PROPOSAL FOR A MASTER OF FINE ARTS IN DANCE: EMBODIED INTERDISCIPLINARY PRAXIS Respectfully submitted by Purnima Shah, Director of the Duke Dance Program on behalf of the Dance Faculty TABLE OF CONTENTS I. PROGRAM RATIONALE a. Statement of How the Proposed MFA fits into the Mission of the Dance Program ........ 1 b. Justification for the New MFA Program ................................................................................ 3 II. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED MFA a. Strategic Objectives and Educational Goals .......................................................................... 5 b. Degree Requirements for the Program .................................................................................. 5 c. MFA Curriculum ...................................................................................................................... 8 d. Descriptions of Courses and Learning Opportunities (See Appendix A, i-iv) ................ 17 e. Brief Bios of the MFA faculty (See Appendix B) .................................................................. 17 i. Specialty Areas of the Dance Faculty ............................................................................. 18 ii. Administrative Structure ................................................................................................. 19 f. Distanced-based Learning Opportunities ............................................................................. 19 g. Nature and Description of Student Participation in Independent Research, etc. ............ 20 h. Target Audience for the Proposed Program ......................................................................... 20 i. Admission Requirements and Selection ................................................................................ 21 j. Timeline for Implementation of the MFA Program ............................................................ 22 k. Facilities and Infrastructure .................................................................................................... 23 III. RELATIONSHIP OF THE PROPOSED MFA IN DANCE PROGRAM WITH OTHER DUKE PROGRAMS a. Analysis of Similar MFA Programs at Other Universities .................................................. 25 b. Distinguishing Features of the Proposed MFA Program from other Programs Offered 30 c. Proposed MFA Program’s Reliance on Other Units at Duke and the Community ......... 32 i. Programs at Duke ............................................................................................................ 33 ii. Programs in the Local Community .............................................................................. 37 d. Anticipated Consequences to the Sponsoring Unit or to other Programs at Duke ........ 39 IV. MARKET RESEARCH FOR THE PROPOSED MFA IN DANCE PROGRAM a. Evidence of Sufficient Demand Among Potential Applicants to Support Enrollment Targets included in Business Plan .......................................................................................... 40 b. Evidence of Expected Opportunities Available to Graduates ............................................. 41 V. FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS FOR THE PROPOSED MFA IN DANCE PROGRAM a. Five-year Business Plan of Revenues Less all Program Expenses (Appendix C) ............. 42 b. Description of Financial Aid, Scholarship Amounts ........................................................... 42 c. Detailed Analysis of Instructional Costs ............................................................................... 42 d. Description of the MFA’s reliance on Duke Resources and Infrastructure ...................... 42 e. Recruitment Plan for Meeting Enrollment Targets ............................................................. 43 VI. STUDENT COMMUNITY a. Promoting Diversity Among MFA Students ......................................................................... 44 b. Student Support Services Available ........................................................................................ 44 c. Number of International Students Anticipated .................................................................... 45 d. Summary of Career Development Services .......................................................................... 45 e. Sponsoring Unit Support for Graduate Student Clubs, etc. ................................................ 46 VII. PROGRAM EVALUATION a. Learning Assessment Plan ........................................................................................... 48 b. Metrics for Evaluating Success ................................................................................... 48 c. Commitment to Third Year Review of Program Performance .................................... 49 VIII. LETTERS OF SUPPORT a. Supporting Statements from the Deans ....................................................................... 50 b. Additional Clearances Obtained or Required .............................................................. 50 c. Letter of Support from American Dance Festival ....................................................... 50 d. Letters of Support from Other Duke Units ................................................................. 50 e. Letters of Support from Leading MFA Programs Outside of Duke ............................ 50 IX. RISK ASSESSMENT a. Enrollment ................................................................................................................... 51 b. Implementation Factors ............................................................................................... 51 c. Reputational Factors .................................................................................................... 51 d. Financial Factors ......................................................................................................... 51 APPENDIX A: DESCRIPTIONS OF COURSES AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES i. Required Courses in Dance .......................................................................................... 53 ii. Elective Courses in Dance .......................................................................................... 55 iii. Elective Courses Offered at Duke .............................................................................. 59 iv. Duke Faculty Approvals for Cross-listing Elective Courses ...................................... 62 APPENDIX B: BIOS OF PARTICIPATING FACULTY ............................................................ 85 APPENDIX C: FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS FOR THE MFA PROGRAM ............................ 89 APPENDIX D: LEARNING ASSESSMENT PLAN .................................................................. 92 APPENDIX E: LETTERS OF SUPPORT ................................................................................... 97 i. Dean Valerie Ashby and Dean Gennifer Weisenfeld .................................................... 98 ii. From Within Duke .......................................................................................................100 iii. From Outside of Duke .................................................................................................112 APPENDIX F: FACILITIES, INFRASTRUCTURE, TECHNOLOGICAL RESOURCES .......119 APPENDIX G: DANCE FACULTY CURRICULUM VITAE ....................................................124 I. PROGRAM RATIONALE a. A Statement of how the Proposed MFA fits into the Research and Teaching Mission of the Dance Program The Duke University Program in Dance proposes a graduate program leading to a terminal degree, Master of Fine Arts in Dance: Embodied Interdisciplinary Praxis. The establishment of the MFA in Dance at Duke forms a strategic key element in order to consolidate and expand the current Dance Program’s mission to endorse dance as a socially transformative force. Duke’s MFA in Dance will distinguish itself through its emphasis on the following key elements creating a unique and stimulating research-environment, carefully designed to augment and develop current activities of the Dance Program and Duke at large. • the program is open to all forms of dance and human movement, artistic, aesthetic, social and therapeutic • students’ applications will include a formulated research project, further mentored to take advantage of the extensive cross and interdisciplinary study opportunities at Duke in order to create individually-tailored research programs • the program will promote the formulation and integration of knowledge gained through continued embodied practice • the program will provide exclusive and well guided access to and collaboration with the American Dance Festival • it will engage the students in the fields of dance, movement and choreography at the vanguard of contemporary research and praxis • research will be encouraged to foreground contributions to the socio-political processes through artistic practice • the program will promote various peer-to-peer learning opportunities, encouraging ongoing, informal as well as formal artistic and scholarly exchanges between students, community artists and faculty alike. Aligned with the mission of Duke University to emphasize liberal arts and professional programs, the mission of the Dance Program is to prepare liberally-educated and socially responsible dance artists, educators and scholars, who are well-grounded in the performance practice, creative works, theories and the social and cultural contexts of dance. The Dance Program provides a comprehensive liberal arts-based program and fosters a rich environment in which both faculty and students are encouraged to