Q: How long was the process for the dance major?
A: I was hired in 2007 to develop the curriculum
for the major and eventually serve as Director of the dance program. One of the
biggest delays came in the delay of the opening of the CATO Center. Prior to
its opening in January 2010, we had no dance studios that were ours (we
scheduled our dance classes through Physical Education controlled spaces, which
consisted of a converted studio in the basement of Robert Scott Small building.
We couldn’t go forward with the approval process until the CATO building was opened
and we had our own dance studios.
Q: What procedures did you have to go through in
getting a dance major?
A: A committee was formed from within our
department to develop the major curriculum, requirements, etc. We also had to consider the limitations of being in a
liberal arts college, as far as the limit of credit hours we could require for
the major.
After I did the research, the committee met
and spent a few months discussing what our major should be: what concentrations
to offer, how to accept students, assess student learning outcomes, and what
experiences we could realistically provide majors. We agreed on core courses
and a series of electives for majors, while also keeping in mind our resources
and financial limitations.
After that was done, the proposal had to go
the Commission on Higher Education (CHE) in Columbia so that we could get
approval to pursue the development of the major. We got that approval, then a
full proposal (20+ pages) had to go through our full Theatre department, the
School of the Arts curriculum committee, our Dean, the college-wide Curriculum
Committee, Faculty Senate, Provosts, Academic Planning, and then the President.
This 20 page proposal also required the addendum of a course syllabus and
proposal for new course for EACH course we were planning to offer. I think it
was 16 new course proposals, 16 syllabi- about six pages per new course. In
addition, we had to submit paperwork related to the changes to the minor.
Finally, after the President approved it, it went to the Board of Trustees, and
then back to CHE for final approval. The whole process is very time-consuming,
and it was difficult to write all of these documents while also teaching a full
load and directing the spring dance concerts.
Q: What classes are mandatory in the dance major?
A: There are two concentrations: a 36 hour
general dance studies, and a 47 hour performance and choreography
concentration. Both concentrations share a 29 credit core which includes one
jazz technique class, three modern classes, three ballet classes, choreography
1, history of western dance, kinesiology, senior capstone, and either a costume
or stagecraft course.
For general dance studies, the other
requirements are two practicum credits and six elective credits. Performance
students must take a second level of choreography, three additional technique
classes in ballet and modern, two performance practicum, one general practicum,
and five elective credits. Elective credits from which both concentrations may
choose from include history of non-western dance, career seminar, body
conditioning, teaching methods, and other special topics as they are offered.
Q: How many majors does CofC have this year?
A: We have approximately 25 majors, 65 minors, and many who
haven’t officially declared but are considering majoring in dance.
Q: Are the classes in a dance minor the same as the major?
A: No, there is a huge difference now. We have classes under
the THTR designation which are specifically for non-majors, and we have classes
under the DANC designation which are designed specifically for the major.
However, minors can get permission to take certain DANC classes to fulfill the
minor requirements. Those requirements have also changed drastically with the
implementation of the major. It provides more choices and flexibility.
Q: Is there an audition to declare dance as a major?
A: There is technically not an audition. The committee
struggled a lot with this. Since we are a liberal arts school, there is a
belief that anyone should be able to study almost anything. We don’t require
biology majors to audition. However, we recognize a real issue of quality
control, so we instituted a requirement that students must earn a C+ or better
in technique classes in order to proceed to the next level, and they must get
through a certain level in order to get a dance degree. Going back to the
biology analogy, any student can declare a bio major. However, if they take
BIOL 101 and fail, then re-take it and get a D-, and retake it again and get a
D+, hopefully that student realizes that bio may not be a good choice of a
major. The same can happen in dance. The good thing is that most people coming
to major in dance have significant training in dance. They realize it’s not a
major for someone with no dance background.
Q: How is it funded?
A: It is funded like any other academic program. We are under
the Department of Theatre and Dance so our funding is meshed with Theatre.
Q: Are there scholarships offered?
A: While there are no scholarships right now, we are looking at
changing this soon. We currently have a dance major receiving a Clarence award
(Theatre award), and will have future dance professional awards in the spring.
While these awards are modest, they are monetary. We are also trying to reach
the endowed level of the Robert Ivey Scholarship. That will mean a lot to all
of the faculty whenever we can start giving that to students.
Q: What are the long-term goals for the major?
A: One of our highest priorities is to hire another fulltime,
tenure0track faculty. The program is currently working under one fulltime
faculty (me) and five adjuncts. As part of our proposal, we said that we would
stagger the rolling out and offering of classes for the first two years of the
major, and would search for another fulltime person in year 3.
Beyond that, we want to be a competitive program within the
Southeast region. That will happen as we continue to assess our strengths and
weaknesses and evolve as a program. We also hope to eventually become
recognized by National Association of Schools of Dance, but we can’t apply
until after our first full class graduates with the major and we have at least
one more fulltime faculty member. Of course, I’m going to continue to investigate
and pursue ways in which we can offer great opportunities for our students,
whether it’s through guest artist residencies, reconstruction of historically
significant works, and more financial support for attending American College
Dance Festival and National Dance Education Organization conferences. These
things are important to me, and I’m getting good at writing grants to make
these projects happen.
Q: How will it impact the arts at CofC?
A: I hope that the dance major will have a positive effect on
the arts at CofC. Of course, students can be exposed to dance through various
performances that the major will offer. Special events such as master classes
can engage the entire campus community. And, since I am so passionate about
collaboration, I hope it brings us to better relationships with the other arts
programs here at the college. Some of our past choreographers have worked with
music faculty, I’m choreographing an opera, we’ve already a project involving
collaboration between a sculptor and choreographer.
These are just the
beginning of the relationships that I hope to foster with other departments.
Obviously, our relationship with theatre is very close, and the department has
been very supportive in terms of resources, personnel, etc.
Have you heard? The College of Charleston fine arts department has acquired a new dance major! After many years development,
students now have a chance to further their dance ability and even work towards
a career. It took many years for dance to find its place under the list of
College of Charleston declared majors. One factor in the delay was the lack of
available dance studios. The Cato Center was under construction and was
supposed to open before 2010. During the delay, dance classes were held in physical
education spaces.
“We want to be a competitive program within the Southeast
region. That will happen as we continue to assess our strengths and weaknesses
and evolve as a program. We also hope to eventually become recognized by
National Association of Schools of Dance, but we can’t apply until after our
first full class graduates with the major and we have at least one more
fulltime faculty member“, said McLaine.
