Dance - Cloned
Established by our founder Dr. Sherrill Berryman Johnson, the Howard University Dance Program is the pioneering Historically Black College/University (HBCU) to offer a four-year BFA degree in Dance Arts. The Department of Theatre Arts offers professional dance training within the context of an extensive liberal arts research education. A legacy that pre-dates our founding 1991 curriculum (through the Department of Physical Education in the College of Arts and Sciences), we hold steadfast to comprehensively preparing our dance students with a holistic education of the art form and industry for endless success throughout their professional careers. This means nurturing the students’ scholastic success as well as artistic excellence.
Whether entering as majors or minors, students are immersed in interdisciplinary studies that prepare them to thrive as performers, educators, critics, advocates, historians, and beyond. With a curriculum spanning both technical movement mastery and theoretical depth, students also take the stage in performance opportunities not limited to productions in Student Choreography, Senior Capstone Performances, The Spring Concert, the Musical Theatre area's professionally directed and produced musicals, The Annual International Conference and Festival of Blacks in Dance, and several other performance opportunities within the D.C. community and abroad!
We are proud of Howard's history of service to a diverse community, and particularly to talented and promising Black students! Here, we recognize that the impact of dance extends beyond the stage. Our goal is to cultivate all students' skills, fostering an environment where compassion, creativity, and service to their craft are valued adjacent to physical prowess.
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Dance Program Course Curriculum Scheme
FRESHMAN YEAR
FALL SEMESTER
2- THDN-076 DANCE TECH I BAL/MOD/AFR & SEM
1- FRSM-001 FRESHMAN SEMINAR
3- THDN-067 KINES CHARACT DEV & STORYTEL
3- THFD-201 IND STUD RESEARCH: NUTR FOR DNC or
NUTR-106 NUTRITION FOR NON-MAJORS
3- ENGW-101 RHETORIC, INQUIRY & CRIT WRIT or
ENGW-102 *EXP. WRITING & LIT
3 FOREIGN LANGUAGE I
TOTAL CREDITS- 15
SPRING SEMESTER
2- THDN-077 DANCE TECH II BAL/MOD/AFR&SEM
3- MATH-006 COLLEGE ALGEBRA I
3- ENGW-103 PERSUASIVE WRIT & RESEARCH
3- THTT-057 STAGE MAKE-UP/LAB
2- THDN-021 DANCE COMPOSITION I
1- HHPL-002 BEGINNING SWIMMING
3- FOREIGN LANGUAGE II
TOTAL CREDITS- 18
SOPHOMORE YEAR
FALL SEMESTER
2- THDN-007 *BALLET I
2- THDN-001 *MODERN I
2- THDN-015 AFRICAN DANCE I
3- THDN-031 ANATOMY/KINESIOLOGY
2- THDN-022 DANCE COMPOSITION II
3- THDN-029 DANCE HISTORY I
3- THTT-051 BSC STAGE LTG: LTG THE DANCE
TOTAL CREDITS - 17
SPRING SEMESTER
2- THDN-008 *BALLET II
2- THDN-002 *MODERN II
2- THDN-016 AFRICAN DANCE II
3- PSYCH-050 INTRO TO PSYCHOLOGY or
SOCI-020 INTRO TO SOCIAL PSYCH
2- THDN-023 DANCE COMPOSITION III
3- THDN-037 METHODS OF TEACHING DANCE
3- THDN-030 DANCE HISTORY II
1- THDN-201 DANCE TECH PRODUCTION
TOTAL CREDITS - 18
*Based on placement
JUNIOR YEAR
FALL SEMESTER
2- THDN-009 *BALLET III
2- THDN-003 *MODERN III
2- THDN-116 AFRICAN DANCE III
2- THDN-024 DANCE COMPOSITION IV
3- THMT-107 SINGING FOR THE PERFORMER or
THMT-041 INTRO TO THEORY FOR MUSCL THE
2- THDN-062 CONTEMP TRENDS IN DANCE I
3- ARTH-161 ART APPRECIATION or
ARTH-164 SURVEY OF VISUAL ART
TOTAL CREDITS- 16
SPRING SEMESTER
2- THDN-010 *BALLET IV
2- THDN-004 *MODERN IV
2- THDN-046 MAJ AFRICAN PERF WORKSHOP
2- THDN-071 DANCE MAJ MOVEMENT TECH
2- THDN-085 CONTEMP TRENDS IN DANCE II
1- THDN-200 DANCE TECH PRODUCTION I
1- HHPL-011 WEIGHT TRAINING OR HHPL-061 PILATES
TOTAL CREDITS- 12
SENIOR YEAR
FALL SEMESTER
2- THDN-036 DANCE SENIOR SEMINAR W/LAB
3- THAT-191 FUNDRAISING FOR THE ARTS
2- THMT-065 TAP I
2- THMT-067 JAZZ DANCE 2
3- FREE ELECTIVE 1
TOTAL CREDITS- 12
SPRING SEMESTER
2- THDN-061 DANCE SENIOR SEMINAR II
3- THAT-156 STAGE MANAGEMENT
3- THTT-053 COSTUME FOR THEATRE
1- THDN-225 DANCE TECH PRODUCTION II
3- FREE ELECTIVE 2
TOTAL CREDITS- 12
Additional Information
IN ADDITION TO SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF COURSES LISTED ON THIS SCHEME, STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE 5 POINTS TO GRADUATE: POINTS FOR DANCE MAJOR CONCENTRATION STUDENTS: 1 (FALL SHOWCASE/SPRING CONCERT/MUSICAL) 1 (FALL SHOWCASE/SPRING CONCERT/MUSICAL) 1 (FALL SHOWCASE/SPRING CONCERT/MUSICAL) 1 (FALL SHOWCASE/SPRING CONCERT/MUSICAL) 1 (BACKSTAGE CREW FOR: FALL SHOWCASE/SPRING CONCERT/MUSICAL) TOTAL = 5
* Based on placement
***Students participating in the Honors Program will be required to enroll in additional courses and participate in accompanying activities. Report to the Honors advisor for information and program requirements.
Dance Majors entering as Howard University recognized Honor/Merit Scholar/Legacy Scholarship Students will be recognized as such in the Dance concentration. These students will therefore automatically be assigned to the Honors Program with its accompanying course workload and research assignments. Such students should report to the Honors advisor for information on program requirements.
NOTE FOR COURSES WITH LAB HOURS: Laboratory hours allow for practical application of the theoretical approach addressed in both classroom exercises and lectures. Lab hours vary depending on the expectations and demands of the class/production. All students should anticipate committing additional time outside of classroom instruction for Lab work.
ALL DANCE COMPOSITION COURSES HAVE LAB HOURS
Howard University Dance Program presents its Spring Dance Concert, April 11th- 12th and 17th- 19th at 7:30 pm in the Ira Aldridge Theater. Purchase your tickets now!
Works featured by Sidra Bell, Christopher Huggins, Kevin Iega Jeff, Assane Konte, Skye Minors, and Alexus Sears. This dance concert is open to the public for all to come and enjoy. We hope to see you there!
*This ticket is not transferrable for matinee Capstone performances. Purchasing this ticket does not provide admittance to matinee performances for Odyssey the Senior Dance Capstone.
Please join the Howard University Dance Program, April 12th and 19th at 2:00 pm in the Ira Aldridge Theater for Odyssey, Beyond the Surface, Senior Capstone Performance. The Capstone is open to the public for all to come and enjoy. Tickets are only $5.00, general admission. We hope to see you there! Purchase your tickets now!
*This ticket is not transferrable for evening Dance Concert performances. Purchasing this ticket does not provide admittance to evening performances of the Spring Dance Concert.
Student Choreographers include:
- India Johnson
- Christopher Stone
- Skye Minors
- Zaire Christian
- Harmony Brown
- Simone Thompson
Production Team:
- Production Lead: Professor Lee
- Costume Liaison: Gabriela Durham
- Rehearsal Director: Professor Thomas
- Lights: Toni Rachal
- Sound Support: Professor Starnes