The Theatre and Dance Department at Western Oregon University offers a bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degree in Dance, a B.A. and B.S. degree in the Arts with a dance emphasis, a dance minor and an array of courses that satisfy the general education arts requirements. The dance program provides the opportunity to develop creative, technical, pedagogical and performance skills under the guidance of professional faculty in a supportive environment. The curriculum is structured to develop well-rounded dancers with a solid foundation for a career in performance, choreography, teaching, or advanced graduate study. Click here to learn more about careers in dance.
Emphasis is in modern dance with strong support classes in ballet.
Course work includes improvisation, composition, jazz, tap, world dance, dance history, rhythmic awareness, creativity, dance and technology, dance production, pedagogy, creative dance for children, kinesiology, notation, musical theatre and repertory. Guest artists are invited to choreograph and offer workshops, performances and lectures throughout the year for the campus community and the general public. Internationally famous dance companies frequently appear on campus as part of the Edgar H. Smith Fine Arts Series, many offering workshops and master classes. Performance and choreographic opportunities include student choreography for both formal and informal productions, senior thesis projects, the WOU Dance Theatre's repertory performing ensemble, and annual dance concerts. As part of the Department of Theatre and Dance and the Division of Creative Arts, dance students have opportunities for performance in plays, musicals and faculty and student projects.