Dance student moving in front of ballet bar

Study the art of movement. Explore what moves you.

The UW Department of Dance prepares the next generation of performers, educators, arts advocates and cultural leaders. 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 warm up on a ballet bar.

Undergraduate Programs

Graduate Programs

Person dances and spins bright red costume while another person plays a hand drum in the background.

Careers

Eighty percent of dance majors graduate with a double major, 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
Students sit and watch someone demonstrate a dance move in a 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

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.

UW students dancing in a rehearsal.

A Dance Residency, Worth the Wait

During choreographer Ronald Brown's residency in the Department of Dance,  undergrads gained confidence while learning one of his high-energy dances. 

Area around Drumheller Fountain on the UW campus

Arts & Sciences' Fab Four for 2022

Four Dean's Medalists were selected by the College of Arts & Sciences for their varied and impressive work as UW undergraduates.