Although emphasis is placed on preparing the student for a career in teaching, the philosophy of the program is to instill within each student sound principles of movement, scholarship, and professional attitudes. Folk Dance may be taken as an elective. Dance teaching field students must satisfactorily complete an upper division choreographic project. Facilities Dance classes are offered in the multi-million dollar Lucille Norton Health and Physical Education Complex. The expansive dance studio includes a 95 by 45 foot sprung hardwood floor and wall to wall mirrors.
Sound equipment is sophisticated.
A video recording camera, videocassette players and television monitors are frequently used to help analyze students' work. Other facilities include a costume lab, a music room, and classrooms for the various lecture classes taught within the dance program. The Griifith Fine Arts Center offers an 1,100 seat proscenium stage theatre for the dance company's annual concert. The dance program has sponsored a repertory company for over 20 years. Admission to the SFA Repertory Company is by audition during the first week of the fall semester, and work begins immediately toward an annual formal concert.