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Degrees

CHOOSE YOUR PATH
Choose one below for information and how to apply:
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General
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BA in Dance
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Dance Education
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BFA in Dance
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BFA in MDT
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Minors

Dance Majors & Classes


The Department of Dance has 3 majors: Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Dance, Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Dance Education K-12, and Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Dance. The Department also has a shared major: Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Music Dance Theatre. Each major has its own requisite procedure for application. Choose one above for more information and how to apply.

If you are interested in majoring in any Dance programs, please self-select your Dance major (Dance BA) or pre-major (Dance Ed and Dance BFA) in MyMAP as early as possible prior to attending BYU as a Freshman or transfer student. In addition to self-selecting the major you wish to pursue, please contact your faculty advisor from the list below:

Dance BA: Keely Song keelysong@byu.edu
Dance Education: Kori Wakamatsu kori_wakamatsu@byu.edu
Dance BFA: Ashley Parov ashley_parov@byu.edu

Which Dance Degree is the Right Fit for Me?

View this chart to see which BYU Dance degree fits best with your talents and career goals.

BA in Dance

BA Dance is the study of dance within a broad artistic, sociocultural, and scientific context. The program allows for flexibility that is tailored towards individual interests. The BA values collaboration, innovation, and entrepreneurship as skills necessary to adapt to economic realities of the 21st century. Through rigorous study integrating body, mind, and spirit, the BA at BYU prepares embodied citizens who will contribute to the solutions and enhancement of their communities.

Dance BA students will become embodied, collaborative citizens prepared to contribute creative solutions within their communities.

1. BODY, MIND, SPIRIT CONNECTION
Students will be able to express in written, movement, and oral presentation the body, mind, spirit connection through applied knowledge in dance science, somatic theory, and movement studies.
2. DANCE MAKING 
Students will be able to perform and choreograph dance works that demonstrate an awareness of historical and cultural contexts, application of the choreographic processes, and the shaping of a personal aesthetic.
3. INTERDISCIPLINARY INTEGRATION
Students will integrate their dance education with an accompanying self-selected minor or area of outside focus through thoughtful reflective practice.
4. CITIZENSHIP 
Students will be able to value and model professional and civic engagement.


The BA in Dance is an open enrollment program and students may declare the Dance BA major upon entry to the university and will be assigned a dance major advisor. A minor is required in the BA Dance Degree.


MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
VIEW COURSE CHAINS

How to Apply

The Dance BA is an open major and no application is necessary.

1

Submit an official

University Application

2

Declare Major as Dance BA in

MyMap

3

Register and Complete:


Dance 261: Freshman Seminar, Dance 241R: Contemporary Modern Dance, Dance 290R: Beginning Ballet Technique

4

Create Graduation Plan and Meet With Assigned Advisor



For more information, please contact Keely Song, Department of Dance BA coordinator, or Eliza Lyons, College of Fine Arts and Communications Advisement

Keely Song
keelysong@byu.edu

Eliza Lyons
elizaac@byu.edu
(801) 422-3777

BA in Dance Education

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The highly esteemed Dance Education K-12 (BA) program is designed to prepare students for the rigors of the teaching profession. Students earn a teaching license in secondary education and an elementary education endorsement in dance. The program offers in-depth teaching opportunities in which students are closely mentored by faculty and teaching professionals.

The Dance Education K-12 program aims to create both exceptional dance artists and distinguished teachers. Extensive coursework includes technique, choreography, performance, pedagogy, dance history, kinesiology, somatic studies, human development, music, and production.

Dance Education K-12 majors have numerous career opportunities. The degree prepares students for a variety of teaching settings including K-12 schools, private studios, and community centers. Dance Education K-12 majors also acquire many skills that easily transfer to related fields such as arts administration, educational outreach, instructional design, movement therapy, graduate studies, and higher education.

PRE-MAJOR REQUIREMENTS MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
VIEW COURSE CHAINS

Program Coordinator

How to Apply

The BA in Dance Education is a Limited Enrollment program.

1

Submit an official

University Application

2

Declare Dance BFA Pre-Major Status in

MyMap

3

Pass a Dance Ed K-12 Movement Audition

Audition includes a self-choreographed solo.

4

Pass an interview with Dance Education Faculty

5

Complete the Following Requirements:

Must meet minimum standards in GPA, Standardized Test Scores, Professionalism, and Background Check requirements*

6

Successfully complete Dance 276R

7

Complete annual major advisement and majors meeting attendance

*For more information on fingerprinting background checks and licensing, visit http://epp.byu.edu or https://education.byu.edu/advisement



For more info, please contact the Area Head, Kori Wakamatsu, or academic advisor, Eliza Lyons:

Kori Wakamatsu
koriography@byu.edu
(801) 422-5148

Eliza Lyons
elizaac@byu.edu
(801) 422-377

BFA in Dance

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance is a 4-year degree that requires participation in designated performing companies, and two professional summer intensives. It is designed specifically to prepare graduates to enter the fields of performance or choreography at a professional skill level. In accordance with the standards outlined by our accrediting agency, The National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD) the Dance BFA requires a high number of credit hours in technique, performance, and choreography in ballet and/or contemporary dance, with the option to study other dance forms as elective credits. Dance BFA students are required to complete two Capstones in dance performance and choreography.

This is a limited-enrollment program requiring that students pass an audition and receive departmental acceptance. Students are required to participate in regular proficiency assessments. The Dance BFA degree prepares students to enter the professional world as performers or choreographers, and is an excellent preparation for a performance-based graduate school experience.

PRE-MAJOR REQUIREMENTS MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
VIEW COURSE CHAINS

Program Coordinator

How to Apply

The BFA in Dance is a Limited Enrollment program.

1

Submit an official

University Application

2

Declare Dance BFA Pre-Major

and/or indicate BFA interest at a designated audition.

3

Pass a BFA Movement Audition

Audition includes a self-choreographed solo.

4

Pass an interview with BFA Faculty

5

Meet annual BFA Proficiency requirements

6

Complete annual major advisement and majors meeting attendance



For more info, please contact the program coordinators Ashley Ivory Parov — or academic advisor, Eliza Lyons:

Ashley Ivory Parov
ashley_parov@byu.edu
(801) 422-0348

Eliza Lyons
elizaac@byu.edu
(801) 422-3777

BFA in Music Dance Theatre

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The Musical Dance Theatre (MDT) program at BYU is one of the top-tier university training programs in the United States for students seeking a career in musical theatre. For over 30 years, our graduates have successfully taken their college training directly to Broadway and other prominent regional and national performance venues. This limited enrollment BFA program is unique for many reasons, but chief among them is that students are trained equally in the three essential disciplines of music, dance and theatre in an atmosphere that is spiritually and personally edifying. Here at BYU, teachers who understand the profession as experienced performers and academicians carefully and individually mentor them through their development as performing artists.

The stage is our laboratory. Each year there are significant opportunities to perform work from the existing cannon of musical theatre as well as new and experimental pieces, music videos and reviews. Recent productions include Phantom of the Opera, Light In The Piazza, and Into The Woods.

Though we appear isolated in the Rocky Mountains of Utah, our program has a unique connection to many of the finest Broadway artists of our time. Stars like Sutton Foster, Audra McDonald, Mandy Patinkin and Lea Solanga regularly come to BYU to perform and individually coach our students in special master classes. In a recent master class, Frank Wildhorn, writer of The Scarlet Pimpernel and Bonnie and Clyde, was so impressed with the talent of our MDT students that he chose BYU to stage the USA premier of his new work, Count of Monte Cristo.

The capstone experience for BYU MDT students is the Senior Showcase. The Showcase gives them the opportunity to travel to New York City and perform their chosen audition pieces for current casting directors, agents, choreographers and directors.

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

How to Apply

The Musical Dance Theatre (MDT) program is a Limited Enrollment program.

1

Submit an official

University Application

2

Complete an MDT Specific Pre-Screening

Includes an application and videos submissions. See the MDT webpage for specifics.

3

Complete Live Audition

If you are invited, following the pre screening, you will attend a live audition on BYU campus.

4

Candidates Will Be Chosen From The Live Audition

Following this you will be notified on how to proceed with registration.

Note: if you are a current BYU student and would like to declare Pre-MDT Major status in order to prepare for your audition, see the suggested course requirements here.


For more info, please contact Nathan Balser:

Nathan Balser
Nathan_balser@byu.edu
(801) 422-2563

Minors

The Department of Dance offers the opportunity to minor in Ballet, Ballroom Dance, Contemporary Dance, and Cultural Dance. In order to complete a minor in dance, students should fulfill the requirements and meet with the designated Minor Advisor as outlined on the Minor Form. Note that certain courses are required for qualification. Once everything is complete, consultation with the CFAC Dance Advisor is mandatory.


Minor Forms

Click on a form below to view the requirements for applying to the following minors:
Cultural Dance Minor
Contemporary Dance Minor
Ballroom Dance Minor
Ballet Minor


Minor Advisors

Cultural Dance Minor Advisor: Jamie Kamala Wood
Contemporary Dance Minor Advisor: Marin Roper
Ballroom Minor Advisor: Brent Keck
Ballet Minor Advisor: Hilary Wolfley