Dance and Choreography

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and Choreography with a concentration in performance/Richmond Ballet is a pre-professional program that fully prepares you for a career in the field of dance. This unique program bridges trainee experience with the Richmond Ballet professional company and rigorous, pre-professional training with a focus in modern/contemporary dance and a strong ballet curriculum at VCUarts.

Your teachers will include experienced dance artists and educators, and you’ll meet and study with performers and choreographers from across the country and around the world. You’ll train in modern and contemporary dance forms and you’ll take creative courses including improvisation, composition and choreography.

The curriculum includes courses in dance history, music, anatomy, dance science and teaching methods. Electives offered in the program include West African dance, jazz, tap, hip-hop, contact improvisation, video choreography, business of dance and children’s pedagogy.

The Department of Dance and Choreography also offers a traditional BFA program, separate from the partnership with Richmond Ballet.

Some classes you might take in this major:

• Dance Criticism
• Video/Choreography Workshop
• Partnering
• Lighting Design for Dance
• African American Presence in American Dance

Our alumni are:

• Choreographers and performers
• Dance physical therapists
• Artistic directors of dance companies
• Videographers in screendance and performance documentation
• Arts administrators and advocates