Is this too many units for a dance major?

Hi, I’m about to start community college in the fall at San Diego Mesa college and I am planning to transfer to West Texas A&M (my first choice school because it’s small, cheap out of state tuition, and cheap area in general, great dance program as well). Upon looking at WTAMU’s curriculum guide, it looks like for dance majors they expect about 16 units in the first semester.

At Mesa, I will be taking 18 units. Which is 8 classes. Everyone I’ve told has flipped the heck out when I tell them that, but it honestly seems to be pretty standard for a dance major. People just underestimate how hard we work as dancers haha.

So in order to match up the correct number of units both for core classes and for dance classes, I had to take 18 units because Mesa’s dance classes are worth less and our core classes are worth more than at WTAMU. In total, I will be taking 5 dance classes and 3 core classes. I was able to take English online, which helps a ton at minimizing my crazy schedule, but I sure wish I could’ve snagged the online math class in time haha. I work best online.

But yeah, just wondering, does this sound like a pretty standard load as a dance major? What is your schedule like as a dance major?

My schedule will be like this:
Monday’s: communications 6-9pm
Tuesday’s: Tap 9:35-11:10, jazz 11:20-12:35, modern 12:45-2:20, then I get to go home and come back for math from 6-9pm
Wednesday’s: nothing
Thursday’s: same as Tuesday’s
Friday’s: nothing
Saturday’s: ballet 8-9:50, improv 10-11:50

Ask this question in the Dance Major’s forum: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/dance-major/

Seems like 9:35 to 2:20 straight dancing with no time for lunch would not be good to me!

Yeah, I echo @bopper - you need to eat (and have time to digest) or you will be out of gas by the time modern rolls around. Also, will you have to do any practice/rehearsals outside of the class times? If so, you have to consider dance classes like regular classes that require “study” time. You have a lot of gaps in your days - Monday/Wednesday/Friday, so I don’t think it’s as horrendous as people imagine.

Thanks, I don’t even think I was aware of a dance major forum on here but I will go ahead and ask this question there as well. And I was concerned about dancing for like 5 hours straight as well, although I do know it won’t be anywhere NEAR as rigorous as 5 hours worth of studio dance (dear lord I would really be passing out from that) since these college dance classes are open to anyone, including middle aged adults that have never danced before…but still, I’m sure 5 hours is still going to be tough. Bleh. Maybe I can get away with dropping one class. After all, I do have an extra semester at community college since I did not place high enough to get into college level algebra right away.

That’s not typical for my university.

Are you taking the level 1 technique courses? I would not underestimate the rigorousness of the technique classes. I’m a dance minor, and at my University, dance classes are open to anyone, provided they have the prerequisite (which for advanced technique classes is just previous intermediate experience-not a course at the university requirement). That hasn’t made the courses any easier or less rigorous for me. I’ve taken all three levels of technique classes at my U (Modern I, Jazz II, Advanced Ballet, Advanced Jazz, etc), and I worked just as hard in the Modern I class (filled with student athletes and people seeking gen ed credit) as I did in the Advanced Ballet (level III) class that was primarily majors.

The other thing take into account is what kind of work you have to do outside of class. A my university, students in technique classes have to attend performances and write critiques, write reading reflections, do a research paper, etc. So it takes more time than people would think.

If these are more recreational dance classes, why are you taking them? Are they going to be quality training for becoming a dance major? You may want to continue studio training and do less for CC credit.

Have you talked to the dance faculty about the best way to reach your goals?

I would talk to an adviser at San Diego Mesa about what courses you should take and if this is too much.

If you talk to a general academic advisor, they may not know much about the dance world.

@AroundHere these are not just recreational classes, they are apart of the dance major program, however they are still open for everyone to take because I guess that’s just how community colleges operate. Everyone expects this to operate the same way as a university and I don’t believe it does…that’s why I’m not going to risk being bored out of my mind in level 1 classes haha. I’m signing up for all level 2 classes (except tap because I’ve never really taken tap before) and if they’re too hard, which I doubt, I can always go down a level. And yes basics are always good, but not when you aren’t improving and advancing ya know. That’s my take on it haha.

And yes that’s another problem, I have spoken many times to counselors. However, they don’t know a single thing about the dance department. I’ve spoken over the phone with Mesa’s head dance dept person, and she couldn’t really plan my whole schedule out with me over the phone, but she did tell me I am allowed to sign up for level 2 classes instead of level 1, so at least that’s one question answered haha. However, I should’ve maybe asked about the course load and how most universities I’ve looked at expect 16-18 units a semester. That’s what I’ve seen be common for Chapman, UCI, and WTAMU. But regular academic counselors have literally told me “oh, just pick the courses you think would work best :)))” yeah, could’ve figured that out all on my own…lol!

What do your target schools suggest as recommended preparation for transfer students? Perhaps you could approach this from the other direction?

Other than that, go to the first week of classes and talk to your dance professors about course load and how to prepare for transfer.

That’s actually a normal course load for Dance majors, from what I’ve seen. Ailey/Fordham BFA Dance majors take between 18 and 22 credits per semester. Typically 3-4 Dance classes and 3-4 academic. It sounds like a lot, but dancers are organized people, they can handle it.