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Dance Performance and Choreography

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Creativity Meets Critical Thought 

Spelman College Dance Theater Rituals of ResistanceDance at Spelman is a critical and creative thinking laboratory that nurtures women of the African Diaspora. Students investigate intersections of experimental creative practices, cultural discourse, and technology. In keeping with the College's focus on social justice and innovation, the department's theory and composition classes fuse technology and womanist theory along with other social discourse. The curriculum centers on the choreographic process through the lens of Black feminist theories, contemporary dance techniques, and interdisciplinary collaborative practice.

Please refer to the latest Dance Performance and Choreography Major Requirements for full requirements and course descriptions.

Dance Offerings

Dance Technique

(Fulfills Wellness Credits for non-majors and for majors - after completing 7 credits)

  • Contemporary Modern (three levels)
  • African Dance Forms
  • Commercial Hip Hop
  • Principles of Jazz
  • Int./Adv. Jazz
  • Jazz Funk
  • Improvisation
  • Ballet

Choreographic Process

  • Level 1 (solo works)
  • Level 2 (group works)
  • Level 3 (interdisciplinary collaboration)
  • Capstone Projects

Performance 

The Spelman Dance Theatre provides opportunities for students to learn from and perform with innovative professional choreographers.

Dance Theory

  • Dance Perspectives and Process*
  • Critical Writing for Dance* (also a Writing Intensive)
  • Dance for Camera
  • The Art of Teaching Dance 
  • Dance, Community, and Social Change*
  • Choreographing Lives
  • Black Presence in American Dance*
  • Navigating The Business of Dance...and more!

Major Requirements

The Majors Four Areas

The dance major consists of 50 semester credits. The major is divided into four areas: Technique, Theory, Choreographic Process, and Performance. Students majoring in dance are required to take seven technique classes, including Improvisation, all of the courses in the Theory and Choreographic Process areas, four semesters of Dance Performance-the academic frame for Spelman Dance Theatre (SDT)-and two major electives.

General Core Wellness Requirements

All 1 credit dance technique classes may be taken to fulfill the Wellness Requirement for non-dance majors and minors. For dance majors and minors, all 1 credit dance technique classes may be taken to fulfill the Wellness Requirement for dance majors after completion of your required technique credits.

All 1st & 2nd Year Dance Majors Must Take Arts Division Seminar (0 credits)

Technique

7 credits total

  • SDAN 171 Improvisation (1)
  • Choose 6 technique classes from the following list:
  • SDAN 111 Beginning Ballet (1)
  • SDAN 121 African Dance Forms (1)
  • SDAN 122 West African Rhythms & Dances (1)
  • SDAN 131 Beginning Contemporary Modern Dance (1)
  • SDAN 161 Principles of Jazz (1)
  • SDAN 202 Jazz Funk (1)
  • SDAN 215 Intermediate/Advanced Ballet (1)
  • SDAN 233 Intermediate Contemporary Modern Dance (1)
  • SDAN 252 Commercial Hip Hop (1)
  • SDAN 333 Advanced Contemporary Modern Dance (1)

Theory

19 credits total

  • DAN 105 Dance Perspectives and Process (4)
  • DAN 203 Critical Writing for Dance (4)
  • DAN 206 Navigating the Business of Dance (3)
  • DAN 211 Dance, Community and Social Change (4) OR
  • DAN 300 The Art of Teaching Dance (4)
  • DAN 241 Black Presence in American Dance (4)

Choreographic Process

12 credits total
  • SDAN 201 Choreographic Process I: Solo/Womanist Theories (3)
  • SDAN 201L Choreographic Process I Lab (1)
  • SDAN 301 Choreographic Process II: Group/Art as Activism (4)
  • SDAN 401 Choreographic Process Ill: lnterdiscipl. Collaboration (2)
  • SDAN 494 Capstone Experience/Directed Studies (2)

Performance

4 credits total

SDAN 200 Dance Performance (Spelman Dance Theatre) (1)

Major Electives

8 credits total

  • SDAN 209 Contemplative Practices and the Arts (4)
  • SDAN 211 Dance, Community and Social Change (4)
  • SDAN 262 Dance for Camera (4)
  • SDAN 300 The Art of Teaching Dance (4)
  • SDAN 377 Women in Dance: Sexism, Sexuality and Subversion (4)
  • SDAN 396 Choreographing Lives: Women's Auto/biography and Dance (4)

The following courses meet the Divisional Arts Requirement

  • (105) Dance Perspectives and Process (4)
  • (203) Critical Writing for Dance (also WI) (4)
  • (211) Dance, Community & Social Change (4)
  • (241) Black Presence in American Dance (4)

Alumna Spotlight: Tendayi Kuumba

Chita Rivera Outstanding Female Dancer on Broadway 2022 as Lady in Brown in the Tony Nominated Broadway Revival of for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf, Tendayi Kuumba, C'2010, is an international dancer, choreographer, singer,songwriter and Spelman College grad.

Additionally in recent years, Kuumba was an original cast member background vocalist/dancer of Special Tony Award-Winning David Byrne’s American Utopia on Broadway as well as its World Tour since 2018 and the HBO Film adaptation directed by Spike Lee. A former touring company member of Urban Bush Women, Tendayi is a longtime collaborator with partner Greg Purnell under the alias UFLYMOTHERSHIP. Together they build sonic/choreographic projects. These projects include Heroiné, Incog-negro, U.F.O: Stardust Melanin, U.F.O “The Mixtape” and “The Adventures of Mr Left Brain & Ms Right” from their recent Bloodlines commission by the Petronio Residency Center. 

Suggested Course Progression
First Year
Second Year
Third Year
Four Year
Fall
  • African Diaspora & the World (4)
  • World Language (4)
  • English Composition (4)
  • Creative Coding (Computer Science Req.) - (4)
  • First Year Experience (1)
  • First year Colloquia (1)
  • Dance Perspectives & Process (4)
  • First Year Experience (1)
  • Improvisation (1)
  • Black Presence in American Dance (4)
  • Division of the Arts Seminar (0)
  • Division of the Arts Seminar (0)
  • Total Credits = 18

Spring

  • African Diaspora & the World (4)
  • World Language (4)
  • Creative Coding (Computer Science Req.) - (4)
  • First year Colloquia (1)
  • First Year Experience (1)
  • Black Presence in American Dance (4)
  • Division of the Arts Seminar (0)
  • Total Credits = 18

 

Fall

  • Arts Requirement (4)
  • Natural Science (4)
  • Sophomore Year Experience (1)
  • Choreographic Process I + Lab (4)
  • Dance Technique (1)
  • Spelman Dance Theatre (1)
  • Division of the Arts Seminar (0)
  • Total Credits = 15

Spring

  • Humanities Requirement (4)
  • Int’l/Women’s Studies Requirement (4)
  • Sophomore Year Experience - (1)
  • Critical Writing for Dance (4)
  • First Year Experience (1)
  • Dance Technique (1)
  • Spelman Dance Theatre (0)
    Total Credits = 15
Fall
  • Math  (4)
  • Navigating the Business of Dance (3)
  • Dance Theory or Elective (Dance, Community & Social Change;
    or Choreographing Lives) - (4)
  • Dance Technique (1)
  • Spelman Dance Theatre (1)
  • Division of the Arts Seminar (0)
  • Total Credits = 13

Spring

  • Choreographic Process II (4)
  • Dance Theory or Elective (The Art of Teaching Dance; or Dance for Camera) - (4)
  • Dance Technique (1)
  • Spelman Dance Theatre (1)
  • Total Credits = 10
Fall
  • Social Science (4)
  • Elective (4)
  • Elective (4)
  • Choreographic Process III (2)
  • Dance Technique (Wellness Credit) (1)
  • Dance Technique (1)
  • Total Credits = 15

Spring

  • Elective (4)
  • Elective (4)
  • Dance Capstone (2)
  • Dance Capstone (2)
  • Dance Technique (Wellness Credit) (1)
  • Total Credits = 13

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