California Institute of the Arts

About the Program

CalArts' Dance BFA is an intensive four-year program designed to develop high-level professional skills in a variety of dance practices. Built on a strong foundation in both classic and contemporary dance styles, the program enables students to develop technical skills and artistry as artists. The Sharon Disney Lund School of Dance sits within the country's only comprehensive institute of both the visual and performing arts, offering rigorous training in technique (ballet, contemporary, hip-hop, and more), choreography, and interdisciplinary media-driven collaborations across the Institute's six schools.

Degrees Offered

Concentrations

Coursework

Coursework includes critical dance studies, performance studies, dance on camera, music, Pilates, anatomy. Faculty have danced with Nederlands Dance Theater, Ballet Preljocaj, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Rennie Harris, Boris Charmatz, Heidi Latsky, and Mia Michaels.

Study abroad available

Notable Faculty

• Rosanna Tavarez
• Dimitri Chamblas
• Cheryl Mann

Facilities

REDCAT (Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater) in downtown Los Angeles serves as a primary performance venue, alongside on-campus stages at the Valencia campus.

Performance Opportunities

Regular performances and choreographic exchanges at REDCAT and other venues in Los Angeles. Career-building workshops and internships. Choreographic residencies and performance workshops with internationally renowned artists. Close relationships with European choreographers offer study-abroad and repertory-learning opportunities beginning first semester.

Rankings & Alumni