DANCE

Welcome to the Dance Department at Duke Ellington School of the Arts. The purpose of the Dance Department School of the Arts is to train selected students in the historical, technical, and artistic elements of classical ballet and modern dance and other related dance courses such as Ethnic Dance, Dance Orientation, Dance History, Dance Improvisation, Dance Composition and Senior Project. Students entering in the ninth grade are required to complete all four years of the dance curriculum courses of study in order to obtain an arts certification upon graduation from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Students entering in the tenth grade are required to complete three years of the dance curriculum courses of study in order to obtain an arts certification upon graduation from The Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Students are given a complete foundation in the traditions of dance through our core curriculum. Through this process, they are being prepared for acceptance into a university, conservatory and/or a professional setting. Some students are accepted directly into professional companies as apprentices and/or full company members.

Dance majors develop their abilities through a progression of courses that include dance orientation, dance history, four levels of a classical ballet (Vaganova technique), four levels of modern dance (Horton technique), composition,  improvisation, composition, improvisation, production, ethnic dance, four levels of a Vaganova-based ballet technique and three levels of modern dance. A rigorous professional teaching approach equips dance majors physically and mentally to pursue a dance career. In addition, classes with master teachers focus on areas not emphasized in the curriculum. (The Physical Education requirement is satisfied by select dance courses.) Please refer to the course page for the full list of dance courses.
 
Upon graduation, dance students are encouraged to continue their training at a higher level. Some begin their performance careers immediately.