Dance, BFA

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Studying dance at ASU is the opportunity to deepen your knowledge of dance and expand your ideas about what dance can do in the world. This program encourages development of the multiple skills you need for success as a dance artist.

The School of Music, Dance and Theatre provides an inclusive, dynamic and culturally diverse learning environment in which students develop as creative artists, scholars and educators. The BFA program in dance offers an engaging curriculum that emphasizes collaboration and a holistic approach to movement and education. The program encourages artists of the 21st century to develop multiple skills for success in the arts and its related fields.

The core values of the program include creativity, inquiry and humanity. To bridge knowledge and community and to gain understanding of dance as inquiry, these values are embedded in a broad range of academic experiences and exploratory processes. The dance program includes coursework in 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; movement practices (the study of the theory, history and technique of a range of dance forms and mind-body practices, including Afro-Latin movement, contemporary ballet, Hip Hop practices, postmodern contemporary dance and somatic practices); and seminars.

At A Glance

Dance, BFA

Required Courses

A major map outlines a major's critical requirements, courses, and optimal course sequence and aids students in remaining on track to graduation.

While circumstances vary between students and their paths towards graduation (utilizing placement testing to fulfill required math or foreign language courses, fulfilling multiple General Studies requirements with one course, etc.), completing the courses listed in a major map fulfills all of the requirements for graduation.

Application requirements

All students are required to meet general university admission requirements:

Affording college

Scholarships
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Financial Aid
ASU has many financial aid options. Almost everyone, regardless of income, can qualify for some form of financial aid. In fact, more than 70 percent of all ASU students receive some form of financial assistance every year.

Admission requirements

Admission to the BFA in dance is selective and based on an interview process. Students are admitted to ASU as dance interview students and must successfully complete an interview and audition before enrolling in the dance major. If a student passes the interview, 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 not selected as a dance major or misses the interview application deadline, the student enters ASU as a dance interview student and will need to successfully pass the dance interview and audition milestone in the first semester in order to gain admission into the program.

Interview days 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 interview day during the semester prior to their intended date of enrollment. More information on the interview process and deadlines can be found at https://musicdancetheatre.asu.edu/degree-programs/dance/undergraduate.

Application Deadlines: Students should visit https://musicdancetheatre.asu.edu/admissions/dance/undergraduate-steps-to-apply for more details on Dance Interview Day requirements and deadlines.

Career outlook

The comprehensive academic foundation of the Bachelor of Fine Arts program in dance prepares students to be leading dance professionals of the 21st century. 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 like:

  • 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, 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

Example careers

Students who complete this degree program may be prepared for the following careers. Advanced degrees or certifications may be required for academic or clinical positions. Career examples include but are not limited to:


Career*growth*median salary
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary 12%$66,930
Choreographers2.8%$48,420
Coaches and Scouts 12.9%$32,270
Dancers4.6%*
Education Teachers, Postsecondary 10.3%$64,020
Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors 10.1%$39,210
Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary 9.7%$60,150
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education7.5%$59,170
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education7.5%$57,720

* 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 Outlook
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