2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog
Dance
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Faculty
Chair
Carol Hess
Professor
Carol Hess
B.A., Barnard College, 1975; M.A., Columbia University, 1980
Associate Professor Emeritus
Doug Hamby
B.S., Michigan State University, 1973; M.F.A., Temple University, 1994
Assistant Professor
Ann Sofie Clemmensen
B.A., Norwegian College of Dance, 2006; M.A., Northern School of Contemporary Dance (UK), 2008; M.F.A., The Ohio State University, 2013
Shaness D. Kemp
B.F.A., Temple University, 2008; M.F.A., Temple University, 2012
Instructor
Sandra L. Lacy
B.A., University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 1976
Lecturer
Brandon Burnett Perry Russell
Southern Methodist University; Professional training: Edge Theater of Harlem, the Ailey School, Dance Theater of Harlem, Kirov Ballet Academy
Technical Director
Brian Jones
B.A., Grinnell College, 1997; M.F.A., New York University, 2007
Additional information is available on the Dance department website.
The dance department faculty brings extensive professional experience in various techniques and styles to teaching dance at UMBC. Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance, the curriculum fosters growth in skills, artistry, and creative inquiry. With a primary focus on contemporary dance methods, the curriculum gives students opportunities to develop strong technique, composition, and performance. By studying the history of dance and related courses, students also gain an understanding of the origins of dance, cultural traditions of dance and the changing world of contemporary dance. The program focuses on performance and choreography. Students have regular opportunities, both formal and informal, to develop their performance and choreographic skills. Students perform in department concerts at the end of each semester, in dances choreographed by faculty, visiting artists or other dance majors. Students also may have the opportunity to choreograph for department concerts and to create self-designed projects through independent studies courses. Because dance is studied in an atmosphere with many opportunities for connection with the other arts, students also develop their awareness of potential influences and new possibilities in performance. To expand students’ experience with a variety of techniques, the department brings choreographers and instructors of contemporary dance as well as instructors of jazz, hip hop, and indigenous dance forms to teach master classes and special topics courses.
Career and Academic Paths
The majority of students move into dance-related careers. Some graduates of the dance program have danced professionally with dance companies in New York, the Baltimore/Washington area and beyond, including Pilobolus, Taylor 2, City Dance Ensemble, Dakshina, Dallas Black Dance Theater, Cleo Parker Dance Company, Ananya Dance Theatre, and Alvin Ailey Dance Theater. Others have performed in a variety of regional venues such as Goodspeed Opera House, Disney in Tokyo, Jubilee in Las Vegas, national touring companies of Broadway shows such as Chicago, The Producers, and the Lion King, as well as performances on Broadway in Cats, Frozen, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Bad Cinderella, and associate choreographer of Shucked. Alumni have formed their own dance companies, including Dakshina, Nona Lee Dance Theatre, Pacing Bodies, and Masala Soul Project. Students can pursue Maryland certification to teach dance in addition to the Dance, B.A. through Education or a Masters in Teaching (MAT), also through Education. Currently, there are many alumni leading public middle and high school dance programs in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Howard County, Montgomery County and more. Many graduates teach in community studios or own private dance studios. Others have pursued graduate study in dance and teach in higher education. Others work in related fields such as physical therapy, dance therapy, psychology, nursing, yoga and body work.
Academic Advising
Students entering the program are placed in classes appropriate to their level of previous training. Placement is determined through interview and observation of the student. If an instructor feels that a student has been placed in the wrong level, adjustments may be made during the add/drop period. Students may be advised to remain at one level before progressing to the next.
Major Program
The focus of the Dance, B.A. is on performance and choreography. The curriculum for the major includes sequential courses in contemporary dance techniques, ballet, choreography, dance history, and performance. Sufficient previous training may enable students to enter the sequence in technique at the intermediate level , subject to the approval of the chairperson and faculty. Other courses explore important relationships between dance and other disciplines such as music, anatomy, and technology. Students take courses in dance technique, dance history, choreography and performance, dance and technology, and may choose electives in dance and related disciplines. All graduates must complete the degree requirements.
Education Certificate
Through its relationship with the Department of Dance, UMBC’s education department offers undergraduate and graduate programs of study leading to K-12 Dance teacher initial certification, recognized in Maryland and 30 other states. Acceptance into UMBC or a degree program at UMBC does not guarantee admission to the education department’s teacher education certification programs. Dance majors must apply and be accepted to the education department’s K-12 Dance program and complete all requirements for both the B.A. in Dance and K-12 Dance initial teacher education certification. Students may decide to pursue teaching certification at the masters level through UMBC’s Masters in Teaching K-12 Dance, through the education department. Undergraduates may apply to this program in their junior year and take some of the required graduate courses while still undergraduates.
Regular Classes in Dance Technique
All dance majors are expected to enroll in one ballet or contemporary technique classes every semester. The dance department highly recommends that students pursuing the Dance, B.A. take both ballet and contemporary every semester.
Gateway Course for Majors
DANC 320 - Intermediate Contemporary Dance Techniques II (3)
This course has been designated as the “gateway course” for dance majors. Students pass with a grade of ‘B’ or better to continue on as a dance major.
Special Opportunities
The dance department produces four to six full-length dance concerts each year, featuring student performance and choreography. Talented upper level students may be invited to work as apprentices with the Baltimore Dance Project, UMBC’s professional company in residence. The company performs at UMBC and throughout the region. Past performances have been at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. and the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City.
Student Organizations
Council of Majors
The dance department has an active Council of Majors. This student-run group sponsors master classes and activities open to UMBC students interested in dance, whether dance majors or non-dance majors.
Recognized UMBC Dance Alumni
UMBC dance alumni active in the field include:
Maia Schechter ‘18
New York performances with choreographer Roderick George’s MOVENYC and the Broadway tour of The Lion King
Ryan Bailey ‘16
Performer on So You Think You Can Dance, Artistic Director of Pacing Bodies Dance Company, work selected for Young Choreographers Festival 2017
Heinz Adjakwah ‘15
Performer with Vincent Thomas Dance and Rebollar Dance
Mary Dell’Erba ‘14
Director of Program and Administration for Arts Education in Maryland Schools Alliance, currently Assistant Director of the Arts Education Partnership conducting research on federal education policy trends in arts education, combining her double major in Dance and Political Science, with her graduate degree in Policy Sciences
Alexis DeVance ‘14
Recipient of Baltimore RUBYS Award, Artistic Director of Masala Soul Project, whose choreography has been presented on the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage; performed at Jacob’s Pillow and toured with Ananya Dance Theatre, “a leading dance company in the global arts and social justice movement” based in St. Paul, Minnesota
Franki Graham ‘14
Senior Department Chair and Dance Director of the Peabody Preparatory of Johns Hopkins. Former Program Director of Dance at Annapolis High School’s Performing and Visual Arts Magnet Program, Co-artistic Director of Lucid Beings Dance.
Angel Chinn ‘08
Artistic Director of Nona Lee Dance Theater
Robin Masella ‘07
National tours of Evita and Chicago, Broadway productions of Cats, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Bad Cinderella, associate choreographer and performer in Shucked; choreographer for the Jimmy Fallon Show and assistant choreographer/performer for the Tony Awards
Lauren Tait ‘02
Artistic Director of Kinetics Dance Theatre
Eric Jenkins, ‘94
Performed with Brandy, Missy Elliott and Ricky Martin, former instructor of Hip hop at Broadway Dance Center in New York City
Robin Branch ‘93
Toured Africa with Taylor 2
Many UMBC alumni currently teach in public and private schools in the Baltimore area and throughout Maryland.
ProgramsMajorMinorCoursesDance
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