Programs
The Department of Dance offers three programs in dance: Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance (80 hours); Bachelor of Arts in Dance (53 hours); and a Dance Minor (18 hours). The BFA program emphasizes performance, choreographic and aesthetic training and is designed for the student seeking employment at the professional level. The BA program offers an opportunity to explore the diversity of the dance profession within a strong liberal arts component, and BA students individualize their program by choosing electives that support their dance career goals. The Dance Minor is designed for students who wish to continue their dance studies as an avocation. Due to high demand, the dance minor is limited to 55 students and there is a waiting list to become a minor. Dance courses offered include all levels of ballet, jazz and modern dance, five courses in choreography, three dance history courses, dance science and analysis, conditioning, pedagogy and production. An audition is required for acceptance into dance major programs. The complete University Catalog is available on the World Wide Web through WMU’s home page. WMU Undergraduate Catalog
Below are links to PDFs of the advising slips for the BFA, BA and Dance Minor program requirements.
Dance majors have gone on to perform with the companies of Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Keigwin+Company, Dendy Dancetheater, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Inaside Chicago Dance, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Garth Fagan Dance, Margaret Jenkins Dance Company, Eisenhower Dance Ensemble, River North Chicago Dance Company, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, Chicago Moving Company, Bebe Miller Company, Repertory Dance Theater, Decadancetheater, Milwaukee Ballet, Augusta Ballet, The Joel Hall Dancers, and Wellspring/Cori Terry and Dancers. Others have danced at major theme parks, in touring productions of Broadway shows, and on cruise ships. Graduates have been accepted into prestigious graduate dance programs. Others run successful dance studios or teach in community colleges and universities.
