Dance (BFA)

The BFA in Dance combines the comprehensive liberal arts education of Dominican University of California with the technically rigorous and creatively expansive dance training of Alonzo King LINES Ballet. Classical ballet is the mainstay and technical foundation of Alonzo King LINES Ballet BFA at Dominican University of California. The integration of balance and harmony; the cultivation of intuition and practical thinking, and the development of artistry and character, are the goals. The human being is seen as a condensed microcosm of the vast macrocosm, containing all of its attributes and potentialities. The human body is understood as a triumvirate in a hierarchy of mind, body and soul, where mind is above body and soul above mind. Ballet technique is viewed not as a style, but as a science of movement based on natural laws which govern the mechanics, shape, and movement directions of everything that exists.

In the art of dance, the dancer is charged with the act of becoming, moment by moment, the embodiment of living ideas and experience. With its direct relationship to one of the foremost choreographers of our time, the program stands in a unique position, offering students access to the process and environment in which current thought in the art form is being shaped. Students will be challenged to discover and articulate, through both physical and verbal means, their own point of view as dance artists and human beings.

“In LINES’ training philosophy, each individual’s interior facility is tapped, cajoled, nourished and brought forth. By focusing on individual character, we are offering a key to knowledge and awareness that will be utilized whether or not the student chooses to pursue a performing career in dance.” — Alonzo King

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Students are versatile dance artists who posses technical proficiency in ballet and contemporary modern dance, and integrate skills in improvisation and choreography
2. Students critically evaluate the significance and impact of dance from historical and cultural perspectives
3. Students value diverse viewpoints, collaborate effectively, and embody professional and leadership skills
4. Students apply their knowledge of sound biomechanics to all movement practices
5. Students launch their journey as independent artists through sustained effort, creative risk-taking and trust in their own artistic intuition

Total Credit Hours: 83

The location of courses is shared by Dominican University of California, LINES San Francisco Dance Center, and the Marin Ballet. Performance courses will be held in the studios of the Dance Schools. General Education and Theory courses will be held on the Dominican University of California campus in San Rafael.

Dance Academic Admission Requirements

Academic admission requirements are the same as general admission for other Liberal Arts majors at Dominican University of California. In addition, BFA in Dance applicants are required to submit a dance application and complete an in­-person or video audition.

Transfer students are evaluated by the University under the same policies that apply to all Dominican University of California transfer applicants. Equivalencies for the performance­-based courses are evaluated by the Lead Faculty in the Dance major in consultation with the Department Chair. An in-­person or video audition is also required of all transfer students.