Faculty

Acting Chairperson: Associate Professor Donald Running

Professor: Jody Weber

Associate Professor: Donna Dragon

Assistant Professor: Jennifer Sarver

Location: Rondileau Campus Center, Room 018
Website:  www.bridgew.edu/theaterdance
Phone:     508.531.2193

Degree Program

• BA in Dance

Undergraduate Minors

• Dance*

*Interdisciplinary minor

The following program is currently inactive:

• Master of Arts in Teaching Speech Communication and Theater

Click on Academic Programs  for program information and requirements.

The Department of Dance is committed to cultivating excellence, innovation and leadership in dance as education, as a performing art form, cultural practice, scientific inquiry, and interdisciplinary application. The dance program is dedicated to fostering scholarly artists and educators in dance, and developing arts-literate citizens.

Through diverse dance techniques and pedagogies, dance science, somatics, cultural dance forms, historical inquiry, dance composition, and dance production and performance, students gain comprehensive knowledge of dance forms and practices, critical thinking skills, and practical experience in a variety of dance applications.

Bachelor of Arts

The dance program offers a wide variety of dance technique training and a solid theoretical foundation for performance and choreography. In addition, the program offers an emphasis on dance pedagogy in either the private or public sector. The program fulfills Standard I requirements for licensure for dance in the public schools in Massachusetts.

Also see the Interdisciplinary and Preprofessional Programs  section of this catalog and consult the department for information on the interdisciplinary dance minor.

The dance program is a liberal arts program that is designed to meet the subject matter knowledge requirements for Massachusetts licensure in the field of dance.

Educator Licensure

Those students in the program who choose to seek initial Massachusetts licensure at either the undergraduate or postbaccalaureate levels must also complete a major in secondary education and gain admittance to the professional education program. Upon successful completion, the student will be licensed to teach dance in Massachusetts public schools grades PreK-12. Please refer to the Secondary Education and Professional Programs  section of this catalog for specific teacher licensure and program requirements. Students should also consult Educator Preparation and Licensure Policies and Procedures  for professional education admission and retention information as well as important institutional deadlines.

Honors Program

The honors program in dance provides highly motivated dance majors with opportunities to enhance their academic program through intensive scholarly study and research designed to be of assistance in postgraduate employment or in the pursuit of an advanced degree in dance. Interested students should contact the Department of Dance for further information concerning eligibility and application.

Activities and Productions

The program of dance presents two mainstage productions annually in the 1300-seat Rondileau Campus Center auditorium. The productions usually include faculty, student and guest choreography. Any interested student is invited to audition for productions.

Several student clubs are actively engaged in cocurricular activities supportive of the academic programs in the department.

The BSU Dance Company is open to all and produces a student concert every year called Dance Pops. It also sponsors master classes and social and educational activities dealing with dance.

The Student Chapter of the National Dance Education Organization at BSU introduces dance students to a professional organization that supports dance education in all its forms.

Students may also receive academic credit in the department for active participation in dance – see course descriptions for more information on the following courses:

DANC 140 - Dance Technical Practicum 
DANC 155 - Dance Practicum 
DANC 359 - Dance Ensemble Practicum 
 

Note: A maximum of six credits in the above courses may be applied toward graduation.