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Dance ,BFA

Dance, BFA


Choreographer, Choreography, Dance Teacher, Dancer, Performance, artistic, arts

Hone your abilities as a dancer and broaden your perspective on dance, who can dance, why it's important and the impact it has on the world. This program encourages the development of a broad range of skills necessary for success as a dance artist.

Program description

The School of Music, Dance and Theatre provides an inclusive, dynamic and culturally diverse environment where students can grow as creative artists, scholars and educators. The BFA program in dance emphasizes collaboration and a holistic approach to movement and education where students develop versatile skills that lead to success in the arts and other related fields.

The core values of the program are creativity, inquiry and humanity. These values are interwoven into a wide range of academic experiences and exploratory processes, allowing students to gain a deep understanding of dance as inquiry and to bridge knowledge and community. The dance program includes technique instruction in a range of forms, including Afro-Latin, contemporary ballet, hip hop, contemporary modern and somatic practices. Students also study creative practices (the study of the creative process and dance-making using improvisation, choreography and interdisciplinary approaches); dance and digital arts; dance history, ethnography and philosophy; and movement practices (the study of the theory, history and technique of a range of dance forms and mind--body practices).

At a glance
  • Second language requirement: No
  • First required math course: Any math course that meets the MA designation.
  • Math intensity: Generalprogram math intensity general

Required courses (Major Map)
Concurrent program options
Students pursuing concurrent degrees (also known as a “double major”) earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. Working with their academic advisors, students can create their own concurrent degree combination. Some combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum.
Admission requirements

General university admission requirements:

All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
First-year | Transfer | International | Readmission

Additional requirements:

Admission to this program is inclusive and based on a submission packet and admission day festival process. Students are admitted to ASU as dance interview students and must successfully complete a submission packet and attend an admission day festival before enrolling in the dance major. If a student successfully completes this process, the School of Music, Dance and Theatre will change the student's major to the BFA in dance. In the event the student is admitted to ASU but does not submit a packet for the dance major or misses the admissions day festival deadline, the student enters ASU as a dance interview student and must successfully complete the dance submission packet and attend the admission day festival milestone in the first semester in order to enroll in the major.

Admission day festivals take place in November and February of each year. To ensure a smooth curricular progression, all prospective dance students, including transfer students, are strongly encouraged to participate in the admission day festival during the semester prior to their intended date of enrollment.

Submission packet deadlines: Students should review the Dance admission requirements and deadlines for more details.

Transfer admission requirements:

Direct transfer of courses from other accredited institutions to the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts is subject to the existence of parallel and equal courses in the college's curriculum and to departmental or school evaluation of studio courses with respect to performance standards.

Every candidate for the bachelor's degree must earn a minimum of 30 hours in resident credit at ASU. Transfer students enrolled in the institute must complete a minimum of 15 hours of resident credit in the major as approved by the faculty.

Application deadlines: Students should review the Dance admission requirements and deadlines for more details.

Tuition information
When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.
Change of Major requirements

An ASU student who would like to change majors to one offered by the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 (scale is 4.00 = "A").

A separate dance packet is required, as well as attendance at a dance festival day, before a student can change their major.

Students should visit the Change of Major form for information about how to change a major to this program.

Transfer options

ASU is committed to helping students thrive by offering tools that allow personalization of the transfer path to ASU. Students may use MyPath2ASU® to outline a list of recommended courses to take prior to transfer.

ASU has transfer partnerships in Arizona and across the country to create a simplified transfer experience for students. These pathway programs include exclusive benefits, tools and resources, and they help students save time and money in their college journey.

Program learning outcomes

Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program has the following program outcomes:

  • Apply creative perspectives and skills in their art-making that reflect broad understandings of current dance and digital media practices.
  • Implement culturally sensitive, moral, and socially grounded teaching, facilitation and community building practices.
  • Apply knowledge of the diversity and significance of past and current dance practices, traditions and trends as they are situated within human cultures to the creation and assessment of new work.
Global opportunities
Global experience

Dance transcends language, so students can explore their art in various countries, no matter the language. When studying abroad, students expand their view of dance through an international lens while exploring various dance forms at their origins.

Career opportunities

The comprehensive academic foundation of the Bachelor of Fine Arts program in dance prepares students to be leading dance professionals. Graduates of the program have the expertise to pursue professions as choreographers, performers, educators, community artists, scholars and much more. After leaving ASU, many graduates participate in activities such as:

  • conducting academic research
  • curating or producing dance festivals and events
  • directing or managing performing art companies, studios or dance-related organizations
  • facilitating community partnerships and projects
  • producing dance media for performance or instruction
  • pursuing certification in somatic practices (Laban movement analysis, Feldenkrais Method, Alexander Technique, body--mind centering, etc.)
  • teaching and designing curriculum
  • working as a dance critic
  • working in technical theatre and dance production
  • working in the areas of health and wellness (fitness, yoga, massage therapy, etc.)
  • working in the field of arts management and administration
  • writing for scholarly publications

Career example titles and salaries listed below are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience, geographical location, and required advanced degrees or certifications may affect pay scales.


Career *Growth *Median salary
3.2%
$77,280
5.0%
$50,990
Coach   Bright Outlook
9.2%
$44,890
Dancer   Bright Outlook
5.3%
Not available
3.7%
$66,930
13.7%
$45,380
3.3%
$72,650
1.0%
$62,360
0.8%
$61,810
* Data obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).

Bright OutlookBright Outlook

Contact information
What are accelerated programs?
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.

3 year programs

These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.

Accelerated master's

These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).

Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
What are concurrent programs?
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
What are joint programs?
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.

What constitutes a new program?
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the “New Programs” option.
What are online programs?
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
What is the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)?
The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) is a program in which residents of western states (other than Arizona) may be eligible for reduced nonresident tuition. See more information and eligibility requirements on the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program.

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