Applicants should demonstrate:

• 3+ years of experience in the professional field of dance in performance, choreography, staging, teaching, Screendance, curation, etc.

• Proficient teaching abilities in areas that align with School of Dance undergraduate curricula and/or offer new perspectives and topics that will enrich our existing curricula. (Please ensure teaching experience is evident in the Personal Statement, CV, and video links.)

• A clear articulation of personal interests, areas of study, or creative or theoretical inquiry that could be developed into a personalized research agenda.

• A clear justification as to why pursuing a Master of Fine Arts degree is necessary to future goals.

Application Materials

1. CV or Resume

• Must include credentials in the areas of education, training, and work experience, and

• At least three references.

2. Creative work

• For candidates wishing to conduct a creative thesis, include links to full-length examples of 1-3 recent choreographic, Screendance or performance projects.

3. Teaching samples

• Ballet MFA applicants: Include 1-2 links of clear audio/visual recordings of you teaching a full-length ballet class.

• Modern Dance MFA applicants: Include 1-2 links of clear audio/visual recordings of you teaching contemporary techniques (broadly defined), improvisation, or composition classes

4. Letters of Recommendation

• Applicants must provide two letters of recommendation. Please request a letter from two professional dance references. Direct them to upload their letters of recommendation to Slate.

5. Transcripts

• Applicants must provide unofficial transcripts from all institutions of higher education you have attended.

6. Personal Statement

• Prepare a 3-4 page essay that articulates your interest in pursuing an MFA degree from the University of Utah’s School of Dance including: 1) your graduate school and post-graduation goals; 2) potential scholarly or practice-based research interests (i.e., choreography, Screendance, history, criticism and theory, interdisciplinary arts and technology, Arts-in-Health, etc.,); 3) how your professional, artistic, or personal experiences in dance have prepared you for pursuing an advanced degree.

All applicant information will be submitted through the U of U Admissions portal.

Priority U of U admissions deadline (initial review of applicants) will begin on January 4, 2026.

Select applicants may be invited to attend an on-campus interview (known as MFA Day). MFA Day offers prospective students an opportunity to observe School of Dance classes and rehearsals, tour campus and dance facilities, converse with current graduate students, and interview with the faculty. Those candidates selected to attend MFA Day will be contacted by the Director of Graduate Studies.

On-campus MFA Day for Fall 2026 admission will be held on February 20, 2026 and will include class observations, campus tours, conversations with faculty and current grads and a concert.

Tuition & Fees

The cost of graduate school is determined by the University of Utah Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid. To estimate the Cost of Attendance, see information on their website as well as the University of Utah Tuition Calculator.

Funding Opportunities

All applicants may apply to receive funding opportunities through a Teaching Assistantship.

A full-time Teaching Assistantship includes a tuition waiver (up to 15 credits per semester, not to exceed 60 total credit hours across two years), accompanying payroll stipend divided across each semester and paid according to the University payroll schedule, and eligibility for the University Graduate Student Health Insurance Program. A full-time Teaching Assistantship requires up to 20 hours of teaching-related work per week.

Candidates who wish to earn an MFA degree without the obligations of a Teaching Assistantship are also welcome to apply. Tuition costs will fall to the candidate, and health insurance benefits are not included.

Viable Applicants for TA funding:

• Demonstrate a track record of teaching classes that align with our needs in existing undergraduate curricula and/or offer new perspectives and topics that will enrich our existing curricula.

• Possess 3+ years of professional experience as performers, choreographers, stagers, and/or teachers and are familiar with the artists and practices currently shaping the field.

• Attendance at MFA Day is required for TA funding consideration unless alternative arrangements have been made.

International students must:

• Be accepted to the University. (see International Graduate Admissions)

• Meet or exceed the University TOEFL requirements - Students whose native language is not English are required to submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) as part of their application. Applications are not considered complete without the most recent test scores for Speaking. (see English Proficiency Requirements)

Additional information can be found here: https://gradschool.utah.edu/resources-hub/international-student-info.php

Successful candidates will be contacted for a virtual interview.

A Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is not required for acceptance into the Ballet MFA nor Modern Dance MFA degrees.