The University of Texas at El Paso

About the Program

The BFA in Dance at UTEP is a comprehensive program designed to develop versatile dancers for professional careers or graduate studies, offering two concentrations: one in Dance Studies and Choreography, and another in Performance. Students train intensely in Ballet and Contemporary technique with the option of declaring an emphasis in either genre. The department, housed in the College of Liberal Arts, also offers a BA in Dance with Teaching Certification (including a Secondary Education minor for those wishing to teach in high school dance programs) and a Minor in Dance.

Degrees Offered

Concentrations

Coursework

BFA credit hours: 120 minimum (48 at upper division 3300-4300 level). Technique training centers on Ballet and Contemporary, with additional coursework in Hip Hop, Jazz, Somatics, and Latine Dances. BFA Dance Studies and Choreography concentration focuses on dance scholarship, dance making, and dance production rather than stage performance, providing a basis for dance research, commercial choreography, dance production, and dance as it impacts social justice and community building. BA in Dance with Teaching Certification (120-121 credits) requires a 21-credit Secondary Education minor, a Dance Pedagogy course, 6 credits of secondary student teaching, a C minimum in all DANC courses, and preparation for Texas SBEC certification; it prepares graduates as educators, studio teachers/owners, dance team coaches, community dance practitioners, arts administrators, movement specialists, and dance therapists.

Performance Opportunities

Annual faculty concert; senior dance capstone projects; annual attendance at the American College Dance Association (ACDA) conference with adjudicated performances.