DANCE

Subject abbreviation: DNCE College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences

Joel Mejia Smith, M.F.A., Chair Department Office, 104 Arts

• (951) 827-3944; dance.ucr.edu

Professors Emeriti Wendy L. Rogers, M.A. Susan Rose, M.F.A. Marta Savigliano, Ph.D. Christena Lindborg Schlundt, Ph.D. Fred Strickler, B.S.

Professors Anthea Kraut, Ph.D.

Associate Professors Jacqueline Shea Murphy, Ph.D. Joel Mejia Smith, M.F.A. Linda J. Tomko, Ph.D.

Assistant Professors María Regina Firmino-Castillo, Ph.D. Imani Kai Johnson, Ph.D. Anusha Kedhar, Ph.D. Luis Lara Malvacías, M.F.A. Taisha Paggett, M.F.A. Jose Reynoso, Ph.D. Ni’Ja Whitson M.F.A

**

Lecturers Brandon Aiken Jessica Diaz Kelli King, M.F.A. Makeda Kumasi, M.F.A. Marina Magalhães

The Dance major is distinctive for its outstanding faculty of nationally and internationally recog- nized scholars and artists who draw from a variety of academic and creative backgrounds, including choreography, history, literature, perfor- mance studies, and cultural studies.

The B.A. degree in Dance focuses on choreog- raphy and the cultivation of cultural and historical perspectives on dance. Movement practice, dance composition, performance, and critical dance studies courses are required. Elective courses are also required. Movement practice courses are offered in a variety of dance/move- ment forms. Dance majors choose an emphasis in Dance Making or Dance Studies. Majors have the option to participate in “UCR is Dancing,” the department’s annual annual concert series featuring original choreography and performance projects by students.

In addition, visiting professional dancers, choreographers, and scholars come to UCR frequently to give special workshops, master classes, and lectures.

Opportunities to perform include “UCR is Danc- ing,” MFA students’ final projects, and the Gluck Fellows Arts Outreach Touring programs.

Dance majors are eligible for the Chancellor’s Performance Award, a scholarship of up to $2,000. Student assistantships and other forms of financial aid are also available. Undergradu- ate majors may apply for research grants and stipends for summer dance studies. Selected students receive $1,000 Maxwell H. Gluck Fellowships.

See Undergraduate Studies section.

See College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, Colleges and Programs section.

The Dance major focuses on two broad areas of study: Dance Making and Dance Studies. After completing a number of shared required courses, Dance majors will choose an emphasis in either Dance Making or Dance Studies and complete a Capstone Research Seminar.

• 1. Lower-division requirements (8 units):

DNCE 014, DNCE 019

• 2. Dance Making (12 units): Three courses

from DNCE 115E, DNCE 115F, DNCE 115G or DNCE 115J

• 3. Dance Studies: (8 units), 2 courses from

the following: DNCE 131/GSST 127, DNCE 132, DNCE 133, DNCE 134, DNCE 135

• 4. Production: DNCE 140

• 5. Movement Practice (up to 24 units)

Dance majors must enroll in at least one movement practice course per quarter, and must pursue a concentration in two differ- ent dance genres of at least 6 units each. Up to 24 units may be counted towards the major from:

• a) DNCE 066A, DNCE 066B (West African

Dance)

• b) DNCE 067A, DNCE 067B, DNCE 067C

(Modern Technique)

• c) DNCE 068 (Somatics)

• d) DNCE 069A, DNCE 069B (18th Century

Dance)

• e) DNCE 070A, DNCE 070B, DNCE 070C

(Hip Hop Dance)

• f) DNCE 071A, DNCE 071B (Ballet)

• g) DNCE 073A, DNCE 073B (Jazz Dance)

• h) DNCE 074A, DNCE 074B (Yoga for

Dancers)

• i) DNCE 075A, DNCE 075B (Dance

Techniques and Practices)

• j) DNCE 081, DNCE 181 (Dance Cultures,

Culture in Dance)

Dance Making Emphasis:

• 1. Eight units from Dance Making/Practice

Electives:

DNCE 167, DNCE 168, DNCE 180(E-Z), DNCE 181*, or any DNCE 115(E-Z) not used to fulfill requirement #2 above.

No more than 4 units may be drawn from the following movement practice courses to fulfill this eight unit elective requirement:

DNCE 066A, DNCE 066B, DNCE 067A, DNCE 067B, DNCE 067C, DNCE 068, DNCE 069A, DNCE 069B, DNCE 070A, DNCE 070B, DNCE 070C, DNCE 071A, DNCE 071B, DNCE 073A, DNCE 073B, DNCE 074A, DNCE 074B, DNCE 075A, DNCE 075B, DNCE 081*

• 2. Four units from Dance Studies Electives:

DNCE 155(E-Z), DNCE 161/MCS 161, DNCE 162/MCS 162, DNCE 171(E-Z)/MCS 151(E-Z), DNCE 172(E-Z), DNCE 173(E-Z), DNCE 181* or any of DNCE 131/GSST 127, DNCE 132, DNCE 133, DNCE 134, DNCE 135 not used to fulfill requirement #3 above, DNCE 136

*DNCE 081 and 181 may be used to fulfill either the Dance Making or the Dance Studies requirement, but not both.

• 3. Dance Making Capstone:

• a) DNCE 188

• b) DNCE 189E

Dance Studies Emphasis:

• 1. Eight units from Dance Studies Electives:

DNCE 155(E-Z), DNCE 161/MCS 161, DNCE 162/MCS 162, DNCE 171(E- Z)/ MCS 151(E-Z), DNCE 172(E-Z), DNCE 173(E-Z), DNCE 181* or any of DNCE 131/ GSST 127, DNCE 132, DNCE 133, DNCE 134, DNCE 135 not used to fulfill require- ment #3 above, DNCE 136

• 2. Four units from Dance Making/Practice

Electives:

DNCE 066A, DNCE 066B, DNCE 067A, DNCE 067B, DNCE 067C, DNCE 068, DNCE 069A, DNCE 069B, DNCE 070A, DNCE 070B, DNCE 070C, DNCE 071A, DNCE 071B, DNCE 073A, DNCE 073B, DNCE 074A, DNCE 074B, DNCE 075A, DNCE 075B, DNCE 081*, or any DNCE 115(E-Z) not used to fulfill #2 above.

*DNCE 081 and 181 may be used to fulfill either the Dance Making or the Dance Studies requirement, but not both.

• 3. Dance Studies Capstone: DNCE 189F

Students who minor in Dance receive introduc- tions to choreography, movement practices, and critical dance studies that enable them to pursue upper-division courses germane to a particular focus in dance.

• 1. Lower-division preparation (14 units)

• a) DNCE 014, DNCE 019

• b) Six (6) units from movement practice

courses: DNCE 066A, DNCE 066B, DNCE 067A, DNCE 067B, DNCE 067C, DNCE 068, DNCE 069A, DNCE 069B, DNCE 070A, DNCE 070B, DNCE 070C, DNCE 071A, DNCE 071B, DNCE 073A, DNCE 073B, DNCE 074A, DNCE 074B, DNCE 075A, DNCE 075B, DNCE 081

• 2. Upper-division requirements (16 units):

4 courses from DNCE 114A, DNCE 114B, DNCE 114C, DNCE 115E-Z, DNCE 131/ GSST 127, DNCE 132, DNCE 133, DNCE 134, DNCE 135, DNCE 136, DNCE 140, DNCE 155 (E-Z)/MUS 155 (E-Z), DNCE 161/MCS 161, DNCE 162/MCS 162, DNCE 171 (E-Z), DNCE 172 (E-Z), DNCE 173 (E-Z), DNCE 180 (E-Z), DNCE 181

See Minors under the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences in the Colleges and Programs section of this catalog for additional information on minors.

The Department of Dance offers a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Critical Dance Studies, a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Experimental Choreography, and a Ph.D. in Critical Dance Studies.

M.A. in Critical Dance Studies Admission Students gaining admission to the Ph.D. program in Critical Dance Studies may, after advisement and with the approval of the faculty committee, elect to pursue an M.A. degree in Critical Dance Studies.

Plan I (Thesis) Students must complete a minimum of 36 quarter units of undergraduate (100 series) and graduate (200 series) courses. At least 24 of these units must be in graduate courses and must include the following UCR courses:

DNCE 239 (Introduction to Graduate Study of Dance)

DNCE 254 (Political Approaches to Dance Studies)

DNCE 255 (Historical Approaches to Dance Studies)

DNCE 257 (Rhetorical Approaches to Dance Studies)

DNCE 258 (Cultural Approaches to Dance Studies)

A maximum of 12 units of DNCE 299 (thesis research) can be counted towards the 36-unit minimum. Other courses (to fulfill the 36-unit re- quirement) should be selected, with the consent of the program graduate advisor, from relevant upper-division and graduate courses. The units must be taken for a letter grade and can include, but are not limited to: DNCE 200-level seminar courses (DNCE 239-244; 254-255; 257-258; 260 (E-Z); 264-265 (E-Z); 267); DNCE 280; an upper-division undergraduate-level course paired with 2 units of 292 (Concurrent Analysis).

Candidates for the degree must prepare and present an acceptable thesis to the Department of Dance.

M.F.A. in Experimental Choreography The Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) program in Experimental Choreography constructs oppor- tunities for highly motivated choreographers to conduct both research in dance and an assessment of contemporary issues in dance aesthetics, history, and culture. The focus of this program is the development of experimental choreography that challenges cultural assump- tions and is informed by a critical and reflective perspective. Core courses focus on what con- stitutes an experiment in contemporary dance, improvising choreography, systems of represen- tation used to create choreographic meaning, and the collaborative process. Through close cooperation with the Ph.D. program in Critical Dance Studies, students explore the dynamic relationships between theory, method, and object of study. A final project demonstrates a thorough investigation and committed execution of a defined choreographic problem. Financial assistance includes teaching assistantships and fellowships for community projects through the Gluck Fellows Program of the Arts. Admission Applicants to the program should demonstrate significant professional experience as an active choreographer making and producing work, must have a B.A. or B.F.A. degree from an accredited institution. It is recommended that applicants take the GRE if their GPA is below a 3.0. A video sample of choreography is required. Contact the department for specific details. The program is especially designed for the practicing artist who desires to return to an institutional context for advanced study.

The program seeks applicants who desire to contextualize their aesthetic inquiry through the study of historical, cultural, and political per- spectives on dance. Students will be asked to examine their own artistic production from these various perspectives, as they produce new work. They will be involved in a rigorous investigation of contemporary aesthetic issues as formulated in their own research projects.

Course Work Requirements consist of 40 units of course work (as set out below) and 12-14 units of indepen- dent research for a final project. Students’ total number of units of graduate and upper-division undergraduate courses must equal at least 54. The core curriculum, normally to be completed in the first two years of residency, shall comprise the following 16 units:

DNCE 240 (Improvising Choreography: Scores, Structures, and Strategies)

DNCE 241 (Creating the Experiment: Identify- ing the New)

DNCE 242 (Dancing Representation: Figures, Forms, and Frames)

DNCE 243 (Collaborating in Dance Making: Materials, Methods, and Interactions)

Students must also take 4 units in each of the following:

DNCE 180R (Dance Practicum: Pedagogy)

DNCE 239 (Introduction to Graduate Study of Dance)

DNCE 244 (Special Topics in Dance Making)

In addition, students must complete 8 units from the following Critical Dance Studies courses:

DNCE 254 (Political Approaches to Dance Studies)

DNCE 255 (Historical Approaches to Dance Studies)

DNCE 257 (Rhetorical Approaches to Dance Studies)

DNCE 258 (Cultural Approaches to Dance Studies)

Students must also take Dance 301, (which does not count toward the total 54 units required for the degree) plus 4-6 graduate- level units of electives either within or outside the Dance Department. These units must be taken for a letter grade and can include, but are not limited to: any of the core PhD courses (DNCE 254, 255, 257 & 258) not previously taken; a Dance 200-level seminar course in critical dance stud- ies (DNCE 260 (E-Z), 264 & 267); DNCE 280 (the Colloquium); the bundling of an upper-division undergraduate-level course with 2 units of 292 (Concurrent Analysis). An additional 12-14 units are taken through DNCE 297 or DNCE 299 for work on phases of the final project. During the second year, students form a committee consisting of three faculty members, one of whom may be outside the department. The committee approves the project proposal and supervises the final project. The student’s progress through the program culminates in the final project, which reflects a serious investigation of a specific choreographic problem.

Foreign Language Requirement None

Written and/or Oral Qualifying Examination During the second year, the student writes a 5–15-page proposal for the final project to be approved by the committee.

Final Project The final project could take the form of a concert of dances or some other performance event in which the student’s research is made evident. Because of the experimental nature of the program, it is difficult to specify the exact form the project may take. For example, students may 1) undertake to create site-specific dances occurring in different locales over several months, 2) organize opportunities for interactive choreography with distinct groups of performers, or 3) choreograph a dance to be viewed on CD- ROM. Whatever its final form, the project must demonstrate a thorough investigation and com- mitted execution of a defined aesthetic concern. The final project includes a written requirement to be completed within one quarter following the performance event. This document, 20-40 pages long, outlines the aesthetic focus of the student’s research and provides a historical and philosophical contextualization for the project.

Normative Time to Degree 9 quarters

Ph.D. in Critical Dance Studies The Ph.D. program in Critical Dance Studies provides an advanced interdisciplinary base for innovative research in the field of cultural, politi- cal, and historical studies of dance. The program of study embraces a theoretical consideration of all dimensions of the practice of dance. These dimensions include, but are not limited to, body politics; media and digital cultures; globalization and cultural translation; race, ethnicity, sexuality, and gender; mobilization and class; and corpo- real knowledges and choreography. In addition to theoretical and historical concerns, the program promotes the articulation of a variety of methodological approaches to the analysis of bodily performance.

UCR faculty put into motion various modes of production: performance studies, histo- ry, ethnography, critical race theory, feminist studies/masculinities & queer studies, Marxism or post-Marxism, and other specific area studies related to, for example, South Asian, Asian Di- aspora and Asian American studies, African Di- aspora studies, Indigenous studies, Latina/Latin American studies, and Global South studies. The program provides a provocative environment for investigating cutting-edge strategies for original scholarly work in dance.

Admission Students must meet the general requirements for admission to the Graduate Division as shown in the Graduate Studies section of this catalog. Students may submit a statement of back- ground about experience in dance history and theory, a previously prepared research paper, or the equivalent, demonstrating analytical and interpretive skills, and GRE scores.

Prerequisites include the following:

• 1. A working knowledge of movement

• 2. An acquaintance with some system of

movement observation and analysis

• 3. Preparation in general historical and cultural

studies

Deficiencies may be corrected with appropriate course work.

Course Work Core curriculum normally to be completed in the first two years of residency includes the following:

DNCE 239 (Introduction to Graduate Study of Dance)

DNCE 254 (Political Approaches to Dance Studies)

DNCE 255 (Historical Approaches to Dance Studies)

DNCE 257 (Rhetorical Approaches to Dance Studies)

DNCE 258 (Cultural Approaches to Dance Studies)

DNCE 301 (Seminar in Dance Studies Pedagogy and Professional Development)

Two additional graduate-level courses (minimum 8 units) are required from other disciplines (not DNCE) related to the student’s research interest. Courses must be taken for a letter grade and can include an upper-division undergraduate-lev- el course paired with 2 units of 292 (Concurrent Analysis).

Four additional graduate-level courses (minimum 16 units) from Dance must be taken for a letter grade and can include, but are not limited to: DNCE 200-level seminar courses (DNCE 260 (E-Z), 264 & 267) in critical dance studies; DNCE 280 only if completed twice; an upper-division undergraduate-level course paired with 2 units of 292 (Concurrent Analysis).

A maximum of one Dance MFA core course (DNCE 240 to 243) may be included as one of the four additional graduatelevel dance courses required.

Language Requirement All students must show competence in at least one language other than English. Further require- ments in specific forms of dance or music nota- tion or ancient or contemporary languages may be determined for each student in consultation with relevant faculty and the graduate advisor of the program.

Written Qualifying Examination Students must prepare one field for examination with each of four members of the committee in whose courses the student has completed de- gree requirements. The committee is composed of two Dance faculty members, one of whom is chair, and two other members who may be Dance faculty or “outside members” (not a UCR Dance faculty member or cooperating faculty member). The written qualifying examination may be completed as a “take-home” format (sev- en-day, open-book) or a “sit-in” format (two-hour exam periods for each field, conducted on site in the department, and completed in one five-day work week).

Qualifying Essay One quarter after successfully completing the written examination, students complete a rough draft of the qualifying essay, under the direction of the same group of faculty members who monitored the written examination. Students finalize the qualifying essay and sit for the oral examination before the end of the following quarter. The qualifying essay is generally 25 pages in length and demonstrates the student’s ability to articulate a viable dissertation research project. It must consist of written work but may include other forms of video or film productions with the approval of the relevant committee and the graduate advisor.

Oral Qualifying Examination Students must prepare qualifying essay and be examined by a five-person oral qualifying exam- ination committee. The committee, nominated by the department and appointed by the dean of the Graduate Division, consists of all four written examination committee members, plus a fifth member chosen so that the five-person committee would be comprised of no more than two “outside faculty members,” and no fewer than one “outside faculty member.” All members of the committee must be physically present for the exam. The committee examines the adequa- cy of the student’s preparation to conduct the research proposed in the qualifying essay. Ad- vancement to candidacy for the doctoral degree depends on completing required course work, fulfilling language requirements, and passing the written examination, qualifying essay, and the oral examination.

The Dance department expects students to complete the entire examination process by the end of their tenth quarter in the program (end of the first quarter of their fourth year) to make satisfactory progress toward completing the degree.

Dissertation and Final Oral Examination A dissertation committee is composed of three members: a chair from Dance, a Dance faculty member, and either a Dance faculty member, or an outside faculty member. The committee directs and approves the research and writing of the dissertation. The dissertation must consist of written work but may include other forms of video or film productions with the approval of the relevant committee and the graduate advisor. It must present original scholarly work and be approved by the dissertation committee before the student takes the final oral examination. Students must have satisfactory performance on a final oral examination, conducted by the dissertation committee and open to all members of the faculty. The examination emphasizes the dissertation and related topics.

Normative Time to Degree 18 quarters