Seton Hill University has introduced a new undergraduate degree offering for the fall of 2010. The Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance offers a broad foundation of training that prepares students for maximum flexibility in career choices upon graduation. The dance major offers three areas of concentration: the performance specialization is designed for students whose primary goal is to pursue careers as performers; students interested in dance composition will benefit from the choreography specialization; and students who want to pursue careers as dance teachers will enroll in the pedagogy specialization.

“Two years ago Seton Hill University instituted a dance minor and we began investigating the feasibility of a major in dance,” said Terry Brino-Dean, Ph.D., associate professor of theatre and director of the Theatre and Dance Program. “Dance majors at Seton Hill will have multiple performance opportunities. Our dance training is focused on individualized attention and hands-on performance, production and teaching experiences.”

“Each dance major in our program will discover his/her individual strengths in the realm of dance. Not all dancers are interested in performing, some may want to teach or choreograph,” said TaMara Swank, assistant professor, theatre. “The three tracks of study will advance the strengths of each dancer so that student will not only be doing what he/she loves, but the student will also excel at it.”

Acceptance into the dance program is based on the successful completion of an audition and interview with dance faculty, as well as admission to the University. The audition process provides an assessment of the applicant’s proficiency in modern dance, tap, ballet and jazz.

Seton Hill is uniquely suited to offer a comprehensive learning experience in the field of dance. In addition to attaining a solid liberal arts foundation, students in the dance program will benefit from the expertise of Seton Hill’s theatre and dance faculty, have the opportunity to work with students in the Seton Hill University Dance Academy and utilize the facilities of the new Performing Arts Center in downtown Greensburg.

“Seton Hill is very responsive to the needs of our students; in this case we are able to create an outstanding program to meet those needs. With the expansion of the University into our new Performing Arts Center and the immediate success of our dance minor, we believe a major in dance with concentration areas will serve large numbers of students for years to come,” said Brino-Dean.

For more information about Seton Hill’s dance major, call the Office of Admissions at 1-800-826-6234.

The Seton Hill University Theatre and Dance Program has a long history of educating students for careers in the theatre and dance profession while playing a vital role in the educational life of the campus. Seton Hill’s Theatre and Dance Program offers four full-length productions (as well as a number of shorter works) and two dance productions each year that generate audiences of over 3,500 and speak to topics addressed in courses across Seton Hill’s curriculum. For more information on the Theatre and Dance Program at Seton Hill, please visit www.setonhilltheatre.com or call 724-552-2934.

The Seton Hill University Dance Academy , a program of Seton Hill’s Community Arts Program, has been designed to develop the skills of dancers of all ages. Instructors approach students with care and commitment to train with excellence, creating a safe, positive and productive environment for everyone. For more information on SHUDA, including current tuition and class schedules, click here .