5. Butler University
Location: Indianapolis, IN
A nationally renowned ballet program located in the heart of the midwest, Butler University offers to its students the benefit of a liberal arts education as well as an intensive dance performance education. Their strength lies within classical traditions, as they regularly host productions of many classical ballets, including The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty in recent years. They do also choreograph modern ballets as well, allowing students ample experience working with the choreography of past masters and modern greats. If you don’t believe that Butler University has graduated students to the top ranks of dance performance, think again: here is a list of the organizations and companies their graduates have become affiliated with over the years.
4. University of Arizona
Location: Tucson, AZ
An excellent contemporary dance program that turns out many fine young artists and teachers of modern traditions, University of Arizona is also known for having a strong basis in classical ballet and jazz performance. Having the edge of classical training as a contemporary dancer is only a plus, and the students of this school have benefitted from this powerful combination: their dancers have advanced to major companies throughout the entire world. In addition, their facilities are unrivaled: all dance majors are given the opportunity to perform in a 30,000 square foot theatre, known as the Stevie Eller Dance Theatre. Although this program may not be for someone who wants an education in a big city, Tucson is certainly bustling with enough culture to keep a young student entertained for a four year degree. A remarkable school that has been consistently ranked by many publications as a top ten dance school, University of Arizona should be on the top of any young dance artist’s list of applications.
3. New York University Tisch School of the Arts
Location: New York, NY
Long considered to be one of the foremost colleges for dance performance, along with the Juilliard School, NYU Tisch offers a nearly unrivaled experience as a performer on the stage of contemporary dance in New York City. Graduates of NYU Tisch have advanced to virtually every single position a modern dance artist could hope to achieve, including spots in top dance companies, professorships at top universities, and soloist honors for a variety of important productions in New York City and abroad. The location is also undeniably unbeatable, as the university is located in the premiere city for dancers.
2. Fordham University
Location: New York, NY
Located in the dance epicenter of the US, Fordham University, like the number 3 and number 1 school on this list, allows its students the benefit of networking and thriving within one of the most culturally diverse cities in the entire world. But Fordham has much more to offer than just location: it also offers a partnership with one of the premiere dance institutions in the entire nation, the Ailey School. Founded by Alvin Ailey, one of the most popular modern dance artists of all time, the Ailey School has become a legendary institution which hosts a 30-member contemporary ballet as well as students in the Fordham/Ailey program. A program designed for contemporary dance specialties, students are expected to dance 4-6 hours a day as well as stay on top of their academic studies. It is intensive, yet rewarding, to those who succeed in the program.
1. Juilliard School
Location: New York, NY
Without much question, Juilliard is, and has been for decades, the very top school for dance performance in the entire world, as well as for acting and for musical studies. The program is known throughout the industry as being the gold standard for contemporary dancing. However, the college is also strongly tied to the traditions of ballet and other forms as well – there is even a faculty member who is renowned for ballroom dancing. Whether you choose Juilliard for the prestige, the location, the opportunities, the networking, or all four of those reasons and more, you possibly cannot choose a better college for dance. That said, the acceptance rate into Juilliard is around 8%, making it the most selective school on this list.
Cover Photo by chase_elliott Via Flickr Creative Commons
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.