Minor in Dance

Dance Minor Overview

An undergraduate minor in Dance is offered for students who wish to supplement a major in another discipline. Scholarship opportunities are available through the Rosa Mae Riley Scholarship for TAPS students.

The minor is especially appropriate for students who seek creative and conceptual development through coursework that focuses on diverse techniques, historical and cultural contexts in various dance genres- while learning the theory and practice of the art form. Depending on the student’s major, a minor in Dance can enhance prospects for a variety of employment endeavors and for admission to graduate or professional study.

The dance minor curriculum at GovState is designed to foster intellectual, artistic, and professional growth to prepare for career opportunities in the performing arts, dance scholarship, education, choreography, dance therapy, teaching, community engagement, and health and wellness fields. The program seeks to create well-rounded students who are versatile, creative, critical, collaborative, embodied, sensitive and insightful.

Program Highlights

• Only college in the Chicago-land south suburbs that offers a dance minor
• Classes integrate theory with practice
• Small student to faculty ratio
• Classroom culture promotes body positivity, inclusion, and diverse perspectives within dance 
• Diverse dance faculty and class offerings
• GovState Dance Company offers students experience in performance, choreography, leadership, and community engagement
• Professional guest choreographers
• Perform in GovState’s award-winning Center for Performing Arts theatre 
• Performance opportunities throughout the year on-campus and off-campus
• Leadership experience and opportunities 

Dance is housed within the Theatre and Performance Studies Program. Each semester, a variety of dance courses are offered for undergraduate students. Course offerings include jazz, modern, ballet, tap, hip-hop, African, social dance, dance appreciation, anatomy for dancers, dance for the camera, choreography, pedagogy, African Diaspora dance history, and dance company practicum. 

Why Study Dance?

In addition to developing the technical and artistic skills required to become proficient in dance, courses in dance studies develop one’s mind/body connection and promote innovative creative thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills which are valuable in many industries. Dance skills promote clear verbal, non-verbal, and written communication, social and kinesthetic awareness, and promote respect for diverse perspectives and cultures. Dance training develops confidence, presence, agency, and empathy- skills much needed today. 

Questions?

Do not hesitate to ask! Feel free to contact your advisor with any questions you might have:

Jacquelynn Q. Puckett
Program Advisor
Phone: 708.235.6825
Email: jpuckett@govst.edu
Office Location: C3385

How to Declare a Minor

Ready to declare or change your minor? View the Minor Requirements, then download, fill out the Change of Minor form, and submit it to your advisor:

Minor RequirementsChange of Program Form

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