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Creating a Dance Science Option in an university setting
Clippinger, Karen MSPE, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA, United States
Purpose: Many dance majors in universities are unable to obtain employment as professional dancers upon graduation. This option is designed to provide coursework that will introduce dancers to new career options and help prepare dancers for new employment opportunities. The purpose of this presentation is to discuss the process taken to develop this option, potential pitfalls, required prerequisites, rationale for curriculum selection, and student feedback regarding this option. It is hoped that this presentation will aid other academic institutions develop similar programs, as well as make students and dance science professionals more aware of this program?s existence.
Participants: The participants are undergraduate dance majors with an interest in dance science.
Outcome: The desired outcome was that graduating dance majors would consider professional careers other than or in addition to dance performance.
Procedure: Required coursework was selected to provide a basic foundation of scientific principles as they relate to the human body and human movement. Elective coursework was selected to allow dance majors to pursue areas of interest in more depth. Meetings were held with the Kinesiology Department, Biology Department and Department of Family and Consumer Sciences to obtain permission to include courses from these departments as requirements or electives in the Dance Science Option. Once these departments provided permission, the proposal went through the necessary university channels to allow for its adoption.
Results: Dance majors with a scientific inclination are very excited about this new Option. Dancers completing this Option are pursing different avenues including becoming Pilates instructors, personal trainers, dance teachers, physical therapists, and university dance science/kinesiology instructors. Other university departments are also pleased to have the different perspectives and high level of discipline offered by many dance majors who are taking their courses.