The Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment is dedicated to preparing dancers to work as performers, teachers, choreographers, and arts/entertainment managers.
Students selected through the audition process enter as dance majors. They take a foundation curriculum of dance technique, arts management and production, teaching dance, choreography, dance history, music fundamentals, and general education courses in the first two years. Students are placed in one of the three dance major degree tracks (Dance Performance, Dance Teacher, or Dance Management) for their junior and senior years. Placement in the degree for which students are best matched is based on the students’ interests and faculty evaluation of their skills, knowledge, and accomplishments.
This degree is designed for first-time undergraduate students. Students who have already completed a bachelor's degree are not eligible to apply for the American Dance Teacher degree.
The American dance teacher degree with an emphasis on Dance Studio Management (a traditional first degree; residency required) is focused on developing employable dancers and teachers for the entertainment industry. The American dance teacher program has three core focuses: dance technique training, choreography & pedagogy instruction and arts management & business administration. The dance training core focuses on tap, jazz, theatre dance and ballet as used in musical theatre. The choreography and pedagogy instruction cores focus on developing the skills needed to become leaders in the dance teaching industry. The arts management and business administration cores focus on developing the knowledge and cultivating the expertise essential to managing successful arts organizations. Students develop technical and professional skills necessary to have life-long careers in show business. Equally important as educational growth, the professional development of students is central to the philosophy of the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Entertainment. Students will learn how to take responsibility of their career path through career preparation courses and co-curricular activities. In addition to dance technique classes and a strong liberal arts foundation, American dance teacher majors take courses in:
American dance teacher majors receive the most instruction in choreography and pedagogy of all three dance majors. Students will take 6 hours of choreography theory and application, and 12 hours of tap, jazz and ballet pedagogy. Choreography and pedagogy courses will focus on choreographing and teaching all ages at all levels. In addition to choreography and pedagogy courses, students will teach in the Community Dance Academy which is a learning laboratory for dance majors. Dance professors will observe students teaching throughout the semester and will give individual feedback to each student. Click here for additional information about the Community Dance Academy.
American dance teacher majors take a variety of arts management classes to equip them with a wide variety of skills that will help ensure success in any business venture. Arts management courses include:
Business administration classes provide students with a sophisticated view of management and the skills necessary for effective leadership within arts organizations. Business classes include:
Extensive performance opportunities are available through the Star Dancers, Spirit of Grace Liturgical Dancers, the Oklahoma City University Pep Dancers, the Student Choreography Show, and the Oklahoma Opera & Musical Theatre Company. Extensive teaching, managerial and performance opportunities are available through the Community Dance Academy, American Spirit Dance Company, the Student Choreography Show, the Performing Arts Ticket Office, a variety of special events, Oklahoma Opera & Musical Theater Company, Oklahoma Children's Theatre, and domestic and international performance tours.
