Steinhardt Partners with American Ballet Theatre to Offer New Master’s Degree

By Timothy Farrell

American Ballet Theatre (ABT) and NYU have entered into a partnership to offer the first-ever Master of Arts in Dance Education, with a concentration in ballet pedagogy. This groundbreaking degree is offered through the Dance Education Program at the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, through its Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions. The new program can be completed in three semesters of full-time study. The program will welcome its first class in fall 2008.

The NYU/ABT collaboration is a 36-point master’s degree program that prepares dance teachers for studios, conservatories, and company schools as well as for further doctoral study in dance education and teaching in higher education. Students in the program will examine the study of ballet technique for the express purpose of developing research-informed and proficient teachers who possess a complete understanding of the use of the biomechanics of movement, artistic imagery, and the development of students on professional and recreational tracks of study. Integrated fieldwork studies will give students the opportunity to cultivate professional networks in the dance capital of the world, while visiting exemplary artistic, teaching, and learning venues in New York City.

Unique courses in the curriculum include Methods & Materials for Teaching Dance, Teaching Performance and Composition, Ballet Fieldwork and Analysis, Creative Movement for the Studio School, Dancing Jazz Through History, Dance Education Research, Principles and Processes of Dance Administration, and Teaching Apprenticeship. Students can also select from a diverse selection of courses such as African Dance, Dance for the Special Child, and Hip-Hop. Culminating projects for the degree include the development of a unique syllabus with a related research project and business plan tailored to individual teaching contexts.

ABT faculty for the program include Franco De Vita, principal of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre, Kirk Peterson, artistic director of the ABT Studio Company; and Raymond Lukens, a faculty member at ABT’s JKO School. Steinhardt dance eEducation faculty include Dr. Susan Koff, director of the dance education program, and Barbara Bashaw, associate director.

“This academic partnership between NYU Steinhardt and American Ballet Theatre is unique in the world of higher education,” said Mary Brabeck, dean of the Steinhardt School. “It is just one example of the kinds of partnerships Steinhardt is forging with cultural and educational organizations throughout New York City. This new curriculum, drawing on the expertise and talent of both ABT and NYU dance education faculty, will provide a wealth of learning opportunities for our students.”