Inspire, connect, and empower the future through dance.
Dance at the University of Utah has a rich history and ongoing legacy.
One of the first US universities to offer degrees in dance (ballet and modern dance), the U has one of the largest and longest-standing dance programs in the country. We have evolved into a vibrant, innovative, and forward-thinking School of Dance accredited by the National Associate of Schools of Dance and celebrate nine decades of successful alumni.
We are an incubator for dance education and artistic exploration. Our renowned faculty connect individually with students, nurturing young artists and cultivating an environment that fosters personal and artistic growth. We offer unique and plentiful performance opportunities, a range of scholarly and creative inquiry, rigorous and challenging coursework, and interdisciplinary explorations.
Our curriculum is unparalleled in its breadth and depth, offering coursework in various dance techniques, choreography, Screendance, music, anatomy, pedagogy, history, and dance studies. Comprehensive programs of study maintain a balanced emphasis on both performance and scholarship in a safe professional and inclusive atmosphere.
Admission is competitive, and our student body is comprised of approximately 200 undergraduates and 15 graduate students seeking professional quality dance training and meaningful educational experiences.
Mission Statement
The mission of the University of Utah's School of Dance is to contribute to the growth of the discipline of dance through research, teaching, and service of the highest caliber. The School's dedication to promoting student and faculty growth as professional dance artists, critical thinkers, and community members propels the School towards excellence, creativity, collaboration, and innovation.
Values
1) Faculty and students are expected to maintain the highest standards of creative work, scholarship, pedagogic practice, and service.
2) Research is seen as fundamental to student learning and to the bridging of academia to the professional world.
3) The highest professional commitment is required from both faculty and students, with substantive School investment in recruitment, hiring, and retention.
4) Diversity is seen as integral to student learning, and therefore diversity is embraced and celebrated.
5) Creative and intellectual integrity is required; professional discipline is expected.
6) The School is committed to the profession through generating new knowledge; conducting, presenting, and documenting creative and scholarly research; and/or preserving historical traditions.
A sense of place
Housed in the Alice Sheets Marriott Center for Dance (MCD), the School of Dance boasts beautiful facilities designed specifically for the needs of dance. The professionally equipped Hayes Christensen Theatre seats 333 patrons, and our six expansive studios create the perfect place for aspiring dance artists to hone their craft. MCD also includes two smaller studios, a physical therapy room, a Pilates studio with reformers, a student lounge, and spacious dressing rooms.
The School of Dance is one of five units in the College of Fine Arts, including Art & Art History, Film & Media Arts, Music, and Theatre. The University of Utah is located in the Wasatch foothills, overlooking Salt Lake City, the Great Salt Lake, and the Great Basin’s west desert.
State of the Arts
Artists Are…
A video series from the University of Utah highlighting the impacts and contributions artists make to the world using the voices of some of our friends in and out of the arts.
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