Six students dancing with arms raised in a UW dance studio.

Study the art of movement. Explore what moves you.

The University of Washington Department of Dance believes dance is for everybody. We expand the meanings and experiences of dance as a field of study and a living art form. Whether you are interested in performance and choreography, education, medicine, arts administration, physical therapy or graduate study, majoring or double majoring in dance provides a creative pathway to your career. The innovative Master of Fine Arts program serves professional dancers seeking to transition into higher education positions. The department produces four concerts annually for the campus and greater Seattle community at the Meany Center for the Performing Arts, one of the region’s most prestigious performing arts venues.

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Dancers performing on stage, with light casting a pink/purple glow on them. Photo by Warren Woo.

Undergraduate Programs

Graduate Programs

Three dancers performing. One is standing on a chair, two are standing beside her on the floor.

Careers

Many dance majors graduate with a double major or double degree, preparing them for a wide range of career paths. From performance to arts education to medicine and other fields, our program helps students mold their education to fit their individual career interests. In Dance 480: Career Explorations for Dance Majors, students explore their strengths and interests in real-world career options. The course includes guest professionals, cover letter and resume development, grant writing and job shadowing.

Career Paths

Dance alumni work in a diverse range of fields, with job titles such as:

  • Dancer
  • Choreographer
  • Artistic director
  • Stage manager
  • Educator
  • Pilates/yoga/fitness instructor
  • Physical therapist 
  • Arts administrator 
  • Nonprofit director
  • Videographer/photographer
  • Physician
  • Attorney
A dance studio with sun shining in and a "body space time" sign on the far wall. dance studio

A gift of space and time

bst (body, space, time) is a Department of Dance residency that supports local dance artists by offering the gift of space — our spacious dance studios — and time when formal classes are not in session. bst gives artists the freedom to experiment, make mistakes, revise ideas and remain focused on the creative process without the pressure that accompanies commissioned works or performance deadlines. In exchange, participating artists offer workshops or create dance works for students. bst is one example of how we partner with the local dance community to enrich the educational experience of our students and support the arts in Seattle.

More about bst

Find Yourself in Dance

Express your creativity as an artist and develop skills for a rewarding career.

Department of Dance Stories

Tessa Olmstead portrait photo

From Dancer to Doctor

Alumna Tessa Olmstead, now completing a medical residency, shares how her dance major has helped her succeed as a medical student. 

Two women in white, dancing in-between trees on the UW campus.

Dancing Across Campus

For the dance course "Activating Space," students danced in public spaces across the University of Washington's Seattle campus this spring.

Abdiel dancing in Club Classroom, a dance studio turned dance club.

For the Love of Hustle

Abdiel Jacobsen, graduating with an MFA in dance, found creative ways to share Latin Hustle, their favorite dance, with students and the wider community.