Howard University has been a pioneer in the education of African Americans.  This holds true today as Howard is the first Historically Black College or University to institute an approved dance major program (December, 1993)  in the College of Arts and Sciences Division of Fine Arts Department of Theatre Arts.  The quality, offerings and representation of content, students, and faculty has been extensive including noted visiting legendary artists and history makers including , Pepsi Bethel Harold Pierson, Talley Beatty, Dr. Pearl E. Primus, Carmen deLaVallade, Mary Hinkson, Walter Nicks, Joan Myers Brown. 

The students majoring in dance are in a major that functions as an academic curriculum in an educational environment that offers academic excellence in a well-rounded university academic foundation and instructional content.  The artistic quality the physically technical affective base is strengthened by the intellectual cognitive work and skills of development required in this intensely structured program.

Because of the technical requirements and range of work involved in dance as a performer, administrator, instructor, technician, historian, critic, therapist, this program is structured to give students an opportunity to develop and experience the magnitude of professional expectations.  The goal is to offer artistic and academic quality and excellence that can only enhance a student’s capacity to be well-rounded in preparation for the field, the global professional life of work, and a level of readiness for the competitiveness of seeking placement upon graduation which has been 100% for all graduates.

Dance as a performance art on stage, in theatre and film, has always been energy of intricate footwork, complex rhythms, spontaneous movement, and highly developed technical skills for performing.  As a pioneering university in the development of leadership, dance at Howard University continues the mission by selecting students, who not only demonstrate above average proficiency in academic strength but also developing capabilities for bringing to the stage a high quality artistry of  dance in performance.  As noted by Washington Post critic in a review of one of the dance concerts:

...well-trained American dancers at the Howard University Dance Concert...had stamina, precision and stage presence...their sophistication allowed the artist to expand his choreography and let his ideas flow....

Enrollment is with Acceptance of:
Howard University Office of Admissions 202-806-2700
Portfolio Review by Dance Major Coordinator 202-806-7052
Attendance/Full Participation in the Summer Dance Intensive

The Howard University Dance Major Program is the only historically black college/university (HBCU) with Dance being offered as a Major Art form and discipline of development.

The Program features:

                                cognitive and affective language intellectual conversations and discussions
                                with major legendary and contemporary artists including Dianne McIntyre,
                                Ronald K. Brown, Kevin Iega Jeff, Dr. Kariamu Welsh

                                major on-stage performances with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company
                                Evidence Dance Company, Forces of Nature, Kankouran West African Dance Company
                                300   seat Ira Aldridge Theater
                                1500 seat Cramton Auditorium

core faculty members with master skills in studio technique and longevity in the dance field

                                                Assane Konte                      Traditional African Dance Technique of Senegal
                                                Pat Thomas                           Martha Graham Technique Master Teacher
                                                Sandra Fortune-Green         Vaganova Ballet Technique
                                                Katherine J. Smith                Lester Horton Technique
                                                Sherrill Berryman Johnson    Katherine Dunham Technique

depth and definition, analysis and visual documentation of our aesthetics as a
People of African Descent in the context of:

                                                a cross-cultural language of technique and choreography
                                                vocabulary and dialogue of aesthetics in motion
                                                cultural self-determination, self-definition and independence

The program reflects the retention of culture, the social significance of roots and origin and a genre of dance that will continue to be created and addressed through the development of a next generation of prospective artists being guided by the most prolific artists and choreographers in the Global Society of Dance.

The Dance Major Program of Study is committed to fostering an environment that speaks to quality and clarity in both academic standards and  performance as it involves research in thematic development, thereby understanding the foundation of dance, the arts and how it is a moving art and voice to the relationship of its people and their culture. The focus is to enable these next generation African-American artists to speak with distinction about themselves through the cultural language of dance. 

The Howard University Dance Major Pre-Professional Performance Ensemble is a component of the Department of Theatre Arts Dance Major Program of Study adhering to the mission statement of dedication to the continued growth and development of preparing the next generation of African-Americans entering the array of professions exclusive to dance arts including former Howard University Dance Major Student HOPE BOYKIN currently performing and choreographing with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre.

Each performance opportunity is with focus on a series of application and research intensive courses leading to the development of a mind and body of techniques that will serve as a foundation for strength in delivery of a message.  Choreographic works including “Take Me to the Water” and “Testify” by Dr. Sherrill Berryman Johnson, Coordinator/Artistic Director Dance Major Area of Concentration, are part of several stages of development including grounding  the students in the Katherine Dunham Technique, the requirement to research  while expanding the  “voice” of the vocabulary within language and movements indigenous to the tradition of the Diaspora and  the legacy of our people.

The Dance Major Program of Study and Development in the Department of Theatre Arts BFA program designed to professionally prepare these students for the seriousness in focus for pursuing a career in the performing arts.  The major is structured to build the bodies with the technical information and language that enhances them approaching the performance work as an integral extension of a performer, writer, administrator, instructor, technician, historian, critic and/or therapist. The performance component gives students on-going exposure and experience in the discipline by providing opportunities that offer self-evaluation, faculty and national/international artists evaluations to build on the preparation required in the field.  The goal is to offer these dance students “real life” artistic preparation for the dance field and the global professional work force with a level of affective/cognitive readiness and success as they stand strong in the face of  life.

As the only HBCU eleven year Board of Trustees approved major in Dance, Howard University stands strong and in the forefront to no other. Students who are selected and choose to maintain seeking an undergraduate degree in this area of concentration work on self-discipline, consistency of development and a willingness to be challenged in the Department of Theatre Arts.  The program builds, cultivates, and elevates the affective and cognitive artistry of these  students through a foundation in dance that impacts their very being for who and what they are and what they want to become. 

Recognized for both its physical and intellectual rigor, the Dance Major curriculum is structured for the student who enters Howard University and this major to be able to apply  academically sound right hemisphere cognitive skills individuals with minimum grade point averages from 3.0 to 4.0 while being able to utilize, integrate, synthesize their left hemisphere capabilities of development through dance arts.  These standards are maintained by the selection including current 2005 freshman, SADIYA CHIPHE one of our National Achievement Scholars and sophomore SHOCCARA MARCUS, receiving  February 2006, 2nd place for her photography work in the Gallery of Art 75 Annual Art Student Exhibition. And students OTIS DONOVAN HERRING, LYNET ROCHELLE, SHANNON JOHNSON, MELISSA TYLER, NABOWIRE STOKES traveling December 2005-January 2006  to Mali and Senegal West Africa conducting field research towards developing scholarly work with facilitation and guidance of Dr. Sherrill Berryman Johnson and Professor Akua Kouyate. 

The Dance Major Students continue to develop educationally, socially and politically as they demonstrate their multi-tasks human being character and ability to confront their individual challenges, to work as a harmonious circle of one and be able to accept the high demands and expectations of not only themselves but dance as an art form functioning with the same standards as the academic foundation and work demands of all the undergraduate, graduate, and professional major offerings at the World Mecca of Education for People of African Descent Howard University, Washington, DC.

Home | About Us | Upcoming Events | Performances | Photo Gallery | Feedback