Undergraduate Dance
About the Dance Program
The Department of Dance at SRU promotes dance as an art form through the creative, technical, expressive, and intellectual development of each student in a personalized environment. Superior education in performance, choreography, and teaching, with additional components of wellness for dance, dance technology, and inter-cultural experience, prepares students for their chosen profession and entrepreneurial role in society. Our dance curriculum is designed for students seeking multi-layered careers as dance professionals. It provides the advanced training needed to pursue performance, choreography, technology, administrative, and teaching careers in dance and related fields. Students study contemporary dance practices in genres including modern, jazz, ballet, improvisation, partnering, Afro-Colombian and classical Indian dance. Dance majors develop advanced choreographic, leadership, pedagogy and research skills.
What Can I Do With a Dance Degree?
There are many career options open to dance majors with the most common being concert/commercial dancer, choreographer, dance studio instructor, adapted dance instructor, adjunct professor, K-12 dance teacher, manager, dance studio owner, production manager, videographer, costume designer, arts administrator or talent agent. A dance degree can also prepare for professional studies or in graduate school, leading to degrees in physical therapy/ health professions, arts administration, dance therapy, creative arts, dance science, and business administration. The professional environment of dance and the performing arts in the 21st century is continuously evolving. Students pursuing a career in dance increase their employability by understanding how teaching, performance, choreography, creativity, technology, and entrepreneurial skills function together. All of these topics are included in the robust and well-rounded dance curriculum at Slippery Rock University.
Why Choose a Dance Degree?
- International and Nationally Recognized Dance Faculty
Dance majors have many opportunities to collaborate with acclaimed dance faculty in undergraduate research and creative projects. Each student is assigned a faculty member as their adviser who mentors and guides them through their program of study. - Nationally Ranked Program and Excellent Curriculum
SRU is an accredited member of the Association of Schools of Dance. - Excellent Co-curricular Programming
Dance majors have the opportunity to participate in up to two resident dance companies that support student performance, leadership and choreography. - Networking with Dance Professionals
Dance majors have many opportunities to work with guest artists throughout the academic year to refine their performance skills and expand their professional networks. These experiences are high-impact practices. - Cultural Programming and Study Abroad Experiences
Dance majors have traveled to India, England, Ireland, France, Colombia, Malaysia, and Italy to gain international research and dance training experiences.
