Dance
About
Dance
Degree: BFA
Campus: Columbus
College: Arts and Sciences
An accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Dance, the Department of Dance offers students rigorous training at the intersection of movement practice, creative activity and theoretical inquiry. Students in the dance program earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and receive a comprehensive education across the field of contemporary dance with a focus on the dancing experience.
Because the BFA dance program is focused on building the whole artist, students can combine academic and artistic interests. While dance is the focal point of their academic practice, students can choose from a variety of courses to enrich, extend and support their areas of investigation.
Get started
An audition is required for acceptance to the highly competitive BFA dance program. The audition experience considers prospective students' past dance training, extracurricular interests and activities; individual interview with faculty; group audition with contemporary, African and ballet movement phrases taught by faculty; and improvisation guided by faculty. Find application and audition information at go.osu.edu/bfa-apply.
Students of all majors can declare a dance minor by emailing the academic program coordinator to set up a meeting.
Curriculum
Students in the BFA dance program take course work in movement practice, performance, choreography, history/theory/literature, analysis, dance education, kinesiology, production and creative technology. They benefit from small classes with faculty and visiting artists. Faculty mentorship begins early and integrates with personalized education, individualized attention, and first- and last-year seminars that develop cohort community.
Core education requirements:
- movement practice (contemporary, ballet, African/international-based forms, somatics)
- composition/choreography
- repertory/performance
- movement analysis
- creative technology
- education
- kinesiology
- history/theory/literature
- production/lighting
A minimum of 127 semester units are required to complete the degree requirements in dance. Of these, 37 meet General Education requirements. The remaining 90 credits are completed within the BFA major. The BFA dance program is also designed for students who plan to pursue minors or dual degrees.
Upon completion of the foundational curriculum, students choose from a range of courses, such as Improvisation, Music and Choreography; Dance in Global Contexts; Dance Film; Dance for Children and Intermedia Performance. Students conduct both studio research in creative art-making practices and scholarly research in which dance is studied in social, historical and cultural frameworks.
Learn more about course options.
Study abroad
Dance students have toured repertory to China, Brazil and Denmark. Individual dance majors and minors may also enroll in a semester-long study abroad with DanceJerusalem, Trinity Laban in London and Taiwan National University of the Arts.
Internship
While internships are not required for the BFA dance program, students are encouraged to seek educational and administrative internships with local arts organizations such as OhioDance and CAPA or other opportunities through the Barnett Center for Integrated Arts and Enterprise.
Students may network with and seek recommendations from dance faculty and visiting artists who are professionals in the field.
Honors and Scholars
Honors dance students may use the required senior creative project in partial fulfillment of the BFA dance degree with distinction.
View recent senior projects.
Dance majors are also encouraged to consider Arts Honors as an option for Arts and Sciences Honors.
Research
Students' liberal arts education and deep understanding of dance practice and production culminate in a required capstone experience, known as the senior project, that they complete with a faculty advisor. Students can receive grants and scholarships for the project, and all senior projects are eligible to be completed with distinction in the arts. Several students haved embedded their senior projects in the community or local schools. View recent senior projects.
Dance students have opportunities for interdisciplinary connections throughout the university and community, including the Wexner Center for the Arts, Advanced Computing Center for the Arts and Design (ACCAD), Performing Arts Medicine, Wexner Medical Center, Barnett Center for Integrated Arts and Enterprise, School of Music, Department of Theatre, Film, and Media Arts, Department of Art, Music and Dance Library, Theatre Research Institute, Dance Special Collections at University Libraries, Nisonger Center, Human Motion Analysis and Recovery Laboratory, and more!
Student organizations
Dance majors and minors participate in and lead a wide variety of dance-related student organizations, such as Dance Connection, BuckeyeThon, Movement Exchange, Black Arts Group, 3D Urban Dance Team, Buckeyes on Tap and Dance Coalition, among many others.
Possible careers
Graduates of the BFA dance program are young artists and entrepreneurs who creatively and consciously forge their own paths of professional success. They create dance companies and collectives and teach in schools, studios and universities. Dance graduates write books, make films, document dance traditions and engage in cultural diplomacy.
Dance majors are prepared to enter the dance profession and industry, nonprofit or private sectors as performers, choreographers, creative technology artists, educators, production and lighting designers, arts administrators, health science professionals, somatic practitioners, movement analysts, historians, and entrepreneurs.
Program objectives
Students majoring in dance at Ohio State engage in real-world experiences and utilize opportunities for performing, making and leading their own education.
- Students will have a solid foundation in a breadth of contemporary dance techniques.
- Upon graduation, students will exhibit an advanced degree of proficiency in the contemporary dance techniques taught in the department.
- Students will be able to translate technical proficiency from the studio to a variety of contexts.
- Students will be able to synthesize skills and knowledge from the department’s diverse curricular areas including choreography, history, education, movement analysis, creative technologies and performance.
- Students will accumulate skills and knowledge attained throughout their course work.
- Students will exhibit intermediate/advanced proficiency in movement practice, creative process and theoretical inquiry.
- Students will be able to give and receive well-considered verbal discussion and feedback regarding creative and scholarly assignments and projects.
- Students will be able to produce written analysis of their own work and the work of others in historical and contemporary settings.
Requirements
Entry Requirements
Criteria of our holistic review, in no particular order.
Successful completion of university preparatory courses
High school performance (class rank or GPA), including participation in accelerated programs like Honors, AP and IB; Ohio State does not have minimum requirements for class rank or GPA
Standardized test score (ACT or SAT); Ohio State does not have minimum requirements for ACT or SAT scores
Ohio State has adopted a TEST-OPTIONAL policy for 2022 applicants. Learn more.
Ability and desire to contribute to and engage with a diverse campus community
Experiences that demonstrate leadership or engaged involvement (e.g., co-curricular activities, work experiences or military service)
Status as a first-generation university student
Demonstration of outstanding talent in a particular area
High school performance if adversely affected by physical, mental or learning environment factors
Eligibility for and likelihood of benefiting from organized support services at Ohio State
Enrollment in your intended major
Once it is determined that you are admissible, you will be considered for enrollment in the college of your intended major. Read about
English Program Requirements
we require evidence of English language proficiency, unless you have completed three full years of school at a U.S. regionally accredited high school or if you are a citizen of, or have received a bachelor’s degree from, Australia, Belize, British Caribbean, British West Indies, Canada (except Quebec), England, Guyana, Ireland, Liberia, New Zealand, Scotland, the United States or Wales.
Fee Information
Tuition Fee
TRY 35,018How to Apply
How do I submit scores?
Ohio State has adopted a TEST-OPTIONAL policy for 2022 applicants. Learn more.
Tips for sending scores to Ohio State
Scores must come directly from the testing agency. When you register for the ACT or SAT, indicate that you want your scores sent to Ohio State.
If you already took the test but didn't send your scores to Ohio State, you can order them for a fee. Order in advance to be sure scores reach us by the application deadline.
We must receive standardized test scores by your application deadline (either November 1 or February 1 for autumn semester applicants).
October 2 (SAT) and October 23 (ACT) are your last 2021 test dates if you want your scores to be considered for our November 1 early action deadline. Important! If you plan to test on those dates, you must request that Ohio State receive scores when you register for the test. And please note: If you choose to have your scores considered, you won’t be able to review scores from these dates prior to submitting your application by the November 1 deadline.
Applicants who will have been out of high school for two or more years by their term of enrollment are not required to submit scores.
Is the essay required?
The essay is not required for either the ACT or SAT.
Should I take a standardized test more than once?
Ohio State looks at the highest composite score from a single test date. Taking the test (and having scores sent to us) more than once, while not required, may work to your advantage.
How does Ohio State look at scores?
When considering students for admission or Honors and Scholars selection, we consider the best official composite / combined score from a single test administration. Ohio State does not mix sub-scores from multiple tests.
These items plus the Common Application (STEP 3) make up a complete application. We must receive all items by the deadline to consider your application on time.
Official transcripts
High school transcripts
Request that your high school or secondary school send transcripts / documents / official copies of examination certificates for coursework from the final four years (grades 9-12) to Ohio State.
How to send your transcripts to Ohio State:
Your high school counselor can upload the transcripts / documents / official copies of examination certificates using Common App, Naviance or other secure electronic delivery service.
Your high school counselor can email the transcripts to [email protected].
If electronic submission is not possible, please mail your official transcripts to our express mail address.
Faxed transcripts will not be accepted.
Foreign language documents must be translated into English by the issuing institution, an authorized translator or a teacher of the language. Any additional requirements will be posted to your Applicant Center, so be sure to check your application status regularly after you've applied.
Official ACT or SAT scores
Ohio State has adopted a TEST-OPTIONAL policy for 2022 applicants. Learn more.How do I submit my scores?
We must receive your official ACT or SAT score sent electronically directly from the testing agency. Scores from transcripts will not be considered. Read more about score requirements in STEP 1.
Optional: Recommendation from a teacher or counselor
While not required, your counselor may send a maximum of two letters of recommendation electronically through the Common Application.
If an electronic option isn’t available, your counselor may email your letter(s) to
[email protected]; the letter must include your first and last name and OSU ID number, found on the email we send acknowledging receipt of your application. Letters sent via email are subject to sender verification.
Official proof of English language skills
You must request that your testing agency send official scores electronically to Ohio State demonstrating the English proficiency level outlined below:
TOEFL (internet-based test or internet-based test Home Edition*): 79 or higher
IELTS or IELTS Indicator*: 6.5 or higher
ACT: 21 or higher on the English section
SAT: 27 or higher on the Reading Test
Duolingo*: 105 or higher
You are exempt from this requirement if you have completed three full years of school at a U.S. regionally accredited high school or if you are a citizen of, or have received a bachelor’s degree from, Australia, Belize, British Caribbean, British West Indies, Canada (except Quebec), England, Guyana, Ireland, Liberia, New Zealand, Scotland, the United States or Wales.
Ohio State has an intensive English program for students who wish to improve their language skills called the American Language Program. A separate application is required for this program. Ohio State does not offer conditional admission to students who enroll in the American Language Program.
*To accommodate applicants affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, The Ohio State University will accept Duolingo, the IELTS Indicator and the TOEFL internet-based test Home Edition from any international student applying for spring 2022 or autumn 2022 admission. All Duolingo test takers are required to take an English placement exam upon arrival to campus. TOEFL Home Edition and IELTS Indicator test takers are required to take an English placement exam upon arrival unless they qualify for a TOEFL or IELTS score exemption.
Dance
The Ohio State University
United States of America,
Columbus
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