In this minor, you’ll engage with dance on multiple levels—creative, intellectual, and physical. 

Guided by our outstanding faculty, you’ll receive conservatory-caliber training in a small class setting. As a Dance Minor, you’ll gain a broad understanding of the historical, theoretical, and cultural roots of dance, while also learning and performing a variety of styles and choreography, from Ballroom to Traditional West African to Hip Hop. In addition, you’ll have the opportunity to attend shows throughout the Bay Area and work with a diverse range of guest artists. 

Our students grow tremendously in their critical thinking, writing, and verbal communication skills, all valuable skills for any future career. Some of our graduates head for careers in dance, theatre, and the arts. Many continue onto graduate studies. Others put their critical and creative skills to work outside of the arts, in education, health care, and beyond.

Myriad possibilities await you, and we are here to prepare you for them!

Learn more about the program

Get to know our well-respected faculty and their specialties, as artists and scholars. Or explore scholarship opportunities and an array of performance possibilities.

Dance: Baile Folklórico, Minor

The minor in Baile Folklórico allows the student to have concentrated study in Baile Folklorico/Mexican Folk Dance and other dance genres of the Latine diaspora. Students will take 9 units in movement courses and a minimum of 9 units in theory courses that further support studies in Latin culture, history, literature and/or religion. Most theory classes will also count for the Core.

Requirements

Lower Division

  • The following lower-division courses are required for the minor.
  • Choreography I (2 units)
  • Global Music and Dance (3 units)

LD Movement Classes

  • Take three movement classes from the following list. Courses may be repeated.
  • Baile Folklorico/Mexican Folk Dance (1 units)
  • Intermediate Baile Folklorico/Mexican Folk Dance (1 units)

UD Movement Classes

  • Take Dance-323 four times.
  • Advanced Baile Folklorico/Mexican Folk Dance (1 units)

UD electives

  • Take a minimum of 6 units from the following list. For courses with prerequisites, Latin Dance minors should contact the instructor of the course before registration to seek a prerequisite waiver. GRS 306 may be petitioned to count as an elective if the topic covers Latin America.
  • World Cultures: Caribbean (4 units)
  • World Cultures: Central America (4 units)
  • World Cultures: South America (4 units)
  • Choreography II (2 units)
  • Choreography III (2 units)
  • Dance History: Anti-Racist/Decolonial Approach (3 units)
  • Dance and Performance Studies (4 units)
  • Independent Study (1-4 units)
  • Senior Project (4 units)
  • Women in Latin American History (4 units)
  • Revolution in Latin America (4 units)
  • Chicano/Chicana Literature (3 units)
  • Culture and Civilization: Latin America (3 units)
  • Culture and Civilization: Mexico (3 units)
  • Latin American Literature I (4 units)
  • Latin American Literature II (4 units)
  • Contemporary Latin American Literature (4 units)
  • 20th Century Mexican Literature (4 units)
  • Our Lady of Guadalupe: Mother of a New Creation (3 units)
  • Latinx Religious Experience & Theology (3 units)
  • Latinx Spirituality: Roots, Origins, and Contemporary Experience of a People (3 units)

Notes

  • **Prerequisites for DANCE 498 include Chor II and III
  • Perceiving the Performing Arts (3 units)
  • Global Music and Dance (3 units)

Saint Mary's Testimonials

Person Headshot '14

“The SMC Dance program has always provided a positive learning environment for its students and me. They offer a lot of diverse dance classes such as Modern, Ballet, West African, Ballet Folklorico and many more. The dance professors are always very warm, positive, caring and fun to be around within the studios. They are always there for their students and help push them to achieve their goals.”

Eesha Shah, Class of 2022

School and Department Information