Dance Program
Dance Audition Information
- Academic Letter of Recommendation
- Performance Letter of Recommendation
- Audition Questions and Answers
- Audition Form
Degree Program Information
- Performance and Choreography Curriculum Sheet
- Performance and Choreography Sample Schedule
- Dance Education Curriculum Sheet
- Dance Education Sample Schedule
- Dance Minor Curriculum Sheet
MISSION: The mission of the dance program at The University of Southern Mississippi is to integrate theoretical and practical aspects of dance in a way that is meaningful to our students' lives. By providing a myriad of diverse perspectives to the study of contemporary and traditional forms of dance, and by engaging the students in holistic and comprehensive approaches to the study of dance, the Southern Miss program--its faculty, courses, and opportunities--prepares the students for successful participation in the field of dance.
The Program
The Southern Miss dance major program was the first program in Mississippi to offer the professional B.F.A. degree in dance. It is the only program in the five-state region that offers a dance education K-12 emphasis and is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD), which is recognized by the United States Department of Education.
The challenging and intensive four-year dance major program is grounded in a comprehensive curriculum of dance technique (ballet and modern), choreography and performance. The dance education emphasis is designed to provide students with the credentials necessary to teach dance in the Mississippi public school system. Course offerings include dance appreciation, dance in cultural context, 20th century dance forms, improvisation, composition, rhythmic analysis and accompaniment, music analysis and resources, methods of teaching K-12, labanotation, junior choreographic project, senior choreographic research project, dance repertory, dance production, modern, ballet, jazz, and tap.
Southern Miss students may elect to minor in dance by participating in a selected course of study within the dance major curriculum.
Performance Opportunities
The dance program is home to the Southern Miss Repertory Dance Company, which performs frequently throughout the year. Dancers are selected for the company by audition and perform concerts in a variety of venues both on and off campus. The dance program presents two major concerts a year. The Studio 115 is produced, choreographed and performed by students each fall and the Spring Dance Concert presents faculty and guest artists' choreographic works. Informal concerts are held throughout the year in the dance studio theatre. Noted dance artists are regularly brought to campus to perform, teach master classes, conduct special workshops, and set choreographic works on the students. Recent guest artists have included Mikey Thomas, Mark Haim, Doug Varone, Liz Lerman, Jane Comfort, Ballet Florida, Repertory Dance Theatre, and Dayton Contemporary Dance Company.
Student works are selected to be performed and (ACDFA) adjudicated at the annual American College Dance Festival Association. In the past, student works from Southern Miss have been selected for the prestigious Gala concert at ACDF.
For more information on the current season, go to our What's on Stage section of this web site.
Career Options
Career options are explored individually with the students, preparing them to assume professional and artistic responsibilities. Faculty meet regularly with students to assess their progress in the program, to discuss short- and long-term goals, and to counsel them about viable career options. Graduates of the B.F.A. dance program are employed as dance teachers at all levels of education, private and public. As performers, they have gone on to dance professionally in nationally recognized companies. Many continue their studies to pursue a master's degree. Scholarships are offered to qualified dance majors by audition. These renewable scholarships are based on need, talent, potential and service to the program. Prospective students are welcomed to visit Southern Miss during the school year, meet faculty and students, tour the campus and Theatre and Dance Building, and observe or take classes.
Faculty
The dance faculty is composed of dedicated professional artists and educators who combine their individual areas of expertise and talent to offer the student continuity as well as diversity.
Erin Leigh
For more information on the dance program at Southern Miss, contact Stacy Reischman, Director of Dance, Department of Theatre and Dance, 118 College Drive #5052, Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001, (601) 266-4161, dance@usm.edu.
Department of Theatre and Dance
http://www.usm.edu/theatre
601.266.4994 (Theatre) • theatre@usm.edu
601.266.4161 (Dance) • dance@usm.edu