Dance Program

Program in Dance:  What it Offers

Do you think you have to give up dance in order to pursue a rigorous academic education? You don't! As one of the top five research universities, Duke has become the college of choice for the dedicated dance student. Duke is unique in providing the rare combination of high-quality dance training with a first class science or liberal arts education.

Dance at Duke encourages the total union of our physical, intellectual, and expressive capabilities. The student dancer develops skills of perception, analysis and expression that benefit many fields of endeavor beyond the dance world.

The Program in Dance provides a wide choice of classes for everyone from the highly trained dance technician to the absolute beginner. Beyond the three main areas of emphasis in ballet, modern, and African dance, other courses including jazz, hip hop, swing dance, floor-barre, tap, Flamenco and classical Indian dance are offered on a rotating schedule. Extensive full credit courses include areas of study in history, choreography, kinesiology, world dance cultures and dance writing.

There are many performing opportunities for students of all levels working with faculty, guest artists and student choreographers. All students on campus are enriched by an abundance of professional touring productions and in house concerts.

Dance at Duke dates back to the thirties. Once part of the Department of Health and Physical Education under the leadership of Julia Wray, it is now a freestanding program in the Humanities with a major and minor in Dance and an individualized major available through Program II.