What Do Mason Alums Do?
In addition to the degree program’s emphasis on technique, performance, choreography, body awareness, teaching, and dance history, GMU Dance majors have a strong liberal arts component to their education preparing them to enter a variety of occupations.
Recent graduates of GMU Dance are working in the following areas:
Professional Performance
Mark Morris Dance Group
David Parsons Dance Company
STREB
European Tour of West Side Story
Professional Choreography
Fringe Festival (Minneapolis, MN)
Choreography Showcase (Richmond, VA)
Kennedy Center, Atlas Theatre (Washington, DC)
Arts Administration
Wolf Trap
Washington Ballet
CityDance Ensemble
Teaching
| Opening Own Studio: | Fairfax, VA |
| Public School Systems: | Fairfax County Public Schools
Prince William County Public Schools |
| Special Populations: | Retirement Community (Richmond, VA) |
| Universities: | Northern Illinois University
De Sales University Arizona State University VCU |
Body Therapies
Massage therapy
Dance therapy
Chiropractics
Health/Wellness Resource Management
Other Careers
Law
Nursing
Business
Continued Study in Graduate School
Ohio State University
George Mason University Masters in Special Education
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
New York University
What will I study to earn a degree in dance?
Congratulations! You are beginning a fascinating and exciting journey. During your four years as a dance major you will be introduced to new ways of thinking about yourself as an artist, and about dance and movement. In addition to the university’s general education requirements, your course of study will include:
Technique
GMU’s technique program focuses on Modern and Ballet. You may take a modern and a ballet technique class
each day throughout your four years of study. Each semester you will explore a new approach to thinking about modern dance. However, each approach
has in common its intent to develop your skills as a dancer and has at its core an understanding of the anatomical principles that underlie movement.Each semester classes are offered in a global experience. Recent offerings have been in African, Afro-Caribbean, Spanish, Asian, Butoh, Uzbekistan, Indian, and Hawaiian. Courses are also offered in jazz, and tap. In addition, you will have master classes from artists performing in the Concert Hall and visiting Guest Artists.
Performance
Each year the dance department presents five professionally produced concerts in its three campus venues: the Concert Hall, which seats 2000; Harris
Theater, which seats 500; and, the 100 seat Dance Performance Studio. There are also informal choreography showcases scheduled each semester to show
work in progress. Numerous guest artist, faculty and student choreographers set work on GMU dancers every season, and dance majors are expected to
participate in every audition opportunity. Choreographers schedule two hour rehearsals twice weekly and most rehearsals are scheduled weekday evenings
or weekend afternoons. Dancers who are cast may register for Performance credit .Choreography
The four semester study of making dances begins with Improvisation where you examine your movement preferences and expand these
movement qualities through the exploration of effort, space and time. Composition I will focus on solo choreography, while
Composition II focuses on group choreography. The course in Rhythmic Analysis, taken at the same time as Composition II, introduces basic music theory which supports your study of dance making.
Choreography allows you the opportunity to hone your choreographic skills. There are many opportunities for dance majors to make
dances outside of their course assignments. While going through the composition series you are invited to show work in one of our informal showcases.
Once you have completed your dance composition requirements, you may show work in the adjudication process that leads to our concert programming
(Directed Choreography).
Production
The production series is comprised of three courses that introduce you to backstage production support. In the Fall semester (Orientation
to Dance Production), you learn the basics of running the light board, sound operation, stage management and wardrobe support , and are
given a production assignment back stage for our December Concert. You are also responsible for strike in Harris Theater your freshmen year. By
the end of Spring semester (Dance Production), you and your classmates will be running an entire show in our Performance Studio.
The last course in this series (Advanced Dance Production) introduces you to aspects of costume, sound and lighting design.Dance History
Dance History is a two-semester course of study with a strong emphasis on research. Dance is studied placing it in its historical and cultural context.Body Awareness
Dynamic Alignment teaches you about the body. You will learn about bones, joints and muscles, but more importantly discover how the
body moves and its subtle complexities. You will become aware of the uniqueness of each individual, as you understand the potential of your
instrument. You will also learn developmental stages of movement. In Somatic Studies you will consider body, shape, effort and space,
and be introduced to various movement experiences, including Pilates and Yoga.Teaching
Methods of Teaching Dance (required of all dance majors) and Teaching Creative Movement (an optional course) are
courses which develop your teaching skills. Field experiences in teaching emphasize community outreach and may include teaching classes for a
beginning dance class at GMU, preschoolers, elementary and middle school children, as well as for a retirement community. Students interested in a
teaching career in the public school system may consider applying to earn a licensure in dance.Synthesis
The senior year capstone course, Synthesis, includes professional development, portfolio creation, and planning for your future in
dance. The course culminates in a presentation for the department of artistic statements and career goals.Teacher Licensure
This program is approved by the Virginia State Department of Education and administered through the College of Education and Human Development which is accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).
To be considered for licensure in dance education, a student must successfully complete the requirements for a B.A. or B.F.A. in Dance and in addition:
- Be formally accepted into the dance education program by the departmental Dance Education Committee. Before requesting an interview with the Committee, a student must: complete 45 – 60 credit hours with a G.P.A. of 2.80 or higher; and submit passing scores for the Praxis I tests (Reading Writing, Mathematics). It is strongly recommended that students take the Praxis I tests as soon as ENGL 302 and a course in literature and mathematics have been completed.
- Earn no grade lower than a C in dance and in professional education courses.
- Maintain an overall GPA of 2.800 or higher in all coursework in dance at George Mason University and all other institutions of higher learning combined.
- Complete World Dance (DANC118), Teaching Creative Movement (DANC453), and Jazz (DANC131 or 231)
- With committee approval, register for and complete EDUC 300, EDUC 302 and EDRD 300
- After completing all required coursework, submitting passing scores on the VCLA, and, with committee approval, complete a full time, 15 week student teaching internship (DANC455) which includes experiences at both elementary and middle or secondary levels. For some students this course of study will require a post-baccalaureate year. Students may design a four year plan, including summer study, with the assistance of an advisor in the Dance Department.