Ballet BFA
College of Fine Arts
Emphases: Ballet Teaching
Arts Pass
Bennion
Center
Capstones
Program
Office of
Undergraduate Research
Courses
Getting Started
- Meet with an advisor to create a course plan
- Enroll in the appropriate ballet studio courses for you
- Consider the Ballet Teaching emphasis
- Complete math & writing requirements
Making Progress
- Meet with an advisor regularly to discuss your course plan, navigate major requirements, & learn about campus resources
- Continue taking ballet technique & studio courses (meet with a CFA advisor or Ballet Program Head to discuss which courses are right for you)
- Complete ballet pedagogy, kinesiology, and partnering courses
- Generate a degree audit to track your progress on GEs & degree requirements
Finishing Up
- Complete senior capstone courses
- Finish remaining GEs & degree requirements
- Review degree audit & meet with advisor
- Apply for graduation
Community
Getting Started
- Join ArtsForce & explore SoD student organizations
- Consider applying to the Honors College
- Attend CFA's welcome event ArtsBash & use ArtsPass to access events
Making Progress
- Follow @UofUdance on social media
- Audition for and engage with departmental concerts & showcases
- Attend the Get Involved Fair to explore student groups on campus
- Use your ArtsPass to visit museums like the UMFA and attend cultural events on campus/in the community
- Connect with guest artists & prospective students during the Utah Ballet Summer Intensive
Finishing Up
- Find ways to network at concerts & other performances
- Mentor incoming ballet students & get involved with SAC
- Connect with the SoD & CFA's alumni networks
Knowledge & Skills
Getting Started
- Familiarize yourself with the Ballet Student Handbook & wellness resources like the Dance Clinic and free nutritional consultations
- Learn about resources like UROP & FAF grants
Making Progress
- Work with your instructors to identify goals as you progress through technique/studio courses
- Create a research project with a faculty member through UROP
- Apply for a FAF grant to seek financial support for student-driven extracurricular experiences
- Present your choreography in the Student Concert, or perform in fellow undergraduate & graduate student work
Finishing Up
- Complete your senior capstone project
- Present a research or creative project at the Undergraduate Research Symposium
- Finalize traditional and/or digital portfolios
Transformation
Getting Started
- Explore the CFA's Create Success Initiative
- Apply for scholarships & other financial aid options
- Connect with faculty & professionals to discuss various career paths
Making Progress
- Complete mandatory advising & continue to meet with advisor as needed to discuss your degree plan
- Explore international performance opportunities with the Character Dance Ensemble or other learning abroad programs
- Network & find professional development opportunities at events like the LINK Audition Festival
Finishing Up
- Share creative work at conferences like the American College Dance Association conference
- Perform and/or choreograph in the Ballet Senior Concert
- Participate in graduate ceremonies & events
Impact
Getting Started
- Use your ArtsPass to access events
- Meet with an advisor or faculty mentor to discuss your interests & set goals for your time in college
- Consider taking a CEL-course
Making Progress
- Engage with volunteer opportunities & service projects through the Bennion Center or local arts venues
- Volunteer with Healing in Motion's weekly workshops and/or get involved with the SoD's Queer Dance Initiative
- Collaborate with the Character Dance Ensemble to develop research & share cross-cultural dance with the community
- Consider applying to be an ArtsBridge Scholar
Finishing Up
- Get involved with the SAC or consider running for ASUU to gain leadership experience
- Propose an event, workshop, or project for funding by the FAF grant program
Careers
Getting Started
- Meet with CFA's internship coordinator to develop an internship plan
- Talk to your professors & advisor about performance opportunities
- Apply for an Emerging Leaders Internship
Making Progress
- Attend ArtsForce lectures, panels, & workshops to learn more about working in the arts
- Update your resume regularly to reflect your skills & experience
- Talk to an advisor about opportunities to build your resume through research, internships, and/or learning abroad experiences
- Begin thinking about your online professional profile and ways to showcase your work
Finishing Up
- Update and refine your resume & online professional profile
- Meet with a Career Coach to practice interviewing & salary negotiation
- Apply for jobs or graduate programs
Start Your Career Journey
Find support at the Career and Professional Development Center (CPDC)
About the Major
The School of Dance’s BFA in Ballet is a professional degree accredited by the National Association of the Schools of Dance (NASD) and is designed for dedicated and disciplined dancers who are interested in a career in ballet or other dance-related fields. You must audition to be accepted to study in the BFA in Ballet program and admission is highly competitive. BFA in Ballet students work with our renowned faculty, who nurture young artists and cultivate an environment that fosters personal and artistic growth. Training within this degree program is rigorous and exciting. Through intensive daily technique classes, pointe, variations, and traditional male technique classes tailored to each individual’s technique level, the program offers vital experiences for students to develop artistically and creatively through numerous performances and choreographic opportunities. Students will gain an understanding of performance, dance history, pedagogy, kinesiology, and the choreographic process. The School of Dance provides opportunities to engage in undergraduate research, internships, and learning abroad experiences. Students interested in dance education can also pursue an optional emphasis in Ballet Teaching or earn a certificate in Studio Teaching. Honoring and encouraging both creative and scholarly research, our comprehensive curriculum ultimately prepares you to successfully pursue a career within the field of dance.
Learning Outcomes
- Develop and embody the skills necessary for a career in dance (performance, technique, choreography, teaching, community-based projects and/or scholarship).
- Exhibit knowledge about the breadth of the dance field and one's place within it.
- Demonstrate effective communication skills (written, oral, and embodied) around aesthetics, dance science, dance, and history (student artists have a synthesized knowledge of practice and theoretical curriculum).
Plan & Prepare
At the U, we plan for our students to have an exceptional Educational Experience identified by four broad categories we call the Learning Framework: Community, Knowledge & Skills, Transformation, and Impact. This major map will help you envision, explore, design, and plan your personalized Exceptional Education Experience with the Learning Framework at the core. In addition to assisting you in planning your coursework and navigating the requirements of your major, this map will help you incorporate other kinds of experiences to expand your knowledge, support your development, and prepare you for the future you want.