Dance
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Fine Arts
About the Major
In this academic program, dance is personal, physical, social, and political. We prepare developing artists for dynamic, self-authored, and innovative careers in dance with a curriculum that fosters collaboration and mindful leadership. Our approach to dance cultivates dynamic relationships informed by and influential to the world around us. At the heart of this rigorous study is a love of dancing.
Program Highlights
There are several ways to study dance at SDSU. We are one of only three schools in the California State University system that offers a professional Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Dance with an optional concentration in Dance Education to prepare students for careers as K-12 dance educators. We also offer a Bachelor of Arts in Dance, ideal for double majors. All our programs provide training that deepens students’ body-mind awareness, integrating their heads, hands, and hearts for engaged, responsible citizenship.
Sample Courses
- Dance Technique(s) including Hip Hop, Release-Based Contemporary, Ballet, Contact Improvisation, Capoeira, Musical Theater, Horton, West African, and more
- Dancemaking Praxis and Dancemaking Lab
- Dance, Popular Culture, and Identity
- Dance in World Cultures
- Embodied Anatomy
- Dance Pedagogy
- Somatics
- Yoga
Career Options
Our graduates work as choreographers and dancers with professional companies; teachers in community and recreation programs, schools, and colleges; movement educators; and candidates for graduate work in dance scholarship. The transferable skills gained through our program allow our graduates to enter many other sectors of the workforce.
Academic Experiences
- Performance Forum
- Senior Capstone Concert
- University Dance Company
- Student Research Symposium
- American College Dance Association Conference
- The Undone Show for work-in-progress showings
- Experiences with internationally recognized guest artists
Transferable Skills
- Design, lead, and execute creative processes
- Adapt internally and in relationship with others
- Communicate verbally, non-verbally, and in writing
- Perform with presence and authenticity
- Lead mindfully and dynamically
School of Music and Dance
College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts. For more information, please contact Shirley Valencia Gutierrez.
