MFA in Dance students will develop creative, technical, and academic skills appropriate to the profession.
Objective
Develop Choreographic Skill
Students will demonstrate substantial growth and proficiency in choreography, employing effective tools of composition to create well crafted original statements in movement. The ability of students to create extended works of choreography is an important indicator of the Dance MFA Program's success in producing graduates who have developed appropriate creative capacities and are prepared for future professional endeavors.
Indicator
Evaluation Of Required Choreographic Work
Required Choreographic Work is evaluated on common standards of choreographic effectiveness: 1. successful communication of an idea; 2. effective use of innovative movement vocabulary; 3. Structure; 4. Transitions; 5. Space, time and energy; 6. Technology; 7. Collaboration with other artists; 8. Alternative performance spaces. 9. Successful matching of performers to the needs of the piece; 10 well rehearsed cast. These choreographic evaluations take place within the two required MFA choreography courses in (DNC 5676 and 578). Although evaluations are conducted by course instructors, above mentioned aesthetic and technical criteria which are pertinent to the particular choreographic work are applied by each instructor. Instructors judge student work as Not Meeting Standards/ Meeting Standards. Gradations of judgment and subtleties of critical impressions within those two categories are communicated to the student in extensive qualitative, face-to-face feedback.
Criterion
90% Of Students Will Be Judged Satisfactory In Proficiency
90% Students will be judged to have satisfactory proficiency in choreography based upon the instructor's evaluation on the pertinent common standards specified in the indicator.
Finding
100% Of Enrolled MFA Students Judged Proficient In Choreography
100% of the students enrolled in DNC 578 in fall of 2010 were evaluated as being proficient in choreography based upon the instructor's evaluation on the pertinent common standards specified in the indicator. Of particular note, students asked if an additonal concert of graduate choreography could be added to our performance calendar.
100% of the students enrolled in 576 in spring of 2011, earned proficiency ratings on their evaluation of choreographic proficiency
Indicator
Presentation & Evaluation Of Thesis Concert
As the culmination of the MFA thesis project, students present a public performance of an extended original choreographic work which is evaluated by the Thesis Committee on common standards of choreographic effectiveness: 1. successful communication of an idea; 2. effective use of innovative movement vocabulary; 3. Structure; 4. Transitions; 5. Space, time and energy; 6. Technology; 7. Collaboration with other artists; 8. Alternative performance spaces. 9. Successful matching of performers to the needs of the piece; 10 well rehearsed cast. Extensive feedback is given during scheduled showings of the work in process, and in review of the concert following its presentation.
Criterion
All MFA Thesis Students Meet Choreographic Production Standards
100% of MFA Thesis performers will be assessed by Thesis Committee to meet standards for choreographic effectiveness. (In addition, Students who meet the standard for acceptable choreographic production will receive a passing score for that portion of DNC 699, Thesis II.)
Finding
Outcomes Of Student Concert
Two candidates presented a shared thesis concert in spring 2011. The respective committees for each student determined that the choreography presented realized the students' ideas to a degree markedly higher than "acceptable." Nevertheless, faculty found that students needed more experience with choreography in order to produce higher quality work for the thesis project.
Action
Experience With Choreography
Following a review of program outcomes and a review of the curriculum in spring of 2010, dance faculty were satisfied with the content of the course offerings as a foundation in choreography, but concurred that students needed more experience with choreography in order to produce higher quality work for the thesis project. Lacking faculty to offer additional courses, we planned to continue to encourage independent projects, external experiences and provide rigorous mentorship. In 2010-2011, our graduate students presented more independent choreography projects, many of which were not for credit. The faculty were vocally supportive of these efforts. In May 2011, the students asked if an additional concert of graduate choreography could be added to our performance calendar. Although we have not yet worked out the logistics required for an additional concert, the dance faculty and staff are excited by the proactive stance of the students, and committed to finding additional opportunities for them to present their work and receive constructive feedback.
Objective
Breadth Of Knowledge In The Field
MFA graduates should have a solid understanding of dance technique, choreography, production, and history, and should be able to write or speak from that base of information.
Indicator
Written Comprehensive Exam
Students will be given a choice of topics provided by graduate faculty, relevant to all aspects of study that the student has experienced in the program. A passing grade on the Dance MFA Program's written comprehensive examination will serve as an indicator that a Dance MFA candidate has acquired a breadth of knowledge in the field of dance. Additionally, the student's ability to write critically and at a standard acceptable to the profession will be demonstrated.
Criterion
Pass Rate
As demonstration that the Dance graduate program is successful in preparing students for the written comprehensive examination, at least 90% of students will the exam at the first sitting or upon retaking it.
Finding
100% Written Comprehensive Pass Rate
In the spring of 2011, two candidates sat for the written comprehensive exam. Both passed on the first sitting. Even so, there appears to be a lack of awareness among all students of the breadth and depth of the knowledge required at this juncture of the program.
Action
Review Preparation For The Examination
The dance faculty is creating a large bank of potential examination questions for faculty review later this summer. It has been proposed that a list of questions presented to the students in their first semester of graduate study would stimulate awareness of the range of knowledge and depth of scholarship students are expected to attain beyond honing crafts of performance and choreography.