AA Degree in Dance

Dance

Contact

Donna Flournoy
dflourno@sdccd.edu
Blythe Barton
bbarton@sdccd.edu

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AA degree in dance

The Mesa College Dance Program offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to provide practical and theoretical training for students interested in a dance career. The core curriculum provides an excellent foundation in dance technique, choreography and performance skills. In addition, this program offers lower division theory courses to prepare the student for transfer to a four-year institution as a dance major. Students planning to transfer to a university dance program should consult with a counselor to select acceptable transfer courses.

Program Goals:
The Dance program focuses not only on training the student who wishes to transfer to a four-year institution in dance, achieve an associate degree, or pursue a certificate for immediate employment in the entertainment market, but also on providing opportunities for all student to learn about and experience dance.

Program Emphasis:
The program emphasizes the development of dancers versed in a wide variety of movement genres. The core curriculum focuses on ballet, modern, jazz, improvisation, choreography, performance, production, music for dancers and dance history. Emphasis is placed on the practical application of techniques and theories in concerts and public performances.

Career Options:
The following list is a sample of the many career options open to students with a dance education. The majority of these options require a baccalaureate or graduate level degree. Professional Dancer, Choreographer, Dance Instructor, Dance Therapist, Dance Production Technician, Dance Administrator, Dance Critic, Dance Historian, Studio Owner, Company Director, Dance Promoter, Movement Notator, Recreation Leader, Fitness Instructor, Talent Agent.

Required Courses

Courses Required for the Major:
   DANC 181    History of Dance
   DANC 183    Music for Dance
   DANC 253    Choreography

Select 3 units from the following courses:
   DANC 110B    Ballet II
   DANC 110C    Ballet III
   DANC 110D    Ballet IV

Select 3 units from the following courses:
   DANC 135B    Jazz Dance II
   DANC 135C    Jazz Dance III
   DANC 135D    Jazz Dance IV

Select 3 units from the following courses:
   DANC 140B    Modern Dance II
   DANC 140C    Modern Dance III
   DANC 140D    Modern Dance IV

Select 1.5 units from the following courses:
   DANC 160A    Pilates - Stretch and Conditioning
   DANC 160B    Pilates - Alignment and Correctives

Select 1.5 units from the following courses:
   DANC 177A    Dance Improvisation
   DANC 177B    Dance Improvisation II

Select 4 units from the following courses:
   DANC 261A    Dance Performance I
   DANC 261B    Dance Performance II
   DANC 261C    Dance Performance III
   DANC 261D    Dance Performance IV
   DANC 271A    Stage Costuming for Dance
   DANC 271B    Makeup for Dance Productions
   DANC 271C    Lighting Design for Dance Production

Select 3 units from the following courses:
   DANC 110A    Ballet I
   DANC 115A    Tap I
   DANC 115B    Tap Dance II
   DANC 115C    Tap Dance III
   DANC 120A    Hip Hop I
   DANC 120B    Hip Hop II
   DANC 120C    Hip Hop III
   DANC 120D    Hip Hop IV
   DANC 125A    Latin American Dance I
   DANC 125B    Latin American Dance II
   DANC 126A    Mid-Eastern Dance I
   DANC 126B    Mid-Eastern Dance II
   DANC 130A    Dance Repertoire
   DANC 135A    Jazz Dance I
   DANC 140A    Modern Dance I
   DANC 145A    Ballroom Dance I
   DANC 145B    Ballroom Dance II
   DANC 178A    Advanced Commercial Dance I
   DANC 178B    Advanced Commercial Dance II
   DANC 179A    Advanced Classical Dance I
   DANC 179B    Advanced Classical Dance II
   DANC 180A    Advanced Contemporary Dance I
   DANC 180B    Advanced Contemporary Dance II

26 Total Units

AA Degree in Dance - PATHWAYs

Fall - - 6 Units Dance / 6 Units General
   Technique (EX: Ballet, Modern, Jazz) - - 1.5 units
   Dance History (Fulfills Area C) - - 3 units
   Technique (EX: Hip Hop, Latin, Belly Dance, Tap) - - 1.5 units
   *English Composition (ENGL 101 or 105 Fulfills Area A1) - - 3 units
   *Health (Fulfills Health Area) - - 3 units

Spring - - 6.5 Units Dance / 6 Units General
   Music for Dance - - 2 units
   Ballet 2 (Upper Level Ballet, Modern, Jazz) - - 1.5 units
   Improvisation - - 1.5 units
   Technique (EX: Modern, Jazz, Ballroom, Pilates) - - 1.5 units
   *Communication (Fulfills Area A2) - - 3 units
   *Math, Etc. (Fulfills requirement for 18 units and Math Competency) - - 3 units

Fall - - 7 Units Dance / 6 Units General
   Choreography - - 2 units
   Performance 2 - - 2 units
   Modern 3 (Upper Level Ballet, Modern, Jazz) - - 1.5 units
   Jazz 3 (Upper Level Ballet, Modern, Jazz) - - 1.5 units
   *Natural Science (Fulfills Area B1 or B2) - - 3 units
   *American Institution (Fulfills Area US 1) - - 3 units

Spring - - 6.5 Units Dance / 6 Units General
   Pilates - - 1.5 units
   Performance 3 - - 2 units
   Ballet 3 (Upper Level Ballet, Modern, Jazz) - - 1.5 units
   Jazz 4 (Upper Level Ballet, Modern, Jazz) - - 1.5 units
   *Social Science (Fulfills Area D - Select course with ^) - - 3 units
   *American Institution (Fulfills Area US 2) - - 3 units

*Dance Technique courses fulfill Exercise Activity Requirement.

*Following the above schedule fulfills 50 units. 60 units are required for a Degree.
Remaining 10 units may be supplemented with additional Dance Technique courses.