Program Overview
Program Overview
The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Dance program, which is a dual emphasis in modern and ballet, as well as performance and choreography. This program prepares dancers for a variety of careers in the professional dance world.
Program Details
- Program Type: Major
- Academic Unit: Conservatory
- Degree Type: Bachelor of Fine Arts
- Standard credit hours: 125
- Delivery Mode: In-person
- Typical Program Length: 4 years
- Typical Course Load: 4-5 per semester
- Estimated Program Cost: $57,875
Why UMKC
UMKC is located in a city rich with cultural treasures, providing students with exclusive opportunities to connect with area employers, gain hands-on experience, and make an impact in their areas of interest. The university is deeply integrated into the community, offering a vibrant arts district with access to the Kansas City Ballet, the Folly Theater, and the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
Career Opportunities
Employment of dancers is projected to grow over the next 10 years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Potential careers for graduates include:
- Arts administrator
- Ballet Company Dancer
- Choreographer
- Dance Studio Instructor/Owner
- Freelance Dancer
- Independent Dance Instructor
- Modern Company Dancer The median salary for dancers is $48,062 per year.
Potential Courses
- Ballet and Technique Theory I: Fundamentals of technique of classical ballet with attention given to strengthening, stretching, anatomical alignment, and developing the ballet aesthetic.
- Analysis of Movement: Explores various aspects of modern dance, including reasoning and methods behind the creation of dance.
- History of Dance: A study of the development of Western theatrical dance forms with a brief overview of “early dance,” placing emphasis on the study of Renaissance theatre spectacles to the rise of the professional…
Related Programs and Pathways
- Music Performance (Major)
- Theatre (Major)
- Arts Entrepreneurship (Certificate)
Application Process
To apply, students must:
- Gather materials:
- Official transcripts
- Names and locations of previous college(s) or high school(s) and dates attended
- Citizenship, residency, and visa information (if applicable)
- ACT/SAT test scores (optional)
- Artistic resume or CV
- Two references
- Dance photo
- Audition date selection
- Complete the online application: No application fee for domestic undergraduate students; $75 for international students.
Estimated Tuition Per Semester
- Resident Rate: $6,945 per semester
- Heartland Rate: $9,840 per semester
- Nonresident Rate: $16,868 per semester
Financial Aid
UMKC offers a number of automatic and competitive scholarships, grants, and other financial aid opportunities. The average need-based scholarship or grant awarded to first-year students is $12,617. 96% of first-time students who qualified for financial aid received assistance, and 80% of undergrads received a scholarship or grant.