About the MFA Program
Choreography
The focus of our three-year program is to foster innovative choreographic research and to provide in depth creative experiences. MFA candidates work one-on-one with mentors to design a program that supports their individual choreographic interests.
Space
The Graduate Dance Center is a sustainable work/play space dedicated to graduate student choreographic research and development. By Fall 2010, this uniquely designed space will include two studio dedicated to graduate studies, graduate office and lounges, and a creative construction space. The Graduate Dance Center represents an exciting collaboration between Dance at Illinois and the School of Architecture and occupies the second floor of the East Art Annex 2, a beautiful old, brick building a short walk from the Nevada Studios and the Dance Administration Building. The first 2,000 square foot studio, designed by faculty and student architects and dancers from the University of Illinois during a joint graduate seminar, opened in the Fall of 2009. This space has a sprung wood floor and floating wood curtains made entirely from recycled wood reclaimed from an old basketball court. In 2009, the Department of Dance received a Student Sustainability Grant to fund the renovation of the second studio and office spaces. A team of faculty and student architects are building these spaces out of reclaimed wood from three barns that have been donated to the University of Illinois. These light filled spaces are equipped with lighting, sound and media equipment.
Intimate
Size is a defining feature. No more than four carefully chosen MFA candidates are admitted per year and no more than 12 are matriculating at the same time. This promotes high standards, and personal attention, and ensures opportunities to choreograph, teach, and
perform
for every candidate.
Financial Support
This highly competitive program allows us to provide financial support to a majority of our candidates through Assistantships along with Creative and Performing Arts Fellowships, Departmental Fellowships, and Special Fellowships for underrepresented ethnic groups.
Mentors
An extraordinary faculty of artists, researchers and scholars has gathered at Illinois, who are creating new paradigms for interactions between the professional arena and the academic training ground. In addition, each year there are several distinguished guest artists in residence teaching and setting works in the department. Exceptional alumni are also frequently invited back to conduct workshops and performances. These activities provide students with an opportunity to network with a range of practicing professionals.
(Student project based on collaborative course between Dance & Landscape Architecture)
Cross-Disciplinary
Located within a top research one university, our program encourages cross-disciplinary work and independent study in areas of interest and embraces imaginative interpretations of the thesis requirement. In past years students have worked in the Thomas M. Siebel for Computing Science, the world class Beckman Institute of Advanced Science and Technology, an interdisciplinary research center, participated in Human Dimensions in Environmental Science and collaborated with scholars from Education, Art & Design, Landscape Architecture, Architecture, Theatre and Music.
Flexible Design
Students can design their physical practice to include courses in contemporary and ballet technique, improvisation, a variety of somatic practices and popular and global dance forms. The Somatics component of the curriculum includes courses in Alexander Technique and Bartenieff Fundamentals. Certification in Alexander, Pilates and Yoga are available in town. Celebrated Alexander teachers Joan and Alex Murray are interconnected with our program.
Career Preparation
Our career seminars and interactions with working professionals prepare our graduates for meaningful artistic participation in the field. Our Teaching Fellowships provide students with the opportunity to teach three years at the University level, a necessary prerequisite for teaching in academic programs.
Excellence
UI has a long tradition of excellence and leadership in dance graduate studies. Implemented in 1980, the nationally ranked MFA program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance and highly respected in the field.
