Dance

• Mission Statement

  We acknowledge that dance is more than an art form. Through practice and play, we discover the value of dance to foster empathy, creative freedom, and inclusion. We are a community of professional and emerging artists who understand the power of dance to transform the individual in the community.
  
  We value open-access enrollment, nurturing the whole individual. The program's belief in the interconnectedness of diverse backgrounds, cultures, education, and teaching styles provides self-realized growth among students and faculty. We practice integrating the art form in all its diverse manifestations - societal reform, social justice, arts, education, research, and language.

• Student Learning Outcomes
  • Certificate 

    Certificate of Proficiency in Therapeutic Dance

    • Demonstrate a basic understanding of physiology and biomechanical principles of dance.
    • Demonstrate a baseline understanding of psychology and psychological theory.
    • Complete minimum hour requirements at supervised practicum sites.
    • Demonstrate and explain how dance can assist people of all ages and abilities through the experience of embodiment by employing a passion for creative movement in a therapeutic context.
  • Associate Degree 

    Associate of Arts in Dance

    • Demonstrate intermediate skills in diverse dance forms and performance abilities, including technical skills, artistry, musicality, and stage presence, reflecting engagement with underrepresented dance traditions.
    • Articulate foundational knowledge of dance theory, history, cultural contect, and perspectives through the lens of inclusive identities to research, critically analyze, and evaluate dance forms and constructions.
    • Demonstrate a basic understanding and practical application of dance production elements and community engagement through stagecraft, media arts, and outreach activities that promote appreciation for diverse dance traditions, inclusivity, and dance as a social and expressive art form.
  • Bachelor Degree

    Bachelor of Arts in Dance
    Bachelor of Arts in Dance Education / Bachelor of Science in Dance Education

    • Demonstrate proficiency in diverse dance forms and performance abilities, including technical skills, artistry, musicality, and stage presence, reflecting engagement with underrepresented dance traditions.
    • Demonstrate the ability to read, understand, and critically analyze dance theory, history, cultural context, and perspectives through the lens of inclusive identities to research, critically analyze, and evaluate dance forms and constructions.
    • Devise instructional dance compositions, curriculum, and educational experiences across diverse styles and techniques, utilizing creative research methodologies.
    • Integrate dance production elements and community engagement through stagecraft, media arts, and outreach activities that promote appreciation for diverse dance traditions, inclusivity, and dance as a social and expressive art form.

   

• Curriculum Grid

   

• Program and Contact Information

  Dance is a beautiful and ancient art form that has blossomed in our nation throughout the last century. Dance majors challenge themselves and grow in many ways: they develop physical and mental discipline, self-expression, ability to work with others, self-confidence, poise, written and oral communication skills, leadership, creativity, and organizational skills. Being in Department of Performing Arts – where dance, music and theatre occur side by side – provides opportunities for dance majors to collaborate with other performing artists in addition to the focus on cross-campus collaboration, interdisciplinary creative research and community engagement. The Dance Area, inside the Department of Performing Arts, provides study in dance technique, performance, creative and academic scholarship.  There exist many opportunities for dance students to perform, choreograph and teach both on campus and in the community.  Many graduates of the Dance Area are working as artists and educators and some pursue related careers such as physical therapy and arts administrators.
  
  Contact Information:
  Joseph Blake, Dance Program Director
  (801) 626-6479
  josephblake@weber.edu

• Assessment Plan

  Timeline:
  2021-2023 - Assess Learning Outcome 1
  2023-2025 - Assess Learning Outcome 2
  2025-2027 - Assess Learning Outcome 3
  2027-2029 - Assess Learning Outcome 4
  
  The Dance Program embraces an outcomes-based assessment model and will approach our plan using the timeline above. All Dance Program faculty are asked to report on their course assessments and participate in viewing dance concerts and end-of-semester final presentations. Monthly dance program meetings are a place to discuss progress within the program, specific course issues, or individual student concerns. Assessment findings may inform curriculum, courses, and/or program requirements changes.
  
  All students enrolled in dance courses present on the last day as an in-person final. Full-time and tenure-track faculty participate in sophomore juries, constructed as oral self-assessments. The program assesses dance technique courses (Aerial Dance, Ballet, Contemporary/Modern, Jazz, Rhythm Tap, African Dance, and Hip Hop) through skill demonstrations (in-class formative assessment and summative assessment via final presentation and written concert critiques.) The program assesses our creative sequence courses (improvisation, choreography, and synthesis) through final presentations, main-stage performances, and e-portfolio reviews. Assessment of Dance History, Kinesiology, Pedagogy, and Production coursework is conducted through research written papers, exams, and group presentations.
   

• Assessment Report Submissions

  2023-24
  2021-22 - Conducted Program Review
  2019-20
  2017
  2016
  2015

• Program Review

  2021-22
  2014-15
   

This information is part of the cyclical program review process. Details such as mission statements, learning outcomes, etc., are updated as part of the biennial assessment reporting process, an integral component of program review.