Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree
Dance
Our dance degree combines first-rate artistic training with performing experience, professional mentorship, and practical career preparation.
Oakland University’s Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance provides exceptional training for careers in dance. Known for its high-profile faculty and successful alumni, our college dance program offers unique opportunities to refine your talent and showcase your artistry. You’ll learn from active performers with Oakland’s two resident dance companies, developing professional polish and maturity that help you stand out in a competitive field. Our dance degree also provides you with a strong academic background that qualifies you for various types of dance careers. You’ll graduate with superior studio training, extensive stage experience, and a dance degree that’s widely respected.
Oakland University’s Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance provides exceptional training for careers in dance. Known for its high-profile faculty and successful alumni, our college dance program offers unique opportunities to refine your talent and showcase your artistry. You’ll learn from active performers with Oakland’s two resident dance companies, developing professional polish and maturity that help you stand out in a competitive field. Our dance degree also provides you with a strong academic background that qualifies you for various types of dance careers. You’ll graduate with superior studio training, extensive stage experience, and a dance degree that’s widely respected.
Bachelor’s Degree in Dance: The Oakland University Advantage
With two professional dance companies in residence, Oakland’s dance degree offers unusually robust apprenticeship opportunities. You’ll train and perform alongside seasoned dancers from Eisenhower Dance Detroit and Take Root, acquiring a level of mentorship that few college dance programs can offer.
In addition, our bachelor’s degree in dance stands out for its:
- Individual instruction. Our dance program is intimate and tight-knit. You’ll enjoy one-on-one interaction with instructors who help you build on your personal strengths, encourage you to take risks, and empower you to maximize your gifts.
- Real-world opportunities. In addition to training with Oakland’s two in-residence dance companies, you’ll have the chance to learn and perform in the cradle of modern dance: Berlin, Germany. This exceptional study abroad experience broadens your understanding of dance history and evolution, while adding depth to your resume.
- Track record of success. Graduates of Oakland’s dance degree have a long tradition of high-achieving alumni. Our alumni routinely go on to professional success in performance, choreography, criticism, scholarship, and other careers in dance.
- Highly qualified faculty. You’ll learn from (and perform with) professionals who possess a wealth of firsthand knowledge. Our dance faculty offer far more than technical training, teaching you the commitment, habits, and practical skills necessary to sustain a successful career in dance.
- Supportive culture. Oakland’s dance degree is built on a culture of collaboration, not competition. We promote a family-like atmosphere of mutual support and encouragement, celebrating the triumphs of every student and welcoming individuals from diverse populations.
What Can You Do With a Degree in Dance?
Oakland University’s dance degree offers practical training for a wide variety of careers in dance. Our graduates have a strong track record of success in various dance-related professions, including:
- Dance performance
- Choreography
- Dance instruction
- Dance criticism / writing
- Arts administration
- Dance studio ownership
- Research and scholarship
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance: What You’ll Learn
Admission to Oakland University’s Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance requires an entrance audition for incoming freshmen, and a major-standing audition midway through the program.
Dance majors complete four full years (eight semesters) of training in both ballet and modern dance. You’ll also take more than a dozen required courses and performance units, in subjects such as:
- Dance History
- Improvisation
- Choreography
- Kinesiology for the Dancer
- Creative Dance for Children
- Contemporary Dance
- Dance Production
- Acting for Non-Theatre Majors
The dance degree concludes with lab courses and apprenticeships with Oakland’s student dance companies or professional in-residence dance organizations.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Program Resources
- Major requirements
- Minor requirements
- School of Music, Theatre and Dance
- College of Arts and Sciences
Programs Related to the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance
Not sure if the dance degree is right for you? Check out these other undergraduate degree programs at Oakland, and contact our admissions team to discuss your options.
- Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Education and Performance
- Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre
- Liberal Arts Minor in Dance