The Program in Dance familiarizes students, through exposure to professional practice and interaction with professional artists, critics and scholars, both with the nature of practical work dance and with the role that dance has played, and continue to play, in different cultures at different times. All students, whether or not they are interested in a dance career, are offered the opportunity to involve themselves in an important field of the creative arts while simultaneously pursuing a liberal arts education. Past experience in dance is not a requirement for admission to the Program's introductory courses.  The Program also offers sufficient intermediate and advanced classes, as well as co-curricular opportunities, courses that the serious student will, upon graduation, be prepared for advanced study in the field.

Program courses are designed to encourage artistic creation and to understand the many forms artistic creation has taken. Many students find our courses intensely self-fulfilling and liberating. However, they also require discipline, technique, the willingness to take risks and possibly fail, and the desire to work hard at what inevitably prove to be demanding tasks. For this reason, only students serious about the exploration of dance - and of themselves, should apply for admission to courses or to the Certificate Program. 

Dance Concentration

For students graduating in 2009:

To obtain a certificate in Dance with a focus on Dance, students need to complete:
(1) four studio courses above the introductory level;
(2) one course in dance history and criticism [DAN 321:Special Topics in Dance History, Criticism, and Aesthetics offered spring semester only];
(3) two performances in Faculty and Guest Choreographer works in the Annual Dance Performance at Berlind Theater during the junior and/or senior year - one of which must be with a Guest Choreographer;
(4) twenty hours of technical work in assisting the Dance Program’s productions. Many certificate students have an optional opportunity to complete an independent creative project.

For students graduating in 2010:

To obtain a certificate in Dance with a focus on Dance, students need to complete:
(1) four studio courses above the introductory level;
(2) one course in dance history and criticism [DAN 321:Special Topics in Dance History, Criticism, and Aesthetics offered spring semester only];
(3) two performances in Faculty and Guest Choreographer works in the Annual Dance Performance at Berlind Theater during the junior and/or senior year - one of which must be with a Guest Choreographer;
(4) two semesters of ballet class 2x/week; and
(5) twenty hours of technical work in assisting the Dance Program’s productions.  Many certificate students have an optional opportunity to complete an independent creative project.

For students graduating in 2011, or thereafter:

To obtain a certificate in Dance with a focus on Dance, students need to complete:
(1) four studio courses above the introductory level – one of which must be a spring semester studio course;
(2) one course in dance history and criticism [DAN 321:Special Topics in Dance History, Criticism, and Aesthetics offered spring semester only];
(3) two performances in Faculty and Guest Choreographer works in the Annual Dance Performance at Berlind Theater during the junior and/or senior year - one of which must be with a Guest Choreographer;
(4) two semesters of ballet class 2x/week; and
(5) twenty hours of technical work in assisting the Dance Program’s productions.  Many certificate students have an optional opportunity to complete an independent creative project.

**Exceptions to coursework may be made for students with pre-professional training who maintain their training while at Princeton. These students may substitute a theoretical or practical course in performance studies (theater or music), in lieu of a fourth studio dance course.   The choice of the substituted course should be determined in consultation with the Head of Dance.  It is advisable for interested students to file application forms during their sophomore year.  For further details, speak to the Dance Faculty.**

Both theater and dance students must devote a certain number of hours to technical work on theater and dance productions staged by the program.

Advanced Creative Work. The program offers all students the opportunity to do advanced creative work under the supervision of its faculty. These projects may be pursued as extracurricular activities, or they may be used to fulfill the requirement for independent work in the certificate program. With permission of the student's department of concentration, such a project may also satisfy one of the requirements for independent work in the department, in which case it must consist of or be accompanied by written work, such as a scholarly or critical evaluation. 

Admission

A Certificate from the Program in Dance will be awarded to students who successfully complete a substantial amount of work in the practical and academic areas of the discipline. Students should enroll in the certificate program during the second term of the sophomore year, but no later than the start of the second term of the junior year, indicating their choice of either theater or dance. At least two of the required courses, including one from the program listing, should be completed before enrollment in the certificate program.  Certificate Application Form