Minor in Dance

The Minor in Dance at Boston University is housed within the School of Theatre and is taught in collaboration with the Department of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance (PERD). It is designed to enhance a student’s preparedness for a number of multidisciplinary fields, including dance ethnology, dance history, movement therapy, musical theater, movement education, and arts administration. For those who wish to pursue dance performance or choreography as a career, or who wish to apply to graduate programs in dance, the dance minor will serve as verification of their skill level and commitment to this field of study.

In order to receive a minor in dance, students will be required to complete 15 units in dance theory, studio, and performance classes, as agreed upon with the faculty mentor.

Learning Outcomes

Dance minors will develop an understanding of composition, dance history, and aesthetics. Through the minor, students will:

• Employ their technical knowledge and improvisational practices to the rigorous, expressive study of dance, with an awareness of the commonalities and differences between Western and vernacular, traditional and contemporary genres.
• Develop their own movement aesthetic and performance style and the skills for their own cross-disciplinary practices in the creation and performance of artistic work.
• Be able to reflect upon, analyze, and articulate the theoretical and historic foundations of the choreographic process and art making.
• Understand and employ critical thinking on how dance can be a cultural, social, political, and economic activity in the communities within and outside the University.

Program of Study

Required Courses (minimum of 12 units)

• CFA DA 190 Dances Styles of the African Diaspora (Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Afro-Fusion) (1 unit)
• CFA DA 290 Dance & Somatic Inquiry: Contemporary and Improvisation (1 unit)
• CFA DA 390 Intermediate Technique in Traditional Forms (Ballet and Historic Modern) (1 unit)
• CFA DA 400 Performance and Repertory (1 unit each semester, 3 units total)
• CFA TH 139 20th Century Dance History (2 units)
• CFA TH 239 Aesthetics of Dance (2 units)
• CFA TH 509 Choreography and Design: Experiments in Light and Movement (2 units)

Performance/Arts Electives (minimum of 3 units)

Students select performance/arts electives in consultation with the advisor. Students may choose to repeat CFA DA 190, CFA DA 290, CFA DA 390, or CFA DA 400 at their discretion, but completion of each section at least once is required for the minor.

A selected number of seats will be reserved for declared minors in these courses during the registration process or will become available during cross-registration after all class years have registered. Minor registration is on a space-available basis.

A grade of C or better must be received in all courses taken toward this minor. With advisor approval, one transfer course may be used to fulfill the minor requirements. For further information, contact the School of Theatre in the College of Fine Arts, 855 Commonwealth Avenue.