For many years, BSU has offered students the chance to study dance in its varied forms, from modern and ballet to jazz and tap. Now, they can also major in the subject.
With approval from the state, the university in September began offering dance as a major. Previously students could major in communication studies with a concentration in dance education, and minor in dance, but no full-fledged major was available.
BSU is now one of just three public colleges and universities in the state with a dance major and the only one offering the major and dance educator licensure, according to Dr. Nancy Moses, a professor and chair of the Theater and Dance Department who led the initiative with another dance professor, Dr. Jody Weber.
“It’s very significant for our future graduates,” Dr. Moses said. “You can imagine applying for a dance teaching position with a major in communication studies.” Having a dance major “establishes their credentials in a very visible way.”
So far, 40 students have chosen dance as their majors, including 30 who switched from the former concentration.
“It’s really been a boost to their self-identity,” Professor Moses said of dance students. “It’s like their area of expertise and their program has really been acknowledged.”
BSU has offered dance for much of its history, but it was long part of the physical education curriculum. That changed in the 1980’s, when a new emphasis on dance as a performance art led to its being shifted to the Communication Studies Department, and the launching of the dance minor.
In the 1990’s, dance became a concentration, and in 2000’s, dance and theater arts shifted from communications studies to become a combined department.
With a full time faculty of four, along with five adjunct specialists, the dance program serves about 100 students. Dr. Moses predicts the number will rise.
“Up till now, it was very difficult to fund us as a concentration in communication studies,” she said. “We anticipate we will experience a growth spurt just because people will know we are here.”
In addition to professors Moses and Weber, dance faculty includes Jennifer Sarver and Donna Dragon, along with five adjunct specialists. (University News & Media, file photo by Karen Calan)