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Faculty of Culture, Creative and Performing Arts

Programmes

BFA Dance

About the Programme



**NEW PROGRAMME STARTING AUGUST 2021**

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance is designed to foster creativity, critical thinking and artistic production in dance. It offers practical and theory courses to develop wise practitioners that are both talented artists and community-engaged innovators. Graduates of the program will be prepared to pursue careers as performers, choreographers, artistic directors, teachers, and scholars of dance. 

The BFA in Dance provides world-class instruction in traditional and cutting-edge dance practices that prepare UWI students to shape the future of the global dance market while remaining rooted in the Caribbean philosophies and aesthetics. The new BFA in Dance will increase time spent on practical training and offer an enhanced commitment to critical thinking and research, more opportunities for student-led creative production, and greater direct engagement with local and international professionals in the field of dance.   

The BFA in Dance at UWI Cave Hill fulfils a global need for a dance program that centres the diversity of the African diaspora in its practice and philosophy. By offering world-class training in the practice of dance and choreography alongside critical theory, this program responds to the dearth of opportunities for Afro-Caribbean dancers to see themselves reflected in performance and scholarship, and to create the next generation of Bajan dance excellence. The students who will emerge at the end of the programme will have a firm knowledge of Caribbean cultural history, be able to articulate a clear aesthetic vision, perform as a professional dancer, and/or begin their careers in choreography. 

What Will I Study?

The overall objectives of this programme are to produce graduates who: 

1. Perform and choreograph at an early-career professional level. 
2. Are prepared to enter post-graduate study of dance or dance studies. 
3. Can teach dance in private studios and community institutions. 
3. Are articulate in the cultural practices and policies of the Caribbean. 
4. Employ critical thinking to their dance-making practices. 
5. Participate responsibly in the global creative community. 

Facilities and Resources

The EBCCI boasts state of the art facilities, including an art gallery, cinematheque, rehearsal room, performance centre, dance studio, computer lab, and pedagogical centre. The Walcott Warner Theatre is a multipurpose facility suited for all types of events, and seating up to 252 persons.

Apart from teaching, our facilities can also be booked for film screenings, meetings, workshops, seminars, lectures, event rehearsals. Features such as grand or upright pianos, AV equipment, sound and lighting are available on request.  Learn how to book any of our facilities »

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the program will be prepared to pursue careers as performers, choreographers, artistic directors, teachers, and scholars.  

Why Study in Barbados

An internationally accredited programme introduces our international students to the creative arts from a Caribbean perspective, while providing fundamental knowledge and developing skills suited for a professional career at the global level.

See why you should study in Barbados from our International Office
https://www.cavehill.uwi.edu/international/international-students/why-study-in-barbados.aspx

At a Glance

  • Degree Level: Undergraduate
  • Qualification: BFA
  • Duration: 3 years Full-Time; 4 years Part-Time

Contact


Programme Details

(Current students should refer to the Faculty Handbook from their year of entry for guidance on their programme requirements)

LEVEL I (36 credits)
1. HUMN1001 Critical Foundations in the Arts
2-3.  DANC1015 Contemporary Dance I (6 credits)
4. DANC1016 Africana Dances I
5. DANC1018 Global Dance Histories
6. DANC1020 Body Conditioning and Wellness
7. DANC1030 Dance Ensemble 1
8. CLTR1505 Cultural Studies & Caribbean Dance
9. FOUN 1006 Exposition for Academic Purposes
10. FOUN 1003 Introduction to Creative Non-Fiction OR FOUN 1004 An Introduction to Argument
11. One (1) Beginners’ Foreign Language course* OR Level I elective from within the Faculty, but outside of this Major
12. One (1) Level I Elective from any Faculty
 
LEVEL II (36 credits)
1. DANC2105 Improvisation
2. DANC2115 Movement Theory & Analysis
3. DANC2125 Africana Dances II
4. DANC2130 Dance Composition
5. DANC2131 Critical Dance Studies
6-7. DANC2110 Contemporary Dance II (6 credits) 
8. DANC2120 Embodying the Sacred: Ritual Dances of the African Diaspora
9. DANC2231 Dance Ensemble II
10. FOUN 1210 Science, Medicine and Tech. in Society
11. FOUN1301 Law, Gov, Society and Economy in the C’bean
12. One (1) Level II Elective from any Faculty
 
LEVEL III (36 credits)
1-2. HUMN3001 Aesthetics, Theory and Criticism (6 credits)
3. DANC3103 Africana Dances III
4. DANC3104 Africana Performance Theory
5. DANC3302 Dance Education
6. DANC3110 Dance Ensemble III
7-8. DANC3106 Contemporary Dance III (6 credits)
9. HUMN 3900 Internship
10-11. HUMN 3901 Capstone/Thesis Project (6 credits)
12. One (I) Level III Elective from any Faculty

For full details on programme costs, follow the link https://www.cavehill.uwi.edu/financial/fees.aspx

A. University Matriculation Requirements

The University Matriculation requirements for entry to a degree programme —

EITHER:
(a) Full Matriculation: 

  •  (i) Passes in either two 2-unit CAPE/GCE A-Level subjects OR an Associate Degree of at least a 2.50 GPA,  AND
  • (ii) at least five (5) passes in CSEC (CXC) General Proficiency of at least Grade III (at least Grade II if done before 1998), OR GCE O’ Levels of at least Grade C or BGCSE examinations.  Subjects passed must include  English Language AND one of the following: a Foreign Language, Mathematics, Geography, or an approved Science subject.
OR:
b) Lower Level Matriculation:
  • At least five (5) acceptable passes at CSEC/GCE/BGCSE examinations which MUST include English Language and any one of the following: a foreign language, mathematics, geography, or an approved science subject;

AND:

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT:
English Language is compulsory for admission to all programmes of The University of the West Indies. Candidates who do not possess one of the following are required to take the English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT) before entry:

  • (i) Grade I in CSEC,
  • (ii) English A,
  • (iii) a Grade A in GCE O’ Level English Language,
  • (iv) a Grade 1 in CAPE Communication Studies OR
  • (v) a Grade A or B in the GCE General Paper, OR
  • (vi) Grade B OR higher in the BCC course CORE 100 English & Communication

 
B. FACULTY ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

3. The entry requirements of the Faculty of Culture, Creative and Performing Arts are:

(a) a minimum of five (5) passes in CSEC General Proficiency Grade I, II or Grade III (Grade III if done after 1998), or GCE ‘O’ Levels at least Grade C, or BGCSE examinations including English Language;

(b) the entry requirements of the particular academic department in which they propose to take courses.  These are as follows for the creative arts undergraduate programmes:

All qualified applicants to the BFA Creative Arts (Dance concentration) and the BFA Dance, will be invited to an interview and/or audition.

DANCE CONCENTRATION/MAJOR

Prior to Interview/Audition
You are required to submit before your interview:
1. a formal resume OR a one-page narrative summarizing your previous experience in dance. 
2. a one-page statement of your interest and goals within the field of dance. Please address the following questions: What and who are you inspired by? Why? What do you wish to challenge or change through dance? What do you wish to express through dance? What are your career goals in dance?
 
Interview and Audition Day—Applicants in Barbados
Each prospective student for the Dance programme will be invited to an interview and an audition, scheduled on the same date. Candidates must wear clothing that allows for the full and comfortable movement of the body.

Hair must be tied back, no jewelry. Be prepared to dance in bare feet.

Applicants will be asked to complete the following in order to assess their readiness for the BFA in Dance:

(i) an Afro-Contemporary dance class: a warm-up, movement across the floor, a repertory phrase.

(ii) a two minute self-choreographed or repertory solo prepared by the applicant.  All dance styles are welcomed. 

(iii) an interview with academic staff in dance.
Applicants should arrive at least 20 minutes prior to their appointments to allow for independent warm-up.
 
Interview and Audition Day—Regional/International Applicants
In order to assess their readiness for the BFA in Dance, each prospective regional/international student for the Dance programme will be invited to an interview via Zoom or other video chat platform, and asked to submit either a digital video file, or a Youtube or Vimeo link to a recording of the following: 

(i) a dance class featuring the applicant learning from a teacher of their choice.

(ii) a two minute self-choreographed or repertory solo.  All dance styles are welcomed. 

In the video, candidates must wear clothing that allows for the full and comfortable movement of the body. Hair must be tied back, no jewelry.

Faculty of Culture, Creative and Performing Arts
Telephone: (246) 417-4776 Email: fccpa@cavehill.uwi.edu
Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30 am - 4.30 pm | Find Us