Dance Major

Bachelor of Arts Degree in Dance

We are thrilled you are considering becoming a KSU Dance major! As a dance major, you will have the opportunity to develop your technique, artistry, and movement style, perform as part of the KSU Dance Company, choreograph, study abroad in Israel, participate in dance research and dance production, take a myriad of masterclasses, work with guest artists, gain professional experience in the dance field, and so much more. Our beautiful studios are located in the metro Atlanta area, with close access to a thriving artistic community, and our Dance Theater is only one of its kind in the region, specifically built for dance. Our incredible faculty and staff mentor our students and are valuable resources, providing opportunities and aiding in the growth, dreams, and success of our students.

APPLICATION DEADLINES

Application deadlines vary by student type. Please refer to the admissions deadline chart to find the applicable date. 

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Ready to Join Us?

We invite you to schedule a and audition with us!  We hold both in-person auditions and accept video audition submissions on a rolling basis. Our in-person auditions are directly followed by an info session and Q&A with our faculty and staff. Information regarding our Dance Major Audition and Application may be found here.

Transfer Auditions
Students who wish to transfer to the Department of Dance at KSU from another institution or from another department follow the same audition procedures as new students. A special audition may be scheduled for students who wish to enter the program at a time when regular auditions are not scheduled. Please e-mail us (dance@kennesaw.edu) for questions regarding the transfer of dance courses from a previous institution.

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Concentrations

Our liberal arts degree in dance is designed to provide our students with a diverse and comprehensive curricular experience, preparing them for a variety of career options in dance and other related fields. Students select from two concentrations: modern or ballet. The core curriculum prepares students with a theoretical and practical experience of dance, while the 15-hour concentration allows students to develop technical proficiency in the area selected. The foundational core of this program is the artist-scholar model, which drives our creative and scholarly endeavors at Kennesaw State University (KSU).

  • Our 15-credit hour ballet concentration emphasizes anatomical principles, dynamic alignment, core strength, balance, flexibility, musicality, artistry, and qualitative aspects of movement. Students investigate traditional and contemporary ballet forms to expand their artistic expression and awaken their understanding of this artform. Our KSU Dance faculty members have studied and performed with acclaimed ballet schools and companies in the U.S. and abroad. Our guest artists series provides our students with masterclasses, workshops, and the opportunity to perform in repertory works choreographed by esteemed visiting artists.

    Download Academic Map

    In addition to the core curriculum,  coursework in the ballet concentration includes:
    Choreography I  Choreography II
    Pas de Deux/Pointe Ballet II 
    Ballet III Ballet IV
    Musical Theatre II 

    Jazz Dance (Levels II-IV) 

    Modern Dance (Levels II 鈥� IV) 

    Dance Improvisation

    Body Conditioning and Somatics

    Special Topics courses (varies by semester)

  • The Modern Dance concentration offers KSU students a 15-credit hour program of study in movement principles and skills specific to contemporary forms. Our students develop a solid technical foundation to build their artistic and expressive potential, and they learn sustainable and healthy approaches to dance. Our esteemed faculty members encourage students to explore modern dance forms and improvisational practices, while at the same time fostering somatic awareness, individual expressivity, and critical inquiry. Students perform in new works and have the opportunity to train with a wide variety of guest artists who help prepare them for work in this exciting and ever-changing field. 

    Download Academic Map

    In addition to the core curriculum, coursework in the modern concentration includes:
    Choreography I  Choreography II 
    Modern Dance II  Modern Dance III
    Modern Dance IV Dance Improvisation 
    Musical Theatre II  Ballet Dance (Levels II 鈥� IV)  
    Jazz Dance (Levels II 鈥� IV)   Body Conditioning and Somatics  
    Special Topics courses (varies by semester)  

The 3-credit applied professionals skills requirement allows students to receive academic credit for professional internships, gain practical experience in the field, and opens up career opportunities post graduation. The senior seminar and senior project requirements ensure that graduates gain a creative and scholarly understanding of the art form.

Students are encouraged to complete the above requirement only at the junior and/or senior academic levels (after obtaining 60 or more credit hours). Students work with our faculty internship advisor to find and apply for a dance internship that best fits their dance career goals.

We offer special topics courses each semester, some of which have included Commercial Dance, Hip Hop, Jiri Kylian ballet repertory, Site-Specific Choreography, Contemporary Partnering, and Digital Profile.
*Please note that the course offerings are subject to change at the department's discretion.

Course Placement & Advising

At the time of acceptance into the program, students will be advised about course scheduling and technical level placement*. Our incoming dance majors participate as a cohort in the first semester and take similar courses, designed to facilitate community growth and learning. We recommend all students make an academic advising appointment with our dance advisor upon acceptance into the program. All freshmen KSU Dance majors admitted to KSU are required to attend an  where they will register for their first semester of classes and learn valuable knowledge to aid them in their journey at KSU.

*The individual course instructor reserves the right to request a student to take a different level technique course if the student is not technically at the level appropriate for the course.

Prior Learning Assessment (PLA)

The Department of Dance recognizes and values the labor, achievements, and knowledge of professionals in the field of dance. For consideration of Prior Learning Assessment (PLA), the department requires the equivalent of ten years of professional performing experience in a nationally or internationally recognized dance company. The performing experiences of career practitioners differ widely, and for this reason, PLA for students will be considered on a case-by-case basis by a faculty committee. After review, faculty evaluators make a recommendation to the Chair who approves the PLA credit in the Department. Thirty credit hours is the maximum allowable credit for PLA typically used to test out of 2000 and 3000 level courses.

Course Rotation Grid Dance Handbook Course Breakdown

Dance Minor

The dance minor is designed for students who wish to continue their dance training while pursuing another major field of study offered at Kennesaw State University. Of the 15 credit hours required for the dance minor, 9 must be taken at the upper division level.

A dance minor may be requested under the Student Records tab in Owl Express.

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