conservatory of dance
Graduate (MFA) Courses
For the current (or upcoming) semester schedule, go to “Search the Schedule of Classes” on the Student Services menu.
Advanced Improvisation
DPC 5010 / 1 credit / Fall
Through structured assignments, students investigate their own physical vocabulary, explore trust, and open new personal-movement boundaries.
Choreography I and II (Choreography Track)
DPC 5115 and 5215 / 2 credits (per semester)
I: Fall; II: Spring
Highly concentrated studies designed to develop choreographic proficiency and strengthen understanding and application in both structured work and the student’s own creative concepts. In the fall, these works are presented in workshop format at the end of the semester. In spring, these works are presented in an informal concert in the Dance Theatre Lab.
Choreology I, II, III, IV
DPC 5120, 5220, 5320, 5420 / 3 credits (per semester)
I, III: Fall; II, IV: Spring
Research and analysis of the choreographic importance of works, as reflected by history, design, music, visual arts, and the social/political climate. Divided into four periods: classic, romantic, modern, and postmodern. A thorough and complete investigation surrounds major repertory and its impact on the state-of-the-art form, as it is evolving today.
Choreography III and IV (Choreography Track)
DPC 5315 and 5415 / 2 credits (per semester)
III: Fall; IV: Spring
A continuation of DPC 5215. Works are presented in a fully produced, major concert.
Music Seminar I, II, III
DPD 5120, 5220, 5320 / 1 credit (per semester)
I, III: Fall; II: Spring
Tailored to the student’s background and future goals, these seminars intensely integrate the student’s application and understanding of music with his or her choreography or performance and teaching.
Studio Pedagogy I, II, III
DPD 5125, 5225, 5230 / 2 credits (per semester)
I, III: Fall; II: Spring
Through a combined format of seminar and practical application, students teach technique classes in their field of experience to both dancers and nondancers.
Composition Pedagogy I and II
DPD 5145 and 5245 / 1 credit (per semester)
I: Fall; II: Spring
Students monitor and observe as master teachers deliver the composition curriculum to B.F.A. students, followed by a practical application in the students’ own choreography of the principles learned in those classes.
Composition Pedagogy III and IV
DPD 5345 and 5445 / 1 credit (per semester)
III: Fall; IV: Spring
The master-apprentice tradition continues while the students develop syllabi and course proposals for the study of choreography.
Prerequisite: DPD 5245 (for DPD 5345) and 5345 (for DPD 5445)
Repertory and Rehearsal I and II (Performance/Teaching Track)
DPD 5510 and 5610 / 1 credit (per semester)
I: Fall; II: Spring
Students learn, develop, rehearse, and prepare a performance of repertory. Classic and contemporary choreographers’ works are researched and presented with historical background and inherent stylistic differences. Repertory selections vary according to the student’s experience and interests.
Graduate Dance Technique
DPD 5800 (Fall) and 5820 (Spring) / 1–6 credits (per semester)
The goal of these courses is to expand the student’s movement vocabulary while strengthening and refining the choreographic ability to choose materials that artistically and aesthetically express the student’s creative and performing perspectives.
Repertory and Rehearsal III and IV
DPD 5810 and 5815 / 1 credit (per semester)
III: Fall; IV: Spring
A fully produced concert in the Dance Theatre Lab, shared with other M.F.A. candidates in the same class. One performance piece must be classical and one must be contemporary, with accompanying written and oral presentations analyzing the work.
Independent Study
DPD 5900 / Variable credits / Every semester
Designed by each student with the M.F.A. director and advisor to implement the student’s training and enable the student to pursue specific curricular interests.
Graduate Presentation I (Choreography Track)
DPG 5110 / 2 credits / Fall
A showing, shared with other M.F.A. candidates, of the student’s works created during the semester in the choreography class. If choreographers apply to perform in these presentations, they must be approved by the M.F.A. Board of Study.
Graduate Presentation I (Performance/Teaching Track)
DPG 5115 / 2 credits / Fall
A showing, shared with other M.F.A. candidates, of work researched in Repertory and Rehearsal, with accompanying written and oral presentations analyzing the work.
Graduate Seminar I
DPG 5120 / 1 credit / Fall
A seminar with units focusing on research on standards in the field, current trends, and development of the skills required to produce.
Graduate Presentation II (Choreography Track)
DPG 5210 / 2 credits / Spring
A continuation of DPG 5110. A shared showing in the Dance Theatre Lab, with emphasis on the work rather than production. The student accompanies the work with an oral presentation.
Graduate Presentation II (Performance/Teaching Track)
DPG 5215 / 2 credits / Spring
A continuation of DPG 5115. A shared showing in the Dance Theatre Lab, with emphasis on the work rather than production. The student accompanies the work with an oral presentation.
Graduate Seminar II
DPG 5220 / 1 credit / Spring
A seminar with units focusing on the dance profession today, with emphasis on dance administration and production.
Graduate Presentation III (Choreography Track)
DPG 5310 / 2 credits / Fall
A continuation of DPG 5210. A fully produced concert, shared with other M.F.A. candidates, in the Dance Theatre Lab.
Graduate Presentation III (Performance/Teaching Track)
DPG 5315 / 2 credits / Fall
A continuation of DPG 5215. A fully produced concert, shared with other M.F.A. candidates, in the Dance Theatre Lab.
Graduate Seminar III
DPG 5320 / 1 credit / Fall
A seminar with units focusing on the dance profession today, with emphasis on professional marketing and development, career building, dance in higher education, and interview and press-kit preparation.
Prerequisite: DPG 5220
Graduation Choreography Concert (Choreography Track)
DPG 5410 / 3 credits / Spring
Under the supervision of the M.F.A. Board of Study, each student prepares and produces work in collaboration with other M.F.A. choreographers. The venue is determined by the M.F.A. Board of Study.
Graduation Performance Concert (Performance/Teaching Track)
DPG 5415 / 3 credits / Spring
Under the supervision of the M.F.A. Board of Study, students perform one classical and one contemporary piece of approved repertory. The venue is determined by the M.F.A. Board of Study.
Pedagogy Graduation Project (Performance/Teaching Track)
DPG 5430 / 2 credits / Spring
The final-semester culmination of the previous three semesters of practical and seminar work, demonstrated through a paper, an oral presentation, and final teaching classes, observed and evaluated by the M.F.A. Board of Study.
Updated June 12, 2008