By studying dance within the theatre degree program at UNH, you’ll be preparing yourself for a successful career on or off the stage. You’ll take classes in the history of dance, dance composition, choreography and performance, learning techniques in jazz, ballet, tap and even aerial dance. As a graduate of this program, you might work as a performer, choreographer or dance teacher.
-winning faculty, the UNH Department of Theatre and Dance offers more than 25 performance opportunities every year in musicals, plays and dance concerts. You’ll be able to pursue independent studies and be eligible to apply for R.E.A.C.H., financial assistance provided to students who participate in internships with professional theatre or dance organizations. Our Cultural Stages program brings acclaimed choreographers and other theatre artists from around the world to campus. Interested in a teaching career? You can pursue NH Dance K-12 teacher undergraduate certification or a fifth-year master’s in teaching program through the UNH Education Department. A master’s degree can raise your teaching salary.
Department of Theater and Dance
Paul Creative Arts Center
University of New Hampshire
30 Academic Way
Durham, NH 03824
Phone: (603) 862-2919
Fax: (603) 862-0298
The dance option offers a diverse program that is designed to give the dance teacher, choreographer and/or performer the skills needed to embark on a successful career. Technique courses in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz and the aerial arts are at the core of this program. Courses in history of dance, composition, choreography and dance pedagogy aid dancers in preparing for a variety of employment opportunities in the dance field. In addition, dancers are introduced to the technical aspects involved in staging a full-scale performance. Performance opportunities include yearly faculty-directed dance concerts and student-created dance showcases each semester. Dancers may focus on one or all dance forms.
If you are interested in teaching grades K-12, you could pursue dance education, either through NH Dance K-12 teacher undergraduate certification, or you could pursue a fifth-year master's in teaching program through the UNH Education Department. A Master's degree can raise your salary significantly when entering the workforce.
Students who show mastery of aerial dance performance have the unique opportunity to receive Aerial Dance Teacher Training. Students may leave UNH with a certificate verifying they have completed a 75 hour training program focused on the fundamental skills needed to safely teach Aerial Dance.
Contact Gay Nardone, Newman Dance Studio, (603) 862-1728.
All Major, Option and Elective Requirements as indicated.
*Major GPA requirements as indicated.
In the freshman and sophomore years, students should enroll for at least two major and two Discovery courses per semester. The minimum grade requirement for major courses is C- per course. Any grade lower than C- will not count toward the major. Under department policy, students who complete both COMM 401 American Sign Language I and COMM 502 American Sign Language II satisfy the bachelor of arts language proficiency requirement. All majors must take courses in the following areas: performance, design/theatre technology and theory/history as well as fulfill between four and eight practicums and complete a capstone course. Although timing will vary with each option, it is strongly suggested that all introductory courses be taken prior to the end of the student's sophomore year. Students must also complete a digital portfolio that demonstrates fulfillment of student learning outcomes related to their area of study.
The required minimum overall GPA in major coursework is 2.0.
Candidates for a degree must satisfy all of the University Discovery Program requirements in addition to satisfying the requirements of each individual major program. Bachelor of arts candidates must also satisfy the foreign language proficiency requirement.
Theatre department majors may use one major-required course to satisfy one Discovery category requirement.
All UNH B.A. degrees require a minimum of 128 credit hours.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| THDA 459 | Stagecraft | 4 |
| or THDA 460 | Elements of Design | |
| THDA 487 | History of Dance | 4 |
| THDA 551 | Acting I | 4 |
| THDA 589 | Practicum (A - D) 1 | 1 |
| THDA 795W | Independent Study | 2 |
| THDA 799 | Capstone Project | 2 |
| or THDA 798 | Senior Thesis | |
| Theory Courses | ||
| THDA 633 | Dance Composition | 4 |
| THDA 732 | Choreography | 4 |
| THDA 786 | Dance Pedagogy | 4 |
| Fine Arts | ||
| Select 8 credits of the following: | 8 | |
THDA 444B | Famous Dancers of the 20th Century | |
THDA 459 | Stagecraft | |
THDA 460 | Elements of Design | |
THDA 546 | Costume Design for the Theatre | |
THDA 548 | Stage Lighting Design and Execution | |
THDA 555 | Acting The Song | |
THDA #564 | Compocinema | |
THDA 655 | Musical Theatre Scene Study | |
| Performance | ||
| Select 16 credits of the following: | 16 | |
THDA 462 | Ballet I | |
THDA 463 | Theatre Dance I | |
THDA 562 | Ballet II (May be repeated to 16 cr) | |
THDA 563 | Theatre Dance II (May be repeated to 16 cr) | |
THDA 576 | Pointe | |
THDA 662 | Ballet III (May be repeated to 16 cr) | |
THDA 663 | Theatre Dance III (May be repeated to 16 cr) | |
THDA 665 | Aerial DanceII (May be repeated to 16 cr) | |
| Total Credits | 53 | |
The practicum ensures a breadth of experience in the major, including sets, costumes, lighting, props, box office, marketing, and performing. Students must register for practicum every semester. They are notified of their practicum assignment at the beginning of each semester.
Certification in dance is part of the pre-service programs in teacher education, which seek to prepare teachers who demonstrate excellence in classroom practice and who will become educational leaders. You may achieve dance licensure in two different ways. You may pursue dance education/licensure through the undergraduate program. This leaves no room for double majors or minors. If you want to broaden your undergraduate education and need more space for classes outside of THDA, you may pursue the five-year program, beginning preparation for teaching at the undergraduate level and then pursuing a graduate degree to get dance certification. Students complete a baccalaureate degree in theatre with a dance option and move into a fifth year of study with a full-year internship, leading to either the Masters in Education (M.Ed.) or a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) degree and licensure for teaching. With a GPA of 3.2 or better, you may be eligible for early admission to the graduate program, allowing up to twelve credits to dual count for both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Successful completion of the Praxis Core test is required for UNH graduate school admission. To complete the work in five years, students must plan for dual admission to graduate school and also take multiple education courses during the undergraduate years.
The kindergarten through 12th grade certification in the dance education program provides the foundation for public school teaching certification. This program integrates a general education background with dance training in a variety of dance styles, dance history, choreography and dance pedagogy for the purpose of understanding content, process, and methodologies of dance as an art form. All five-year candidates must meet requirements for admission to graduate school. All K-12 education in dance students must receive a “C-” grade or better in all theatre and dance courses required in the program and a “B-” or better in the graduate level courses. New Hampshire also participates in a reciprocal agreement with many other states, the Interstate Certification Compact. For further clarification regarding undergraduate or graduate teacher certification options, contact Assaf Benchetrit, Paul Creative Arts Center, (603) 862-4485, assaf.benchetrit@unh.edu.
The 4-year teacher licensure B.A. program includes the same requirements as the B.A. dance option but with the following modifications.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BMS 507 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 0 or 4 |
| EDUC 500 | Exploring Teaching | 4 |
| EDUC 605 | Educational Perspectives in Critical Times | 4 |
| EDUC 694 | Courses in Supervised Teaching | 8 |
| EDUC 701 | Human Development & Learning: Cultural Perspectives | 4 |
| EDUC 751A | Inclusive Elementary Education: Literacies and Learning for Diverse Learners | 4 |
| or EDUC 751B | Methods of Inclusive Secondary Education: Literacies, Learning, and Transitions | |
| NUTR 400 | Nutrition in Health and Well Being | 0 or 4 |
| THDA 791 | Internship in Theatre and Dance | 2 |
The 5-year teacher licensure M.A.T. or M.Ed. program includes the same requirements as the B.A. dance option but with the following modifications.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BMS 507 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I 1 | 4 |
| EDUC 500/935A | Exploring Teaching 1 | 4 |
| NUTR 400 | Nutrition in Health and Well Being 1 | 4 |
| EDUC 605 | Educational Perspectives in Critical Times 1 | 4 |
| EDUC 701/801 | Human Development & Learning: Cultural Perspectives 2 | 4 |
| EDUC 751A/851A | Inclusive Elementary Education: Literacies and Learning for Diverse Learners 1 | 4 |
| or EDUC 751B/851B | Methods of Inclusive Secondary Education: Literacies, Learning, and Transitions | |
| EDUC 900A | Internship and Seminar in Teaching | 6 |
| EDUC 901A | Internship and Seminar in Teaching | 6 |
Must be taken before the teaching internship.
May be taken at the undergraduate level or the graduate level.
Core Student Learning Outcomes for the Bachelor of Arts in Theatre major: On completion of the B.A. in Theatre, students will:
Additional Student Learning Outcomes for Option in Dance: In addition to the shared department learning outcomes for all THDA students, upon completion of the major with an Option in Dance, students will:
Students may pursue undergraduate teacher certification in theatre or dance education. Students looking for a second major and/or a minor wouldn’t have time to do the undergraduate certification. However, students may pursue certification with a 5th year master’s degree through the Education department.
The Theatre & Dance Department now offers an Aerial Teacher Training Certificate, making it the first US university program to offer such training. Students who show mastery of aerial dance performance have the unique opportunity to receive Aerial Dance Teacher Training. Students may leave UNH with a certificate verifying they have completed a 75-hour training program focused on the fundamental skills needed to safely teach Aerial Dance. For more information, contact Prof. Gay Nardone.
