One of the most physically intensive majors out of any of college degree program is dance performance – likely, it is easy to understand why. Dance majors are often up as early as 5am on a daily basis, attending rehearsals, ballet class, auditions, and choreographing for the big stage for a number of campus auditions. I have myself dated a dancer before, and I can tell you that she was regularly out of the house by 6am and didn’t even get back until 9pm, with her whole day dedicated to dancing. Yikes!
There are a number of excellent colleges available to dance performance majors in the US, however, a few of them stand out among others. One strong preference for a number of aspiring professional dancers is location: if you choose to attend a dance program in NYC, you not only receive the opportunity to network with a number of the most important troupes, choreographers, and professors, but also the chance to participate in a number of activities outside of your school. Other strong considerations include whether your program of choice has a strong ballet element, a strong contemporary dance element, a strong jazz element, a strong tap element, or even all four.
Having looked at a number of critical factors, including location, strength of the department faculty (most important), what recent alumni have accomplished, and opportunities available to students in and out of the institution, we present to you our top ten schools for dance performance in the US.
2019 NOTE: A new version of the 10 best dance schools list is available on College Gazette, the #1 leading source for higher education news in the US.
10. Boston Conservatory
Location: Boston, MA
Under the direction of the esteemed dancer and pedagogue Cathy Young, who has taught classes at over 30 colleges throughout the entire US, the Boston Conservatory is among the finest schools for dance performance in the US. Equally at home in ballet, jazz, tap, modern, and ethnic dance styles, students at the Boston Conservatory are offered unparalleled opportunity to study a variety of dance methods and traditions. Additionally, the college is located in a cultural epicenter of America: from the Boston Ballet to the Luminarium Dance Company to Urbanity Dance and so many more, a number of prominent choreographers and dancers are available for career networking opportunities throughout the city outside of the conservatory.
9. Oklahoma City University School of American Dance and Arts Management
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
An excellent college that is known for having a triple strength in three prominent dance forms, ballet, tap, and jazz, Oklahoma City University’s dance program is much more than just about training dancers to be excellent purveyors of classical and traditional styles. The school places a large focus on giving its students a chance at making a successful career in the arts. One of the greatest strengths of this program is providing dance training to be successful in a musical theatre context: indeed, dozens of their alumni are currently performing regularly on Broadway to the tune of a successful, well-paid commercial careers.
8. University of North Carolina School of the Arts
Location: Winston-Salem, NC
Boasting impressive alumni who have gone onto impressive careers in dance performance, including former principal of the American Ballet Theatre Patrick Bissell, a current principal in Gillian Murphy, as well as the entrepreneurial choreographer Trey McIntyre, the North Carolina School of the Arts is one of the very best colleges for dance in America that consistently produces top alumni. The NC School of the Arts is primarily known for its classical and modern ballet programs. Located in Winston-Salem, this school is attached to the University of North Carolina, allowing students the freedom to pursue a double major with the university in conjunction with their dance degree.
7. Dominican University of California
Location: San Rafael, CA
Some dance traditionalists may see this as an odd choice for this list, however, make no mistake about it, this school is one of the top colleges for dance performance in the US. The college has a partnership with the Alonzo King LINES Ballet, one of the premiere contemporary ballet companies in the entire US. With access to all of the resources available in San Francisco, this school has become a hotspot for aspiring dancers throughout the globe, which combines the academic prestige of one of California’s oldest universities with the hands-on approach of working with a professional company. Like Fordham University’s partnership with Alvin Ailey’s School, a college that is able to provide its students professional training with a well-recognized company gives them an edge over the competition when applying for positions outside of college.
6. Southern Methodist University
Location: Dallas, TX
For unparalleled quality in instruction, look no further than Southern Methodist University’s Meadows School of the Arts. A top quality, selective college for dance performance, Southern Methodist University is a premiere college for aspiring performers throughout the globe. In addition to a strong academic program, SMU’s dance program is widely known for being excellent in ballet and jazz disciplines. Perhaps those seeking instruction in contemporary dance may not fit into this excellent school, however, for unparalleled training in traditional technique and performance, look no further than one of Texas’ finest schools for dance.
I would just like to point out that by Arizona State University you definitely mean University of Arizona. First of all everything you described is true of University of Arizona, and not of Arizona State. Stevie Eller Dance Theater belongs to University of Arizona and we consistently are ranked of the top dance university dance programs in the nation. Located in Tucson, Arizona.
You are the best! Fixed
Yay!! You’re awesome, thanks!
Also noticed the Arizona State Univ School of Music building (the birthday cake building) is shown as the cover photo for this article. From an ASU alum.
No love for Indiana University? Unless things have changed since I attended (1994-1998). It’s all good, I respect your choices. 🙂
Thank you! IU is an amazing school for dance as well, impeccable student technique + teachers. I heard they were among the most highly lauded at the National College Dance Festival
Where is Indiana University in this list!?
Really what happened to Point Park?
Why not University of Utah?
Indiana University should absolutely be listed in the top 5 of this list. IU has an astounding ballet program in the Jacobs School of Music that is extremely prestigious and very selective, much more selective than Butler University. I had only 22 other dancers in my grade. Not to mention that Violette Verdy, one of the most famous ballerinas in the 20th century, is on the faculty.
Yes, why not University of Utah?? They were in the top 5 for the past 10-15 years? Didn’t they just perform at the Amer. College Dance Festival with highest acclaim? Confused…
Does anyone know of colleges with really good jazz programs? I’m not all into ballet and don’t really look into being a ballerina, however I’m having a hard time finding commercial dance programs. I’m a junior in highschool so I need to start looking into colleges…any advice? Thanks!
The Palladino School of Dance at Dean College in Franklin, MA. Each idiom has seven levels, so you can be placed higher in jazz, lower in ballet, etc. Your schedule will fit with your comfort level & it’s a world renowned program where NYC professionals go & teach master classes. Hope that helps!
Check out Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, WA. They have a great program there, in addition to its location in one of the most progressive cities in the nation…..
Hmm this is interesting. Indiana university is world renown for being the best collegiate dance program in the U.S. And it’s not even mentioned on here? More research necessary.
I’m doing an essay on what college I want to go to. I’m not into science, english, and all that. I love dancing. I like hip-hop, reggaeton, dubstep, that kind of dancing. Do all schools teach these kinds of dancing or is there colleges that only teach these kinds of dances? Please help.
Im looking for the same thing as you, im more of a hip-hop and dubstep dancer but idk what college is right for me. I want to get into whats best for my skills.
Yay! Go Boston Ballet for making the list!
I love you list of the 10 best college for dance performance in the US because it is more than just a list. You also give their credentials and the reasons why you choose them. Thank you for this great share!
Thanks for recognizing SMU Meadows School of the Arts Division of Dance! Regarding contemporary dance, we are very much at the forefront in addition to our programs of ballet and jazz. For example, this year our students premiered an all-new version of Stravinsky’s “Firebird,” created by Claudia Lavista and Victor Manuel Ruiz, noted artistic directors of the acclaimed Delfos Danza Contemporanea in Mazatlán, Mexico. The piece is stunning in its interpretation, replacing the mercurial glowing bird of Russian folklore with a more contemporary version of Stravinsky’s masterwork, inspired by the visual aesthetics of Hieronymus Bosch and the theme of migration and refugee experience. I can cite several other examples and encourage anyone interested to contact us to find out more. Thanks!
My granddaughter auditioned but was not called back to do a solo which meant she didn’t get in! Grace is an incredible dancer & has won many national titles through her 16 years of dance so we were extremely disappointed plus her dad is SMU Alumni . I wished we could have known the reason for reference but she is not giving up! Loved SMU !
Most US dance programs at universities are contemporary dance (in the US called modern dance)
Will 2nd that Indiana is great at ballet
Still the best musical thatre jazz tap classes to be had anywhere are at Steps and Broadway Dance in NYC – and cheaper than any of these universities.
For training in hip hop, commercial dance etc, – I’d suggest looking at dance agency websites to see where the dancers and choreographers have trainined. Big agencies such as BLOC and MSA http://la.blocagency.com/
I would normally say – oh, look at the dancer’s Bio’s in Playbill – but no one seems to put their training in bio’s anymore: they thank their parents, say how thrilled they are to be employed by [name of person who hired them], and give an inspirational quote. So if you want their actual biographical information, you have to search for it.
I encourage all students looking for great colleges to attend #Dancewave’s Dancing Through College and Beyond event this weekend 10/21-22/2016 at the 92nd Street Y for a comprehensive opportunity to inform yourself about dance programs in college! Plus we are offering for the first time this year the opportunity to audition for the schools as well as the opportunity for SCHOLARSHIPS!! Here’s the info: https://www.facebook.com/events/127166657735763/
http://www.dancewave.org/DTCB
TKTS: https://www.eventsprout.com/register/dancing_through_college_and_beyond_2016
BEST OF LUCK!!
I realize this article is four years old, but it is still bouncing around the internet, so I feel compelled to point out an error in the information about the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. We are not “attached to the University of North Carolina.” We are one of 17 constituent institutions of the University of North Carolina System. We are a separate, standalone public arts conservatory. Our dancers earn a B.F.A., and there is no opportunity to double major as stated in the article.