Associate Professor: Pedro Alejandro (Chair)

Assistant Professor: Adair Landborn (Flamenco)

Adjunct Professor: Susan Lourie

Adjunct Associate Professor: William Feuer

Artists-in-Residence: Patricia Beaman (Ballet), Doretha (Mickey) Davidson (shared position with African American Studies) (Jazz and Tap), Urip Sri Maeny (Javanese), Helen Mensah (West African), Lauren Paul (Bharata Natyam)

Visiting Instructor in Dance: Donna Dragon

Visiting Artist: Katja Kolcio (Spring) (Eastern and Western European Folk)

Departmental Advising Experts (2000-2001): Pedro Alejandro, Donna Dragon, Adair Landborn, Susan Lourie

Wesleyan's Dance Department seeks to maintain high standards of artistic excellence within the framework of the liberal arts education. The theoretical orientation to dance is humanistic, encouraging students to question the nature of dance, the body, and the self in a given cultural context. Analytic and creative skills important to original work in all fields are cultivated - the ability to define problems rationally and discover imaginative solutions, sharp observation, concentration, and craftsmanship. The Dance Department offers two tracks within the major - one focusing on performance and choreography and the other emphasizing history and culture.

The following courses constitute the requirements for the performance/choreography track:

Six dance technique courses, including at least two upper level (II or IIl courses in at least two of the following technical traditions:

Modern Dance I (DANC211), Modern Dance II (DANC215), Modern: Dance III (DANC309)

Ballet I (DANC202), Ballet II (DANC302)

Jazz I (DANC208), Jazz II (DANC213), Jazz III (DANC308)

Tap I (DANC204), Tap I (DANC304)

West African Dance I (DANC260), West African Dance II (DANC360)

Javanese Dance I (DANC251), Javanese Dance II (DANC351)

Bharata Natyam (DANC261)

Flamenco Dance (DANC270)

Plus

Dance Production Techniques (DANC105)

Dance Production Practicum (DANC305)

Dance Composition (DANC249 and 250)

Choreography Workshop (DANC371)

Advanced Dance Practice A (DANC435) or Advanced Dance Practice (DANC445)

American Dance History (DANC375) or Perspectives in Dance as Culture (DANC377)

Analyzing the Meaning in Movement (DANC303) or Dance Teaching Workshop (DANC241) and Dance Teaching Practicum (DANC447)

Anatomy and Kinesiology (DANC301) or Improvisational Forms (DANC354).

Senior research for students in the performance/choreography track may take either the form of a one-semester choreographic project with a research essay or of a written thesis with a two-semester choreographic component.

Requirements for the history/culture track differ from the above in the following particulars:

Only four dance technique courses are required.

Both Perspectives in Dance as Culture (DANC377) and American Dance History (DANC375) are required.

Choreography Workshop (DANC375) is not required.

Advanced Dance Practice A (DANC435) and B (DANC445) are no required.

Three courses relevant to the student's interests (courses from a second major are not eligible) are selected by the student in consultation with his/her advisor from specifically recommended courses in anthropology ethnomusicology, American studies, African American studies, history, or theater.

Senior research for students in the history/culture track takes the form of a written thesis - no choreographic component is required.

First-year students interested in becoming dance majors are encouraged to begin by taking dance technique at the technical level commensurate with their experience and either American Dance History (DANC375), Analyzing Meaning in Movement (DANC303) or Dance Production Technique (DANC105). Students wishing to present their choreographic work in fall and spring dance concerts must be currently enrolled in or have previously taken Dance Composition or Choreography Workshop.

Preregistration is possible for many dance courses. All students interested in registering for dance classes should contact the Dance Department during the Preregistration period or several days before the semester begins for information concerning procedures for acceptance into courses. (Students majoring in dance or indicating strong curricular commitment to dance will be given enrollment preference in all permission-of-instructor courses.)

Procedures for honors in dance.

Those dance majors who wish to be a candidate for departmental honor must complete senior research in the form of a thesis. Projects are not eligible for the award of honors. The student's proposed research design will be revised and finalized in consultation with the student's prospective tutor and should reflect the special interests and talents of the student. The award of honors or high honors is based on the scope and excellence of the thesis and the student's creative work.

In order to receive the award of honors a thesis must follow these guidelines:

1. The honors thesis typically consists of approximately 20 minutes of choreography (usually two ten-minute dances) and a 80- to 100-page research paper situating the choreography within an aesthetic and historical context.

2. It must involve enough work to warrant two credits.

Each honors candidate is required to make a commitment to candidacy in advance. By October 1, the student must file with the department and the Honors College a written statement of his or her intention to stand for departmental honors. The department will nominate candidates for departmental honors to the Honors College by February 1. Nominations will occur only if it appears reasonably certain that the candidate will complete his or her work on time and in the desired form. Suitable mid-April deadlines will be arranged by the department, in cooperation with the Honors College, for performances or projects and the submission of theses.

Each honors thesis will have two readers. One of these may be chosen from outside the Dance Department. The department will base its recommendation for departmental honors upon the readers' written evaluations and joint recommendations.