By David West
02/23/2018

NATCHITOCHES – A letter of intent for a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance at Northwestern State University has been approved by the State Board of Regents. The degree program is subject to further approval by the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System and the State Board of Regents.

The new program would be the only one of its kind at a public university in Louisiana, according to Director of Dance and Associate Professor of Dance Kirstin Riehl who co-authored the degree proposal with Assistant Professor of Dance Brett Garfinkel.

The university plans to produce well-rounded students who will be able to enter any area of the dance profession including performance, teaching or choreography. A BFA program contains more courses in dance than a Bachelor of Arts program.

The program would meet a need within the state for K-12 dance teachers. The state offers dance certification in grades K-12, but no public university in Louisiana currently offers a degree in dance or fully prepare K-12 students to meet the Louisiana Arts Content standards.