UNC Charlotte Department of Dance
In the Department of Dance at UNC Charlotte, students find rigorous dance training and academic preparation and the flexibility and support needed to pursue individual interests and career paths. UNC Charlotte faculty are diverse in their perspectives and training and innovative leaders in performance, choreography, dance scholarship, and teacher training. Our professional advisors help students navigate double majors and minors. Dance study is enhanced by state-of-the-art facilities; the interdisciplinary nature of our College of the Arts + Architecture study abroad opportunities; and the activities of a vibrant campus and the bustling, arts-minded city of Charlotte.
about the Department of Dance
The Department of Dance provides exemplary, integrated dance training and academic preparation in a community that values lived experience, creative process, and performance. Through intersections of artistry, education, and inquiry, the department centers embodied practices, histories, and research to nurture and support individuals. We bring our vision to life through three main components, described below. UNC Charlotte’s Department of Dance does not require an audition for acceptance. The University of North Carolina at Charlotte is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Dance.
YOUR COMMUNITY
The Department of Dance is a diverse community where students access many different dance styles. We focus on modern and contemporary dance, classical and contemporary ballet, and dance forms of African and the African diaspora.
The Department of Dance is part of the College of Arts +Architecture. Unique in North Carolina, the College includes the School of Architecture and departments of Art and Art History, Music, Theatre, and Dance. This provides our students with interdisciplinary opportunities in an exciting environment. CoA+A students may attend concerts and events across the College and visit uptown art galleries for free.
Charlotte is home to resident professional dance companies and to major theaters offering performances by touring companies. Dance students benefit through masterclasses, like with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and by seeing multiple concerts per year.
YOUR ARTISTRY
All students in the Department of Dance may audition to perform in two fully produced concerts a year choreographed by faculty and guest artists. Students also choreograph and perform their own works in the department-produced Under Construction concert and as part of student groups, Range of Motion Dance Ensemble and MOVE Dance Alliance.
Our students have been lucky to work as part of National Endowment for the Arts-funded faculty research projects and with guest artists, including Lauren Anderson, Nejla Yatkin, Ananya Chatterjea, Claudia Lavista, Netta Yerushalmy, Melanie Person, Trebien Pollard, Janet Schroeder, and Robert Green (coming in fall 2024).
YOUR DEGREE
The Department of Dance provides exemplary liberal arts educations for students who desire professional and personal engagement with dance. We offer BA degree plans for majors interested in Dance Performance, Choreography, and Theory, Applied Dance, or Dance Education, and an Applied Dance degree that supports double majors. Our Advanced Dance Studies Certificate is designed for students who want to create a senior project. In partnership with professional dance companies, the Department offers a Professional Training Certificate in Dance with the Charlotte Ballet and an internship program with Baran Dance. Our Musical Theatre Certificate offers interdisciplinary training for students interested in that field.
Programs
B.A. in Dance
Performance, Choreography & Theory Concentration
B.A. in Dance
Applied Dance Concentration
B.A. in Dance
Dance Education Concentration
Minor in Dance
Dance Minor
Professional Training Certificate with Charlotte Ballet
Undergraduate Certificate
Certificate in Advanced Dance Studies
Undergraduate Certificate
Certificate in Musical Theatre
Undergraduate Certificate
upcoming events
Hear from current students
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