Graduate Programs in Dance

The Department of Dance offers a program in which graduate students may earn an MFA in Dance, an MA in Dance, or an MA with an option for New York State Teacher Certification, Pre K-12. Faculty and professional staff are nationally and internationally recognized in their areas of expertise through writing, teaching, choreography and performance. They are leaders in such organizations as CORD, CODA, NASD, LIMS, ISMETA, WDA and NDEO.

While at SUNY Brockport, graduate students may perform in faculty and guest artist work, choreograph their own work or assist in directing one of the two departmental touring companies. They may travel to regional/national conferences and festivals; study dance in Japan, Ghana, England, and Jamaica; and go to New York and other cities for approved and credited apprenticeships or dance study.

They may also collaborate with artists from the Eastman School of Music and the Rochester Institute of Technology in the Image/Movement/ Sound Festival; intern with local arts organizations; earn CMA Certification in collaboration with LIMS; earn Somatic Movement Education Certification in collaboration with East-West Somatics Institute; and pursue New York State Pre K-12 Teacher Certification.

Upon completion of their degrees, SUNY Brockport graduate students go on to become Pre K-12, college and university artists/teachers and researchers, performers and choreographers, dance administrators and managers.

SUNY Brockport is a charter member of the National Association of Schools of Dance and its dance programs are fully accredited by NASD.

MFA in Performance and Choreography for concert stage, the camera and environmental spaces

MA in Dance Education for NYS Pre K-12 Teacher Certification, higher education, dance studio and recreation center curricula

MA in Dance Opportunity to study dance aesthetics/culture, dance science/somatics, movement analysis, choreography, and dance in education.

Additional Information for Graduate Students
Admission Requirements	Audition Requirement
Credit by Transfers/Examination	Funding Sources
Performance Opportunities	Internship/apprenticeships
Achievements of SUNY Brockport Graduates	Graduate Program Information
Graduate Applications	Retention and Dematriculation

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Admission Requirements

Admission requirements for the MA, MFA and MA with Teacher Certification:

• An undergraduate degree with a B or better average.
• Up to 12 credits may be transferred from other colleges and universities with the approval of the department. Six credits may be earned, upon approval, at units outside the SUNY system. Twelve credits may be transferred, with approval, from within SUNY system, or from the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies.
• Three letters of recommendation, at least two from persons acquainted with the candidate's dance background.
• Completion of the application form, including submission of official transcripts of undergraduate study, graduate study and application for audition.
• Participation in the audition-interview process, scheduled three times yearly. This audition consists of:
  1. being observed in modern technique class (intermediate-level skill is required)
  2. solving an improvisation problem
  3. presenting a three-minute solo of one's own original choreography
  4. participation in a formal interview, including candidate's articulation of areas of interest in dance; and
  5. completion of a writing assessment assignment. Original research, essays or articles may also be presented, but are not required.

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Credit by Transfers/Examination

Transfer credit and credit awards by examination are evaluated by the Department of Dance as follows:

1. Six credits may be transferred from other colleges and universities.
2. 12 credits may be transferred from the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies or from within the SUNY system.
3. Credit by examination and/or portfolio/interview for established dance expertise may be awarded: nine credits in the MA and 0-12 credits in MFA.
4. Students already holding an MA in dance equivalent to the SUNY Brockport degree may receive up to 36 credits toward their MFA.

Note: Decisions concerning any of these options are made through transcript evaluation, the audition/interview process, portfolio and/or examination.

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Funding Sources

Funding opportunities for graduate students in the Department of Dance currently include:

Graduate Assistantships: stipend (currently $6,000) plus tuition waiver (nine credits per semester)

Minority Fellowships: stipend (currently $7,500) plus tuition waiver (nine credits per semester)

Friar's Foundation Fellowship: $2,500 awarded to a second- or third-year student

Alumni Association Scholarships: $2,000

Area college/universities adjunct and guest teaching opportunities may be available through departmental recommendation: (University of Rochester, Monroe Community College, Genesee Community College, Alfred University), salaries vary

Area dance studio teaching positions through individual application; salaries vary. Summer Study Awards are available.

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Performance Opportunities

• DANSCORE: departmental contemporary dance ensemble
• SANKOFA: departmental African Dance and Drum Ensemble, 15-20 performances yearly
• IMAGE/MOVEMENT/SOUND FESTIVAL: performances with Eastman School of Music composers and musicians, and RIT film/video/animation artists, two to three performances yearly
• GUEST ARTIST CONCERTS: often including student participation, two to four performances yearly
• DANCE/HARTWELL and DANCE/STRASSER concert series: choreographed and produced concerts, nine-12 performances yearly
• YOUNG DANCERS SHOWCASE: presentations by first-year students, two performances yearly
• DIME-A-DANCE: informal showings of work in progress
• OTHER AREA DANCE OPPORTUNITIES: participation in company performances and/or classes is by invitation of their directors (i.e., Garth Fagan Dance, Rochester City Ballet, Drumcliffe School of Irish Dance, Hendricks Dance Project, Present Tense Dance and other area dance companies)

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Internship/apprenticeships and performance affiliations

• The Laban Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies (LIMS), NYC
• The Congress on Research in Dance (CORD) headquarters at SUNY Brockport
• Garth Fagan Dance (company and school), Rochester, NY
• Young Audiences, Inc. and the Aesthetic Education Institute (AEI)
• The Arts and Cultural Council of Greater Rochester
• Kinections, Inc. (Dance/Movement Therapy Studio)
• East-West Somatics Institute for Movement Education and Therapy

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Achievements of SUNY Brockport graduates

• Performing with companies of choreographers such as Martha Graham, Ralph Lemon, Paul Taylor, Garth Fagan, Randy James, Elliott Feld, Margaret Jenkins, Bill T. Jones, Dance Theatre of Harlem, May O'Donnell, and Ellis Wood
• Founding/directing/choreographing for companies such as Elizabeth Streb Ringside, Verlezza Dances, Dancing Wheels, American Dance Asylum, and Concert Dance Company of Boston
• Teaching/directing at college and university dance programs such as Stephens College, Wells College, Smith College, Mills College, California State University Long Beach, Ohio State University, Edna Manley College (Jamaica), Coker College, Plymouth State College, SUNY Geneseo, and University of Rochester
• Teaching/directing high school dance programs such as New England Dance Conservatory, Rochester's School of the Arts, Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts, Draper School of Dance, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Pennsylvania's Governors School of the Arts, 171 Cedar Arts Center, and many public schools
• Dancing/choreographing for the Broadway stage in shows such as Dancing, A Chorus Line, The Who's Tommy, Teddy and Alice, How to Succeed, Candide, The Act, Perfectly Frank, Rosse, and Dream
• Becoming dance managers, registered dance/movement therapists, physical therapists with dance specialization, costume/lighting designers, nationally recognized specialists in arts/dance education, dance administrators, and teachers in public/private higher education, K-12 education, and schools of dance
• Receiving fellowships, such as Guggenheims, Fulbrights, the MacArthur Fellow, and grants, such as NEA, NEH and NYSCA funding
• Receiving awards such as the Tony, the Bessie, the Drama Desk, the Fred Astaire, etc.

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Graduate Applications

Graduate applications are now self-managed. Completed applications should be submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions by February 1 for fall admission. Dance auditions are held in March.

The graduate assistantship and audition applications should be returned to the Department of Dance.

Graduate application forms, assistantship and audition applications may be obtained from:

Office of Graduate Admissions
SUNY College at Brockport
350 New Campus Drive
Brockport, NY 14420
Telephone: (585) 395-5465
E-mail: gradadmit@brockport.edu

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Retention and Dematriculation

Any student whose GPA falls below 3.0 is subject to review for retention in the program. All work must be completed within five years of the date of matriculation for the degree to be awarded.

Information on the graduate dance program can be obtained from:

Darwin Prioleau, Graduate Dance Program Director and Chair of Department of Dance SUNY College at Brockport 350 New Campus Drive Brockport, NY 14420

Telephone: (585) 395-2023

E-mail: dpriolea@brockport.edu or dance@brockport.edu

 

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