Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Choreography and Performance

The BFA in Dance at UNC Greensboro is a highly intensive, pre-professional undergraduate degree designed for students aiming for careers in professional performance, choreography, or dance instruction. Dance styles taught include Contemporary, Ballet, Jazz, African, Hip-Hop, Tap, and Dance for Musical Theatre.

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance, Choreography and Performance Program Distinctions

• UNCG is the only university in the North Carolina system that offers graduate degrees in Dance, and the only program where graduate students with initial Dance K-12 teaching licensure can earn advanced dance teacher licensure. 
• School of Dance faculty, 50% of whom are faculty of color, are active professionals in the dance field. Professor Robin Gee curates the annual Greensboro Dance Film Festival and also curates national and international Dance Film festivals.  Associate Professor B.J. Sullivan is known internationally for her Safety Release Technique. Other Dance faculty bring professional experience and innovative pedagogical approaches that reflect the depth and breadth of School of Dance faculty expertise.
• Accreditations and affiliations include:
  • UNCG is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance.
  • American College Dance Association
  • National Dance Education Organization
  • N.C. National Dance Education Organization
  • Dance Studies Association
• Facilities include seven studios, a fully-equipped dance theater, a screen dance editing classroom, dressing rooms, and an interior garden courtyard reserved for dance students. 
• Live accompaniment is provided for many technique classes.

The BFA Dance Student Experience

The school produces 10–12 concerts each year with many opportunities for undergraduate dancers to perform. Typically, undergraduates showcase choreography in three to four concerts a year.

• Students have opportunities to participate in Prime Movers, a social and educational group responsible for annual concerts of student work, and other Dance student groups such as the Delta Chi Xi Honorary Dance Fraternity.
• To connect you to the profession, the schools regularly bring in guest teachers and  choreographers. Recent guests include: Camille A. Brown, Kristin Daniel, Gerri Houlihan, Juel D. Lane, Helen Simoneau, and Maleek Washington.
• An arts-based living community, “Studio 91” in Cone Residence Hall, features music, theater, and dance practice rooms; music composition computer lab; drawing lounge; and arts-related programs and events.
• Study abroad opportunities are plentiful, including several semester-long exchange programs that offer strong dance programs, such as the Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts, University of Malta, Zhejiang Conservatory in Hangzhou, China, and the University of Cape Town in South Africa. Faculty also lead short term study abroad programs in Italy and London.

How To Apply To The School of Dance

Students interested in the BA in Dance Studies complete UNCG’s undergraduate admission process and the School of Dance application/audition process.

After Graduating with Your BFA in Dance, Choreography and Performance

Students go on to successful careers in performance and choreography positions, as well as arts administration and teaching in school or community settings.

Graduates of the program have also pursued careers in lighting and costume design for dance, dance science/medicine, dance history, dance notation, graphic design for dance, dance photography, writing about dance, and dance technology.

Potential career paths for graduates include:

• Professional Dancer
• Studio Owner
• Dance Teacher
• Personal Trainer
• Choreographer
• Yoga or Pilates Instructor
• Costume or Clothing Designer
• Dance Company Administrator
• Dance Photographer/Videographer

Frequently Asked Questions about the BFA in Dance, Choreography and Performance