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I. Seven-year Program
The College offers a unique seven-year program culminating in a BFA degree in dance that includes a three-year Undergraduate Preparatory Program (UPP) and a four-year undergraduate program. By starting rigorous dance training at the high school level, students are better prepared to succeed in professional dance careers.
The UPP shares undergraduate educational facilities and resources. UPP courses and undergraduate courses complement each other with minimum overlap. The three-year preparatory program includes two areas of study: general studies and professional training. The general course of study includes: arts and humanities, science, health education, etc. The professional dance technique curriculum includes: western movement, eastern movement, improvisation and internships. In both areas, foreign language is emphasized. To graduate from the UPP and be admitted to the four-year undergraduate program, students must complete at least 162 academic credits and pass an audition.
In the four-year undergraduate program, students are required to take dance technique in both eastern and western movement styles. Eastern styles include specialties such as Tai-Chi, Chinese opera movement, Chinese martial arts and Indonesian dance. The study of western movement emphasizes classical ballet and modern dance. Students choose either eastern or western movement as an area of concentration. To complete the BFA, students must earn at least 134 academic credits, produce a graduate concert and then are encouraged to tour Taiwan. A total of 294 credits are required for the seven-year program.
II. Graduate Programs
Established in 1992 by Chairs Heng Ping and Man-fei Lo, the Graduate Program in Dance is the first and most prestigious in Taiwan. In 2003, due to the transition of NIA into TNUA, the Graduate Program evolved into two independent graduate schools: the Graduate School of Choreography and the Graduate School of Performance. To earn a Master of Fine Arts degree, graduate students in choreography are required to complete at least 36 credits and those specializing in performance must complete at least 38 credits. After fulfilling course requirements, students must produce a dance concert with an emphasis on their chosen field. In addition to dance techniques, MFA students are also required to take academic courses such as special topics in dance research, independent study and research in eastern and western dance history among others.
Newly established in 2005, the Graduate School of Dance Theory offers a Master of Arts degree. There are two areas of concentration: Dance Education and Dance Criticism. Dance Education focuses on pedagogic training and research for professional dance education and general education while the Dance Criticism concentration provides systemic training in dance history, cultural studies of dance and interdisciplinary theories. The major aim is to cultivate students’ knowledge and skills in recording, analyzing and researching dance to develop new insights. Courses offered include: Research Methodology in Dance, Movement Analysis Research, History and Theory of Dance Education, Dance Pedagogy, Dance Criticism, Dance and Cultural Studies and Issues in Contemporary Dance to name a few.
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