Texas Woman's University

What you'll study

Coursework and creative practice focus on devising, performing and presenting dance across contexts. The programme emphasizes critical engagement with the creative process and experimentation with varied dance practices. TWU Dance explicitly includes exposure to Africanist and Latinx fusion, ballet, release techniques, hip hop, jazz, ballet folklorico, contact improvisation, Argentine tango and community outreach programming. Performance formats range from proscenium and black box productions to gallery installations, informal showcases and community choreography projects.

Entry requirements

Applicants must submit a completed online graduate application and required supporting materials. Specific MFA-in-Dance application requirements include:

• Resume detailing dance, educational and artistic experience.
• Statement of purpose (300–500 words) describing professional goals, relevant background and why TWU’s MFA is essential to those goals.
• Writing sample such as a dance-theory paper, workshop description or promotional materials.
• Video portfolio with performance and choreography excerpts plus at least one full-length work choreographed by the applicant (YouTube, Vimeo or website links; include passwords if needed).
• Contact information for three referees to provide letters of recommendation.
• Participation in an interview and a dance audition (face-to-face auditions are scheduled; alternate in-person or virtual dates may be available for qualified applicants).

Admissions notes from the programme: priority consideration requires application by December 15 with face-to-face auditions on January 22–23, 2026. International applicants are advised to submit graduate application materials six to eight months before deadlines and must provide a NACES- or AICE-member evaluation for transcripts. Applicants seeking graduate assistantships should review the Dance Division assistantship information and submit requested materials to the Head of the Dance Division.

Career prospects

As a terminal degree, the MFA in Dance prepares graduates for employment across higher education, arts leadership and administration, choreographing and performing, and initiatives that build dance communities.

Scholarships & funding angle

TWU Dance advertises exceptional paid graduate assistantships in areas such as in-person and online teaching, digital media, recruitment, production and marketing. Prospective students are directed to the university’s graduate assistantship and scholarship webpages for general financial-aid and fee-waiver information; applicants must meet general criteria for graduate assistant appointment and follow programme instructions when applying for assistant positions.