Minor in Dance

The dance minor offers students at both the College and the Conservatory the opportunity to study a diverse range of movement forms—including jazz, salsa, African, hip-hop, tap, swing, and ballet—and to investigate dance as a social and historical art form, which both reflects and impacts the culture that creates it. The dance minor requires coursework in the academic study of dance, the creative process, somatic practice, and applied studio coursework in a variety of movement genres. There are no prerequisites to declare a minor in dance.

Entrance Requirements

There are no entrance requirements for this minor. 

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the dance minor, students will:

  • demonstrate a clear understanding of dance as an art form, including knowledge about dance techniques, various dance genres, dance production, and the choreographic process;
  • link the experiential knowledge gained through their work in applied classes with theoretical and historical knowledge;
  • analyze and discuss dance from both a theoretical and historical framework, contextualize what they see, and have language to describe and analyze choreography and performance;
  • demonstrate an understanding of the creative process within dance, informed by the study of dance improvisation, composition, and/or the collaborative process;
  • demonstrate an understanding of the human body in motion, informed by the study of alignment, muscular use, effort, and breath in both somatic and technique courses; and
  • demonstrate skill in any of the movement genres offered through the minor.
Curriculum and Courses

Core Course (required - choose one - 3 credits)


D-LT 1601-xx (01, 02 or 03): Introduction to Dance (3 credits) (fall semester only)
D-LT 1602-01: Introduction to Iconic Dance (3 credits) (online) (fall semester only)


Somatics Elective (required - choose a minimum of one)
D-ST 1502-03: Floor Barre (1 credit)
D-ST 1503-03: Gyrokinesis (1 credit)
D-ST 2504-01: Stretch & Strengthening (1 credit)
D-ST 2504-02: Stretch & Strengthening (1 credit)
D-ST 75511-01: Dynamic Warm Up with Therabands (1 credit)
D-ST 75516-03: Yoga for Dancers (1 credit)
M-CM 00932: Yoga for Musicians 1 (1 credit)


Creative Process Elective (required - choose a minimum of one)


D-ST 1204-xx (01, 02, 03 or 04): Dance Improvisation 1 (1 credit) (fall semester only)
D-ST 1205-xx (01, 02, 03 or 04): Dance Improvisation 2 (1 credit) (spring semester only) (prerequisite D-ST 1204)
D-ST 1401-xx (01, 02, 03 or 04): Dance Composition 1 (1 credit) (fall semester only)
D-ST 1402-xx (01, 02, 03 or 04): Dance Composition 2 (1 credit) (spring semester only) (prerequisite D-ST 1401)
D-ST 1701: Vocal-Physical Connection (1 credit) (fall semester only)

Dance Technique Electives (required - choose a minimum of five)


DANB-111 / D-ST 71110: Beginning Ballet (1 credit)
DANB-211 / D-ST 71210: Intermediate Ballet (1 credit)
DANJ-111 / D-ST 73111: Beginning JazzDance (1 credit)
DANJ-211 / D-ST 73531: Intermediate JazzDance (1 credit)
DANJ-311 / D-ST 73528: Advanced JazzDane (1 credit)
DANT-111 / D-ST 73512: Beginning Tap (1 credit)
DANT-211 / D-ST 73513: Intermediate Tap (1 credit)
DANT-311 / D-ST 73526: Advanced Tap (1 credit)
DANH-111 / D-ST 73110: Beginning Hip-Hop (1 credit)
DANH-211 / D-ST 73530: Intermediate Hip-Hop (1 credit)
DANH-311 / D-ST 73527: Advanced Hip Hop (1 credit)
DANU-111 / D-ST 74510: Upside Down 1 (1 credit)
DANS-111 / D-ST 73519: Salsa (1 credit)
DANE-111 / D-ST 73520: Swing Dance (1 credit)
DANA-111 / D-ST 73511: African Dance (1 credit)