Dance
The University of Houston School of Theatre & Dance provides the only university degree program for dance in the fourth largest city in the country. Dance at the University of Houston strives to create confidence in the student through both the disciplined practice of dance and the transferable skills of creative interaction with others.
Our mission is to assist individuals in defining their own originality through dance, to develop curious minds, and to prepare students with the life skills of critical thinking and inventive problem solving. We are committed to providing a center for dance in metropolitan Houston through workshops, collaboration, performances, and through projects by the Center for Choreography.
For information regarding admission to the dance program, please visit the Admissions page.
Dance at the University of Houston emphasizes the following:
- An Athletic Component: To develop disciplined bodies and minds by integrating physical strength, flexibility, stamina, coordination, with retention and speed of comprehension. To develop the wide range of dynamic qualities which shape the performance skills of the dancer.
- An Intellectual Component: To encourage creative and thoughtful individuals, fostering students as innovative choreographers and teachers with the ability to clearly articulate ideas. To analyze movement within the contexts of tradition, history, art, music, and dance theory.
- A Human Interaction Component: To balance individual thinking with collective collaboration, and develop individuals who are able to effectively work with others to realize their potential in dance and in life.
Dance track - 120 hrs. total degree plan
36 Advanced semester hrs. In addition, each student must complete an approved minor, an approved second major, a senior project, or an interdisciplinary cluster (9 hours of approved, related courses, no more than 3 from Theatre.) Students are required to be in a dance technique class every semester.
FIRST SEMESTER (Fall)— 14 - 16 credits
- Ballet, Jazz or Modern I part I
- Intro to Dance Theory & Practice
- Acting I
- ENG 1303 Comp I
- MATH 1310 Algebra
SECOND SEMESTER (Spring)— 17 - 19 credits
- Ballet, Jazz or Modern I part II
- Dance Improvisation
- Fundamentals of Design
- ENGL 1304 Comp II
- HIST 1377
- Math Reasoning Core Course
THIRD SEMESTER (Fall)— 14 - 16 credits
- Ballet, Jazz or Modern II part I
- Costume Technology
- BIO 1310
- POLS 1336
- HIST 1378
FOURTH SEMESTER (Spring)— 14 - 16 credits
- Ballet, Jazz or Modern II part II
- BIO 1320
- POLS 1337
- HIST 1378
KIN 3304 - Social/Behavior Science Core Course
FIFTH SEMESTER (Fall)— 16 credits
- Dance Composition I
- Advanced Technique and Theory
- Dance Production
- Foreign Language 1
- Social/Behavioral Science (Writing Intensive)
SIXTH SEMESTER (Spring)— 18 credits
- Dance Composition II
- Advanced Technique and Theory
- Dance Production Lab
- History of Dance
- Jazz Dance III
- Foreign Language 2
SEVENTH SEMESTER (Fall)— 16 credits
- Advanced Technique and Theory
- Senior Project
- Sound or Lighting Design
- KIN 3309 Biomechanics
Humanities Core Course - Foreign Language 3
EIGHTH SEMESTER (Spring)— 12 credits
- Advanced Technique and Theory
- Dance Pedagogy
- Humanities Core Course
- Foreign Language 4
Approved 9 hour Cluster
- COMM 3370 History of Cinema
MUS 3310 History of Jazz
THEA 4347 Broadway Musical
Jazz Dance III
-
Approved Minor in Dance
- Dance Improvisation (Pre-req DAN 1300)
Dance Composition I
- Dance Composition II
- Dance Production
- History of Dance
- Advanced Technique and Theory **
- **May be required to take Level I and Level II Dance Technique courses in preparation of Advanced Technique and Theory. Students must audition to be accepted into Advanced Technique and Theory.
