |
| Dance 420 | Creating Community Rituals | 3 |
| Dance 352 | Digital Media Portfolio for Dancers | 1 |
| Dance 360 | Movement and Learning | 3 |
| Dance 370 | World Movement: Salsa OR Tango | 2 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Dance 314 | Contemporary Dance History | 3 |
| Dance 319 | Dance Service-Learning | 1 |
| Dance 370 | World Movement: Ballroom OR Dances of the World | 2 |
| Total | Junior Year | 18 |
Senior Year
| Fall Semester | ||
| Dance 350 | Dance Senior Seminar | 0 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| Dance 601 | Senior Project | 3 |
| Total | Senior Year | 3 |
TOTAL REQUIRED DANCE CREDITS: 61
TOTAL IN COURSE OF STUDY: 64 (includes 3 PSOA GER cr.)
Course Descriptions
BA Degree Opportunities
The BA Degree in Dance will prepare you to:
- Teach movement in schools as part-time specialist
- Work with seniors in community centers/residences
- Teach/work in health clubs/Y’s/gyms
- Teach movement in community centers
- Boys and girls clubs/after-school projects
- Work in dance studios
- Work with dance companies (perform/outreach programs)
Performance Opportunities
The Dance Department presents four concerts each year: Winterdances and Summerdances, which showcase the work of faculty and guest artists, performed by students; and New Dancemakers and Dancemakers, which feature choreography by undergraduate and graduate students, respectively. Recent guest artists have included Susan Marshall, Ronald K. Brown, Laura Dean, and Daniel Gwirtzman.
Guest Artists
Special workshops and residencies are scheduled throughout the academic year. These events are intended to provide students with opportunities to train with well-known guest artists and emerging choreographers. Included in these residencies are performances, technique and repertory classes which provide opportunities to learn excerpts from both renowned and experimental choreographers’ works.
Terpsichorean People
Our student organization promotes the activities of the Department. Through T-shirt sales, concessions at all performances, and advocacy for resources from the UWM student government, Terpsichorean People enhances the student experience by providing support for production activities, travel opportunities, and guest artist fees.