Program Overview
The dance degree at the University of Kansas is a professional-track degree designed for students who are serious about performing. Where the B.A. in Dance pairs technical training with a broad liberal arts education, the B.F.A. focuses intensively on technique, choreography, and performance — building the skills and experience needed to enter a career in professional dance.
Dance degree students receive integrated training across multiple genres, including ballet, contemporary modern, jazz, tap, hip-hop, flamenco, and musical theatre dance. Rather than specializing in a single style, students at KU are trained to move fluidly across forms — a deliberate approach that prepares graduates to work in the varied landscape of professional performance. Studio training is supported by coursework in choreography, dance history and theory, dance science, and pedagogy, giving students both the physical and intellectual tools to sustain a career.
Performance is central to the bachelor degree in dance experience. Students audition each season for the University Dance Company and may also perform in University Theatre musical productions and Senior Showcases. Because KU Dance is an undergraduate-only program, students have the opportunity to take on principal roles from the moment they arrive — experience that is rare at the university level and invaluable for professional preparation.
Performance and creative practice play a central role in the dance degree experience. Students regularly participate in departmental concerts, student choreography showcases, and collaborative productions with other performing arts disciplines. These opportunities help students develop stage presence, rehearsal discipline, and professional performance skills. Through these experiences, a dance major gains practical experience presenting work in front of live audiences.
Creative exploration is also an essential component of the degree in dance. Students learn choreographic methods and creative processes that allow them to generate original movement works. Choreography courses guide students in experimenting with movement ideas, composition techniques, and collaborative creative strategies. By the time they complete the bachelor degree in dance, students often have experience both performing in and creating dance works.
KU Dance is an undergraduate-only program, which means students are not competing with graduate students for roles. From the first semester, undergraduate dancers audition for and are cast in principal roles in University Dance Company concerts — a level of performance access that sets KU apart from programs where undergraduates are typically relegated to the ensemble while graduate students take the lead.
For students who plan to build careers in dance education, the B.F.A. includes required coursework in pedagogy and the opportunity to pursue a field experience in dance teaching. The department provides individualized advising and assists students in securing internships at teaching studios and educational institutions.
Learn more about KU
Undergraduate
For more information about the program, visit the program page below.
Dance, BA/BFAKU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
The Bachelor’s in Dance is part of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, home to a collaborative and creative community making the world better through inquiry and research.Bachelor’s in Dance Learning Outcomes
Students completing the dance degree will develop knowledge, skills, and creative abilities that prepare them for artistic practice and continued study. Graduates of the dance major will be able to:
- Demonstrate advanced technical proficiency across multiple dance disciplines through performance, studio practice, and embodied research.
- Apply choreographic principles and creative processes to the creation and interpretation of original dance works, engaging a range of production models and collaborative approaches.
- Analyze dance within its historical and cultural lineages, examining how movement shapes and reflects societal values, using methodologies in critical dance studies.
- Apply knowledge of human kinesiology, somatic practices, and dance science principles to support sustainable performance, teaching, and artistic practice.
- Demonstrate effective teaching and rehearsal practices through coursework in pedagogy and applied field experience.
- Synthesize technical, creative, and scholarly training through the completion of a senior project in performance and/or choreography.
Additionally, through the Hamburg and Peterson Guest Artist Programs, B.F.A. students have the opportunity to train and perform with professional choreographers from the field. Guest artists spend approximately two weeks in intensive rehearsal with students, setting original work on the University Dance Company. These collaborations offer direct exposure to professional rehearsal processes and have led to career opportunities for KU graduates. Additionally, companies appearing at the Lied Center of Kansas frequently offer master classes for KU dance students during their tours.
What Careers are Possible with a Bachelor’s in Dance?
Graduates with a dance degree develop artistic, creative, and collaborative skills that support a wide range of career paths. Many students pursue careers in the performing arts, while others apply their training in education, arts management, and creative industries.
Career paths for graduates with a degree in dance may include:
- Professional dancer or performer
- Choreographer
- Dance educator/studio owner
- Arts administrator
- Community arts program coordinator
- Dance researcher or historian
- Arts marketing or communications professional
- Production or rehearsal assistant
Labor market insights from Lightcast show that graduates with creative arts training often develop transferable skills valued across many industries. Students completing a bachelor degree in dance gain experience in collaboration, communication, and creative problem solving that can apply to diverse professional settings.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition rates for the dance degree vary based on residency status and enrollment pathway. The University of Kansas offers scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study opportunities to support students financially. For more information, visit KU Financial Aid.Admission Requirements
All students interested in the dance degree program must meet the standard University of Kansas admission requirements for incoming freshman and transfer students. This includes:
Freshman
- 3.25 high school GPA OR 2.0 GPA and 21+ ACT
Transfer
- Assured admission with 24+ transferrable credit hours with a 2.5+ GPA from a regionally accredited higher education institution.
No audition is required for admission to the B.F.A. in Dance. Students may declare the dance major when they apply to KU or upon enrolling. Once in the program, students are assessed at the end of their second year through the Sophomore Review — a formal evaluation of their technical development, artistic growth, and academic progress. Students who are in good standing following the review continue in the B.F.A. program. Students who transfer into the program after the sophomore year are evaluated at the end of their first year of attendance.
For detailed admission requirements, visit KU Admissions.
Student Life and Learning Experiences
Students pursuing a dance degree participate in a vibrant artistic community that emphasizes collaboration, creativity, and performance. Studio classes, rehearsals, and performances form the core of the student experience within the dance major.
Performance opportunities are an important part of earning a degree in dance. Students may perform in faculty choreography showcases, student choreographer concerts, and interdisciplinary productions involving other performing arts programs. These experiences allow students to apply their training in real-world performance settings.
B.F.A. majors are required to complete four semesters with the University Dance Company (UDC), KU’s primary performance ensemble. Each season, students audition and are cast by professional and faculty choreographers for concerts presented to public audiences. UDC auditions are open to students of all majors, but for B.F.A. students, participation is a degree requirement — ensuring that every graduate has substantial, structured performance experience before they leave campus.
Bachelor’s in Dance Sample Courses
Course offerings within the dance degree combine studio practice with academic study. Students pursuing a dance major may take courses such as:
- Modern Contemporary
- Ballet
- Anatomy and Injury Prevention
- Somatics & Conditioning
- Hip Hop Fundamentals
- Choreography
- Rhythms and Structures of Music
- Senior Project
These courses help students develop technical skill, creative ability, and scholarly understanding while completing a degree in dance. For a comprehensive list of courses and detailed descriptions, please review the KU Catalog.
Bachelor’s in Dance Frequently Asked Questions
When should I apply?
Applications are open and accepted on a rolling basis.
How long will it take to complete the degree?
Students typically complete this degree in four years.