College Dance Options
You may have already considered whether you want to continue to pursue a professional dance career after college, however, many have not made that decision and are hoping to continue to dance while pursuing another interest.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT COLLEGES OFFER DIFFERING PATHS FOR THE PRE-PROFESSIONAL DANCER.
AREAS of STUDY
BFA - Bachelor of Fine Arts with a Concentration in Dance
The BFA provides more performance opportunities and studio time and is a good fit for a student planning on a professional dance career. The experience is more intense and does not normally allow for a second major or minor. Not a “typical” college experience, students spend about 20 hours of the school week in dance classes with evening rehearsals. Fewer general education or core curriculum courses and auditions are required.
BA - Bachelor of Arts in Dance or BS - Bachelor of Science in Dance
A BA requires fewer credit hours in dance. The BA allows students to explore the academic side of dance as well as other subjects and is a good choice for students considering studying a second academic area. Students graduating with a BA or BS degree may enter various professional fields, including arts administration, law, biology, psychology, kinesiology, teaching, and human movement. Students spend approximately 10 hours per week in dance classes. Auditions are often required for BA and BS programs.
Dance Minor
A minor in dance allows students to continue their study of the art while leaving room to focus on another academic subject. Studio time is not as rigorous as it would be for a major, so some students minoring in dance will take extra dance classes at their college or another nearby school. Deciding to minor in dance rather than major does not shut the door to a professional career post-college. It may also be possible to start as a dance minor and move into a dance major depending on program requirements.
Recreational Dance
Most colleges offer dance clubs, classes, teams, and performing arts opportunities for non-majors. Another option is to attend college in an area where you could take classes at a strong dance school. For example, if you are attending school in New York City, you could take part in the open class program at ABT or Alvin Ailey.
ONLINE READING MATERIALS
Deciding if a BA or BFA is Suitable for You
“Though both are intensive degrees that give dancers a leg up in their training, a dance BFA and BA offer different college experiences.”
Day in the Life of BA vs BFA Dancer
“To give you an idea of what a day in the life of a college dancer looks like, we spoke with a senior dance major from The Boston Conservatory—a BFA program—and a senior dance major getting a BA from Texas Woman’s University.”
Tips for College Dance Auditions
“Audition adjudicators want students to show confidence, correct themselves, and project that they will be star students. A humble attitude and sense of presence with clear transitions are encouraged.”
