Program Overview

The Dance Program in the Dance department, Arts and Letters Division includes general education, education for AA degree preparation and transfer to upper division at colleges and universities. Courses offered cover a wide variety of dance styles in small classes with individual attention to dancer’s needs. Careers for the dance major include dancer, choreographer, designer, technician and craftsperson, stage manager, arts manager, arts consultant, communications and teaching in professional, secondary and postsecondary education. Students learn and acquire skills in all elements of dance.

The Dance Department plays an active role in the community by presenting workshops, master classes and performances at schools and special events. Dance department faculty provide services to the campus and community in the form of public performances, fundraising, concert tours, adjudication and significant outreach for the recruitment of new students. The faculty are professional artists who present their work both within the community and nationally and are very friendly and available to students for advisement. GWC dance students also have opportunities to travel and perform in festivals within the US and abroad.

Program Level Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Gain an overview of the historical, cultural, and scientific dimensions of dance.
• Explore the fundamental skills and techniques necessary for the public performance of dance.
• Gain practical experience in the production aspects of dance.
• Demonstrate the craft and aesthetic qualities of dance orally, practically, and in writing.
• Develop competency in modern dance, ballet, and jazz dance, in order to pursue careers in education, health and fitness, or performance arenas, or to further academic preparation in dance studies.