Dance Education Program

Students learn from our extraordinary and diverse faculty and from internationally acclaimed artists-in-residence, such as Jennifer Muller/The Works. From ballet to Hip-Hop and jazz to Afro-Caribbean, students will learn dance technique, dance history, choreography, and how to teach dance. Students will experience the canon of American modern dance, learning to understand and respect the lineage while embracing the future of contemporary forms.

The Dance Education Program offers two majors and a minor.

Image

Undergraduate Degree Programs

Dance Education with a Specialization in Entrepreneurship, B.S

Students in the Central Dance Education Entrepreneurship program develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to pursue a business-based dance career. Graduates will be prepared to teach dance at the highest level and have the knowledge and skills to handle the marketing and managerial side of running a successful business. Students will show evidence of possessing a strong, well-rounded background in dance pedagogy, history, research, learning theory and practicum to become “highly qualified” as a Teaching Artist.

Academic Catalog Listing
Learning Outcomes
Curriculum Sheet

Image

All Level Education - Certifiable for PK-12

Dance Education, B.S.

Students in the Central Dance Education for Teacher Certification program develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to be an effective PK-12 dance educator. Students are provided with a variety of classroom learning experiences as well as experiential learning opportunities with partner school districts where they learn up to date teaching techniques and apply them in an authentic environment. Students will show evidence of possessing a strong, well-rounded background in dance pedagogy, history, research, and learning theory.

Academic Catalog Listing 
Learning Outcomes
Curriculum Sheet
Teacher Preparation

Image

Minor

Dance, Minor

The Central Dance Minor allows students to study technique and the history of dance. From ballet to Hip-Hop and from jazz to Afro-Caribbean, students will learn technique, dance history and also learn how to create their own dances. You will need to take 18 credits in the dance curriculum. Major in your choice of field and keep up with your love of dancing and performance while staying in shape.

Academic Catalog Listing

Alternative Dance Teacher Certification Programs

Cross-Endorsement in Dance Teacher Certification (30 credits)

The Cross-Endorsement in Dance is designed for teachers holding an active Connecticut Educator Certificate or students currently enrolled in an initial certification program in any discipline to obtain a second certification in dance (PreK–12 #483) by completing a total of 30 semester hours of credit in dance education course work.

Formal Pathway to Dance Teacher Certification

This specialized program created with the Connecticut State Department of Education is designed for public-school dance teachers who have not yet been certified. The program is only open to currently employed public school dance teachers.

For further information please contact Pascal Rekoert, Central Dance Education Coordinator at rekoert@ccsu.edu, or Jennifer DelSanto, secretary (860) 832-2155.

Dance Education Program Coordinator/Director:
Pascal Rekoert, Assistant Professor, Central

Emeritus Dance Education Program Coordinator:
Catherine Fellows, Professor, Central

Dance Faculty:
Brianna Albanese
Cassandra Forsythe
Stephen D. Hankey
Lindsay Hansen
Ingrid Howe-Green
Erica Nelson
Ilker Ozbelli

Guest Teaching Artists:
E. Clayton Cornelius, Cajai F. Johnson, Christine Kershaw-Hobson, Aubrey Lynch II, Jennifer Muller, Felipe Puletini, Robert Michael Valdez, Jr.