Session Description

The core curriculum for the B.F.A. in Dance: Commercial Dance includes intensive movement and performance training, dance academics, career preparation, and health and wellness education in a flexible structure that can be completed in just three years (six semesters). Through this dynamic combination of immersive training, students will safely master a range of common commercial dance styles while gaining a comprehensive understanding of the entertainment industry and forming important professional connections. Students should be prepared for three years of highly intensive study. In order to complete this program in three years, over the course of six fall/spring semesters, students will need to commit to full-time attendance, taking a minimum of 20 credits per semester (approximately 40+ hours of study per week). Movement and Performance Training Throughout the three-year program, students will take a minimum of six movement training modules of their choice: Hip-hop and urban dance Dance for the Screen Circus and Las Vegas arts Social & Vernacular dance (swing, ballroom, African, salsa) JazzDance, broadway, and tap dance Improvisation Acting and voice Ballet and modern dance Dance composition for film, video, and stage In addition, each semester students will take Composition and Performance for Commercial Dance, a flexible course in which students collaborate on various performance projects that utilize commercial dance styles, such as music videos, music concerts, theater productions, and other multidisciplinary projects. Career Preparation As students cultivate their unique artistry through movement classes and the Performance Ensemble Project, they will also learn about the commercial entertainment industry and how to secure professional work through the program’s robust career development component, designed in partnership with Berklee’s state-of-the-art Career Center. Through workshops, master classes, seminars, and professional networking events organized through the Career Center, students will have the opportunity to learn directly from industry experts (producers, directors, agents, choreographers, and performers). Students will also take courses designed to develop self-sufficiency and career sustainability, including courses on auditioning, career skill development, and technology. In addition, the commercial dance program is designed to accommodate one semester of internship and/or professional dance work, which is credited towards degree completion. This means that of the program’s six total semesters, students who qualify to take advantage of this opportunity will only be required to study on campus for five of those semesters. They can dance professionally for one semester—anywhere in the world—and receive credit towards their degree completion. Dance Academics Students will take a series of foundational studies to contextualize what they are learning in the studio and help them connect it to their future careers. These courses include: Introduction to Iconic Dance Introduction to Dance on Film and Video History of Hip-Hop Dance and Pop Culture Dance and Technology Lab. In addition, students will take various liberal arts and academic dance electives of their choosing to further tailor their educational experience to their interests. Health and Wellness All dance students at Boston Conservatory undergo comprehensive health and wellness education to ensure that their artistic development is supported by safe and healthy practices. This includes somatic courses that teach students how to care for and train their bodies, prevent injuries, and develop healthy habits that will support a lifelong career. As part of the Conservatory’s state-of-art approach to dance training, we provide excellent physical therapy services, massage therapy, and training in Alexander Technique to support optimal health and functioning.