Department of Dance

This is an archived copy of the 2023-2024 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.shsu.edu.

Chair: Jennifer Pontius

Contact Information: (936) 294-1875 or Dance

Website: Department of Dance

Mission

The Department of Dance at Sam Houston State University delivers a dynamic, challenging experience that integrates creativity, performance, and scholarly pursuits designed to prepare each student for a 21st-century career in dance.

Academic Programs

The BFA program provides intensive study in modern, ballet, and jazz techniques; multiple performance opportunities; exciting guest artists and choreographers; opportunities for choreographic exploration, which include the integration of media into the creative process; and a solid academic grounding in coursework, which ranges from dance history, to criticism and analysis, to dance and technology. Admission to the BFA program is by audition only. The audition schedule is posted on the dance department's website. Dance majors are required to meet with dance faculty for advisement prior to each semester.  

Highlights

The Department of Dance at Sam Houston State University:

  • is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD);
  • was identified as one of the ten top dance programs in the country by Dance Teacher Magazine;
  • is housed in the beautiful James and Nancy Gaertner Performing Arts Center, which includes four large studios with sprung floors, a state of the art dance theater, a 19-station Mac lab, a fully-equipped Pilates/conditioning studio, and spacious dressing rooms with showers;
  • is an active member of the American College Dance Association (ACDA);
  • has its choreography created by students and faculty regularly selected for gala presentation in American College Dance Association annual conferences;
  • has been selected to present both student and faculty choreography at The Kennedy Center National ACDA conference, most recently in the spring of 2018;
  • has presented work at the internationally renowned dance festival at Jacob's Pillow;
  • has alumni of the program performing with diverse professional dance companies, including Pilobolus, The Houston Met, Hopestone, NobleMotion Dance, and Blue Lapis Light; and
  • regularly hosts a wide variety of guest artists for master classes and residencies to choreograph works featuring dance majors, including Sidra Bell, Joshua Peugh, Mike Esperanza, The Houston Met, Dominic Walsh Dance Theatre, Paul Taylor II, Houston Ballet II, The Dance Gallery, Jane Weiner, Ben Stevenson, Bill Evans, Rennie Harris, Marlies Yearby, Astrid von Ussar, and Manuel Vignoulle.

Career Opportunities

  • Choreographers
  • Dance educators at all levels
  • Public high school teachers
  • Studio owners and teachers
  • Performing artists in dance
  • Artistic directors of dance companies
  • Performing arts presenters and administrators

Suggested Minors

The BFA in Dance does not require a minor. Many dance majors, however, choose to pursue a second area of study to broaden their education, either as a second major or as a minor. Depending on a student's career goals, pursuit of a minor in business, secondary education, biology, or another academic discipline will be appropriate.