Columbia University in the City of New York

About the Program

Dance has a vital presence at Columbia University through the Barnard College Department of Dance, which serves students at Barnard and Columbia Colleges, the School of General Studies, and the School of Engineering. The department offers an interdisciplinary program that integrates the study of dance within a liberal arts setting of intellectual and creative exploration, emphasizing studio courses, departmental productions at Miller Theatre and New York Live Arts, and dance studies courses that allow students' creative work to develop in dialogue with critical inquiry into the history, culture, theory and forms of western and non-western performance. Columbia College students earn a BA in Dance through this program.

Degrees Offered

Coursework

Major requires roughly 11 academic courses plus a minimum of 8 technique courses. Required academic core: two Dance History courses, a Movement Science course, a Composition course, a Senior Seminar (DNCE BC3591), and a Senior Project (research or repertory), plus five electives across History/Criticism, Studio/Performance, Composition, or Movement Science. Technique offerings include Ballet, Modern/Contemporary, Jazz, Hip-Hop Dance & Culture, African Dance, Tap, Flamenco, Indian Dance (Bharatanatyam), Afro-Cuban Dance, Contemporary Caribbean Dance, Contact Improvisation, Pilates for Dancers, and Feldenkrais for Dancers. The dance department is housed at Barnard College and serves all Columbia undergraduate colleges.

Notable Faculty

• Marjorie Folkman (Chair)
• Colleen Thomas-Young
• Paul A. Scolieri
• Gabri Christa
• Seth Stewart Williams
• Katie Glasner

Performance Opportunities

Department productions staged at Miller Theatre and New York Live Arts, Rehearsal & Performance in Dance courses (DNCE BC3601-3607), student auditions for choreography and performance projects, and senior capstone performance projects.