The Bachelor's in Dance at CUNY provides intensive technical training, creative choreography practice and liberal‑arts study for students aiming to perform, create or teach professionally. It suits technically committed dancers who want conservatory‑level studio work integrated with academic courses and the cultural resources of New York City.
This programme combines rigorous studio technique with choreography, performance practice and contextual studies. Core studio modules typically include ballet, modern/contemporary technique, jazz/versatile movement, improvisation, contact work and partnering, and repertory rehearsals. Creative studies cover choreography and composition, production and rehearsal methodology, and collaborative creation with musicians, designers and filmmakers.
Academic and theoretical components commonly include dance history and criticism, anatomy and kinesiology for dancers, pedagogy and teaching methods, somatics and injury prevention, and courses in music theory or theatre for interdisciplinary breadth. Students usually complete performance opportunities each year and a sustained senior project or solo/ensemble thesis recital in the final year.
Applicants are normally expected to hold a recognised secondary school completion credential and submit academic transcripts. Admission to a dance bachelor's often requires an audition (live or video) demonstrating technical competency, musicality and performance quality. Some campuses also request a written statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, and a résumé of dance training and performance experience.
International applicants must meet the university's language proficiency requirements. Mature or non‑traditional applicants with substantial training or professional experience may be considered through the department's alternative admission pathways.
Graduates go on to careers as performers with contemporary companies, ballet ensembles, commercial and Broadway productions, or as independent artists. Many become choreographers creating work for stage, film and events. Additional career paths include dance teaching in schools and private studios, community arts programming, rehearsal direction and répétiteur work, and roles in production, stage management and arts administration.
Alumni also pursue postgraduate study in performance, choreography, physical therapy, dance science or arts management, or build freelance portfolios combining performance with teaching, choreography commissions, and digital or site‑specific projects.
Studying dance within the CUNY system places you in one of the world's leading performing‑arts cities. Students benefit from faculty who are active professionals in the New York dance scene, frequent class visitations from guest artists, and access to performance opportunities across campus venues and the wider city.
CUNY programmes balance conservatory‑style training with a liberal arts education and offer cross‑disciplinary links to theatre, music, film and academic departments. As a public university system, CUNY provides an affordable route to professional training and a diverse peer community, with pathways to internships, networking and collaborative projects throughout New York's cultural sector.
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