Case Western Reserve University

What you'll study

The programme balances studio practice, creative investigation and academic inquiry. Core studio work typically includes advanced technique classes, improvisation and choreographic composition, while complementary subjects explore somatic approaches, repertory and performance production. Students study dance history and theory, aesthetics of movement, and research methods appropriate to practice-led enquiry.

• Advanced technique and performance workshops (contemporary, modern and additional modalities)
• Choreography and composition: processes, score-writing and collaborative creation
• Improvisation and somatics: anatomy-informed practice and movement analysis
• Dance studies: history, criticism and cultural contexts
• Research methods for practice-based projects and creative theses
• Production, lighting and stagecraft for dance performance
• Electives and cross-disciplinary modules linking dance with fields such as psychology, digital media, public health or entrepreneurship
• Capstone creative thesis or research project culminating in a public performance and accompanying written component

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a relevant bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in dance, performing arts, choreography or a closely related discipline. Strong applicants typically demonstrate practical training and creative potential through a portfolio or video recordings of performance/choreography, and submit a statement of purpose outlining artistic aims and research interests.

• Undergraduate degree in dance or related field, or demonstrable professional experience
• Performance and/or choreography portfolio (video and documentation)
• Personal statement describing goals and proposed area of focus
• References from academic tutors or professional employers familiar with the applicant's artistic work
• Audition or interview may be required as part of the selection process

Career prospects

Graduates pursue careers as choreographers, professional performers and company members, dance educators in schools and conservatoires, and artistic directors. The programme also prepares students for roles in arts administration, community arts programming, dance-based health and wellness initiatives, and freelance project-making. For those interested in further study, the degree provides a foundation for practice-led doctorates or specialised postgraduate research.

Why study at Case Western Reserve University

Case Western Reserve offers a studio-focused curriculum embedded within a research university, enabling interdisciplinary collaboration with departments such as health sciences, engineering and the arts. Students benefit from Cleveland’s vibrant performing-arts ecosystem — including theatres, contemporary companies and partnerships with local conservatoires — for performance, internships and community engagement. Faculty combine professional artistic experience with scholarly expertise, and facilities support both creative production and academic research, giving students resources to develop rigorous, outward-facing creative work.