Dance (DANC)

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Abstract

The Department of Dance offers a Master of Fine Arts degree in Dance, focusing on developing highly skilled teaching artists with concentrations in either performance or choreography. It is designed to give outstanding students advanced training, experience in teaching, and opportunities for creative growth. Aimed primarily at modern or contemporary dancers with a high skill level and background in creating and performing at a professional level, the program integrates studio, theory, and pedagogical practices, culminating in the third year in both a shared concert of original work(s) and an off-campus internship in a professional agency, company, or school. The competencies that students learn during the program will allow them to teach a broad range of dance and dance-related subjects after they graduate. They should be able to produce and present dance in a number of contexts and modalities both on the campus and in the community. The program provides many performance opportunities, some of which are directed by faculty members, visiting artists and students in the choreographic emphasis. Important emphasis will be given to dance theory and practices in western and world dance and the study of current concerns. We wish our graduates to exhibit a high degree of insight into the cultural contexts in which dance has developed in the past and continues to develop today. Students in both the performance and choreography emphases will be expected to spend a significant amount of time learning about technical aspects of dance as well as promotion and house management and the myriad of other organizational details that go into producing a dance performance. They will be actively involved in the practical application of this knowledge as part of their training. The program is highly selective (four students per year) and auditions are required. The MFA is a fulltime three-year program, with financial support for each student selected.

Admissions Information

Applicants should have a strong undergraduate preparation in technique and dance composition. They should have completed the following undergraduate courses or their equivalent: improvisation, kinesiology, dance teaching methods, dance production, Laban Movement Analysis, and two semesters of dance history or one semester of history and one of dance philosophy, ethnology or aesthetics. Undergraduate deficiencies will be considered on an individual basis.

Application Deadlines

	Fall	Spring
Domestic Applicants: U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents
Domestic Applicant Deadlines	Applications must be received by February 1 .	This program does not accept applications for this semester.
International Applicants: Applicants from Outside the U.S. or U.S. Citizens / Permanent Residents with Non-U.S. Credentials IMPORTANT:   International Applicants and U.S. Applicants with Non-U.S. Credentials must follow the domestic deadlines above if they are earlier than the deadlines listed below.
Applicants seeking admission under F (Student) or J (Exchange Visitor) visas	February 1 If Domestic Deadline is after Feb. 1	June 1 If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1
Applicants seeking admission under A, E, G, H, I, and L visas and immigrants	May 1 If Domestic Deadline is after May 1	October 1 If Domestic Deadline is after Jun. 1
U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents with foreign credentials	May 15 If Domestic Deadline is after May 15	October 31 If Domestic Deadline is after Oct.31

Application Requirements

1. No Tests
2. 3 Letters of Recommendation addressed (can be submitted online)
3. Audition/Interview
4. Writing Sample (submitted online with application)
5. DVD to be mailed to department
6. NOTE:Audition Date for Fall 2008 Admission is March 1, 2008

Degree Requirements

Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.)
Students enrolled in the program must complete a total of 60 credit hours of study with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 to graduate and will be assessed on a regular basis to determine their progress. Graduation from the program requires the successful completion of a final project demonstrating a synthesis of craft and artistic understanding as well as professional competence in the area of concentration. Final projects consist of: (1) the thesis project consisting of the public presentation of a body of dance works choreographed by the candidate, along with written documentation of the project as agreed upon with the thesis adviser; (2) the presentation of an online portfolio of selected indicators of artistry and pedagogy. The thesis project work may be presented in one or more publicly attended events, usually in a shared capacity with another MFA candidate. Candidates are responsible for the organization of all production elements involved in the presentation of the project.

Facilities and Special Resources

The location of campus, eight miles away from Washington D.C., places the Department a half hour away from America's second city of dance where one may study and enjoy a wide variety of offerings of ballet, modern and ethnic dance.

Financial Assistance

A number of teaching assistantships that include partial or full tuition remission are available. All qualified applicants may be nominated for Graduate School fellowships; the deadline for all applications is February 1.

Contact Information

The Guidelines for the Graduate Program provide course requirements, examination procedures and descriptive materials for the M.F.A. program. For specific information, contact:

Karen K. Bradley, Director of Graduate Studies
Department of Dance Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
University of Maryland College Park
MD  20742-1615
Telephone: (301) 405-0387
Fax: (310) 314-1972
kbradley@umd.edu

http://www.dance.umd.edu

Ms. Marie Visosky, Coordinator, Department of Dance Graduate Program
Department of Dance University of Maryland
College Park
MD  20742-1615
Telephone: 301-405-3181
Fax: 301-314-1972
mvisosky@umd.edu

http://www.dance.umd.edu

Courses: DANC