The Peabody Conservatory BFA Dance program endeavors to prepare exceptional 21st century performers, choreographers, teachers, and future leaders dedicated to pushing the boundaries between dance and science and expanding the role and relevance of dance in both traditional and non-traditional contexts.
Admission Requirements
Students applying for the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program present transcripts, test scores, and recommendations before playing an audition. The details of this process may be found at the Admissions website. Students applying for the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program should meet the following criteria:
- The student must be a graduate of an accredited high school or present evidence of equivalent study.
- General admission requirements as listed for specific degrees and programs are identical for all applicants. However, immigration regulations, varying educational backgrounds, and financial considerations make special procedures necessary in order to help meet the needs of individual students. The detailed instructions sent to each applicant should be studied with utmost care.
Prospective students may audition a maximum of two times for any given Peabody program. After two unsuccessful auditions, students will no longer be eligible for admittance into the Conservatory.
Program Requirements
Dance Core and Performance
All BFA students take Ballet 1-4 and Modern 1-4 concurrently: students dance in both classes in each semester of enrollment. Transfer students are placed at the appropriate level at matriculation. To maintain Good Academic Standing, students must earn at least a B- in Ballet and Modern in each semester of study.
Students are required to participate in rehearsals and performances as assigned. Auditions for performances are held several times each year. All BFA students are required to attend auditions, unless other arrangements have been made with the Chair.
Additional off-campus performances may be scheduled throughout the year.
Dance Theory and Choreography
Dance Theory courses should be taken in the order recommended in the curricular grid, and any substitution must be approved by the Chair. Similarly, the choreography courses should be taken in sequential order: Improv/Authentic Movement (PY.830.202) followed by Choreography 1-3 (PY.830.301-302,404).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PY.830.202 | Improv/Authentic Movement | 2 |
| PY.830.301 & PY.830.302 | Choreography 1 and Choreography 2 | 6 |
| PY.830.404 Choreography 3 | 3 | |
Humanities
All BFA students are required to successfully complete Liberal Arts courses, beginning with a one-year Core Curriculum (6 credits). The majority of Peabody students will take the Core Curriculum in their first year of study. However, students in need of intense writing instruction will take six credits of Writing Intensive in their first year and begin the Core Curriculum in their second year. ESL 1 does not count toward fulfillment of degree requirements, and the grades earned are not calculated in the student’s GPA; however, the hours are counted as part of the course load for tuition and full-time enrollment determination.
[Humanities Core Curriculum
- PY.260.115 Core 1: Analytical Thinking and Writing (3 credits, fall)
- PY.260.216 Core 2: Writing and Research Methods (3 credits, spring)
Critical Writing Intensive
PY.260.023 Critical Writing Intensive 1 is a yearlong course designed for students who have inadequate preparation in formal writing skills. Both Writing Intensive courses involve close coordination with faculty members teaching the Core Curriculum. The second semester of Writing Intensive incorporates visits to Core courses in order to familiarize students with the coursework ahead.
liberal arts Electives
Upon completion of the first year of the Liberal Arts core or by the third year of study, students begin to take the appropriate number of Liberal Arts elective courses. While students may take some courses at Homewood or elsewhere, Peabody’s Liberal Arts Department provides a variety of courses designed specifically for Peabody students.
Breakthrough Curriculum
All undergraduates complete the Breakthrough Curriculum. Matriculating BFA students take PY.123.111 Exploring Arts Careers. In the third year of study, students take PY.123.311 Building a Brand and Portfolioand PY.123.312 Pitching Your Creative Idea (UG). The culmination of study is the preparation and presentation of a pitch, adjudicated by a panel of faculty and guests that also serves as an entry in a real competition for funding and project support to implement a residency at one of Peabody's partner institutions. Students may attempt to test out of the Building a Brand and Portfolio requirement; information on testing out can be requested from the LAUNCHPad office.
Curriculum
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Technique & Performance | ||
| PY.800.101 & PY.800.102 & PY.800.201 & PY.800.202 & PY.800.301 & PY.800.302 & PY.800.401 | Ballet 1a and Ballet 1b and Ballet 2a and Ballet 2b and Ballet 3a and Ballet 3b and Ballet 4a | 21 |
| PY.800.402 Ballet 4b | 3 | |
| PY.800.103 & PY.800.104 & PY.800.203 & PY.800.204 & PY.800.303 & PY.800.304 & PY.800.403 | Modern 1a and Modern 1b and Modern 2a and Modern 2b and Modern 3a and Modern 3b and Modern 4a | 21 |
| PY.800.404 Modern 4b | 3 | |
| PY.800.501 & PY.800.502 | Rehearsal/Performance Collaboration Fall and Rehearsal/Performance Collaboration Spring (Six (6) Semesters Required) | 6 |
| PY.800.503 | Student Dance Company 1 | 2 |
| PY.800.504 Student Dance Company 2 | 2 | |
| Dance Theory & Composition | ||
| PY.830.101 | Music for Dance | 3 |
| PY.810.201 & PY.810.202 | Somatic Practices 1 and Somatic Practices 2 | 6 |
| PY.820.301 | Dance of the African Diaspora | 3 |
| PY.820.201 & PY.820.202 | Critical Dance Studies 1 and Critical Dance Studies 2 | 6 |
| PY.830.202 | Improv/Authentic Movement | 2 |
| PY.830.301 & PY.830.302 & PY.830.303 | Choreography 1 and Choreography 2 and Choreography 3 | 9 |
| PY.830.102 | Dance Production | 2 |
| PY.820.401 | Dance Pedagogy | 3 |
| The Breakthrough Curriculum | ||
| PY.123.111 | Exploring Arts Careers | 1 |
| PY.123.311 | Building a Brand and Portfolio | 2 |
| PY.123.312 | Pitching Your Creative Idea (UG) | 2 |
| General Studies | ||
| PY.260.115 | Core 1 | 3 |
| PY.260.216 | Core 2 | 3 |
| NR.110.20x | Physiology Elective 1 | 3 |
| PY.260.xxx | Liberal Arts Elective Courses | 15 |
| Electives | ||
| Electives | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 130 | |
- 1
Students take one approved course in anatomy or physiology. Options include
- NR.110.200 Nutrition (4 credits, online)
- NR.110.204 Anatomy with Lab (4 credits, online)
Students must complete the program within seven (7) years of entering.
Sample Program of Study
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credits | |
| PY.800.101 | Ballet 1a | 3 |
| PY.800.103 | Modern 1a | 3 |
| PY.800.501 | Rehearsal/Performance Collaboration Fall | 1 |
| PY.830.101 | Music for Dance | 3 |
| PY.260.115 | Core 1 | 3 |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| PY.800.102 | Ballet 1b | 3 |
| PY.800.104 | Modern 1b | 3 |
| PY.800.502 | Rehearsal/Performance Collaboration Spring | 1 |
| PY.830.102 | Dance Production | 2 |
| PY.260.216 | Core 2 | 3 |
| Electives | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| PY.800.201 | Ballet 2a | 3 |
| PY.800.203 | Modern 2a | 3 |
| PY.800.501 | Rehearsal/Performance Collaboration Fall | 1 |
| PY.810.201 | Somatic Practices 1 | 3 |
| PY.820.201 | Critical Dance Studies 1 | 3 |
| PY.123.111 | Exploring Arts Careers (may be taken either semester sophomore year) | 1 |
| PY.260.xxx | Liberal Arts Elective Course | 3 |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| PY.800.202 | Ballet 2b | 3 |
| PY.800.204 | Modern 2b | 3 |
| PY.800.502 | Rehearsal/Performance Collaboration Spring | 1 |
| PY.810.202 | Somatic Practices 2 | 3 |
| PY.820.202 | Critical Dance Studies 2 | 3 |
| PY.830.202 | Improv/Authentic Movement | 2 |
| PY.260.xxx | Liberal Arts Elective Course | 3 |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Third Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| PY.800.301 | Ballet 3a | 3 |
| PY.800.303 | Modern 3a | 3 |
| PY.800.501 | Rehearsal/Performance Collaboration Fall | 1 |
| PY.820.301 | Dance of the African Diaspora | 3 |
| PY.830.301 | Choreography 1 | 3 |
| PY.123.311 | Building a Brand and Portfolio | 2 |
| Physiology Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| PY.800.302 | Ballet 3b | 3 |
| PY.800.304 | Modern 3b | 3 |
| PY.800.502 | Rehearsal/Performance Collaboration Spring | 1 |
| PY.830.302 | Choreography 2 | 3 |
| PY.123.312 | Pitching Your Creative Idea (UG) | 2 |
| Humanities Coursework | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| PY.800.401 | Ballet 4a | 3 |
| PY.800.403 | Modern 4a | 3 |
| PY.800.503 | Student Dance Company 1 | 2 |
| PY.820.401 | Dance Pedagogy | 3 |
| Humanities Coursework | 3 | |
| Electives | 3 | |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| PY.800.402 Ballet 4b | 3 | |
| PY.800.404 Modern 4b | 3 | |
| PY.800.504 Student Dance Company 2 | 2 | |
| PY.830.303 | Choreography 3 | 3 |
| Humanities Coursework | 3 | |
| Electives | 3 | |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Total Credits | 130 | |