Frequently Asked Questions

We offer a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ballet, Modern Dance, or Ballet and Modern Dance (double major).

We do not offer a minor in dance but encourage dancers wishing to continue training to participate in the courses available for non-majors.

Our faculty is dedicated to maintaining a small student-to-faculty ratio. Most BFA classes are exclusively for dance majors. 

However, we offer a variety of non-major classes each semester. These include jazz, hip-hop, ballroom and international dance forms, along with beginning or intermediate Ballet and Modern Dance technique classes for non-majors. Some of these non-major classes require an audition to ensure students have the appropriate skill level for the course.

Each day, you will attend three hours of technique classes in ballet and modern dance, along with two to four additional dance courses each week. First-year BFA majors will take courses such as: 

• Dance Production
• Career Preparation
• Working Body (intro to anatomy)
• Pilates
• Music for Dancers
• Improvisation

Ballet majors will also participate in Pointe or Classical Partnering classes. Additionally, first-year students will perform in either the fall or spring Faculty/Guest Artist Concert for performance credit.

We have integrated international studies into our curriculum, offering students the chance to study abroad at the University of Roehampton, the UK’s top-rated dance program. This opportunity allows our students to spend a semester abroad in dance while staying on track for graduation with their BFA.

You can perform in our concerts starting in your first year, with the SCCDance casting roles for six to eight performances annually. Each semester features major fall and spring faculty/guest artist concerts, while senior BFA students choreograph and produce their works for the Fall and Spring capstone concerts. 

Additional Opportunities: 

• Brown Bag performances each semester, allowing any BFA student to create and present work informally at Erma Lowe Hall, Studio Theatre.
• Regular participation in the American College Dance Festival.
• The dance honor society, Chi Tau Epsilon, hosts a benefit concert each spring. 

Each year, we invite a diverse range of guest artists specializing in ballet and contemporary/modern dance. Some of these artists teach master classes, while others stay for extended residencies to stage choreography for our major performances. For more information, please visit the Guest Artists in Residence.

Admission is a two-step process: 

• Application and acceptance to TCU
• Audition and acceptance to the SCCDance 

For more information, please view the Apply & Audition requirements.

Auditioning as either a ballet or modern dance major allows our faculty to evaluate your application for both disciplines. The result may be an offer to join a specific major, or you may have the option to choose your major or pursue a double major in Ballet and Modern Dance. You will be required to submit video and photographic materials for both majors.

Since you’re considering a major in ballet or modern dance at the university level, we expect you to have a strong foundation in training that demonstrates both technical and artistic proficiency. Students auditioning for the ballet major are required to have solid pointe technique.

TCU accepts certain academic transfer credits. Visit the Registrar’s Office for more information. 

The SCCDance faculty will evaluate any dance transfer credits to determine their applicability within the BFA track. Please note that dance transfer credits may not shorten the time required to complete the BFA program. All transfer students should be prepared to fulfill the entire 4-year BFA curriculum as outlined. Dance course documents (e.g., syllabi) are necessary for the faculty review process. Additionally, transfer students must audition for admission to the SCCDance; acceptance via audition does not guarantee any decision regarding dance transfer credit applicability.

Our student body varies each year depending on the number of offers made and accepted. On average, technique class sizes range from 15 to 20 students, with about 70 to 75 students in the program. The BFA program is selective and rigorous, typically limiting the first-year class to 20 to 25 new majors.

Over 80% of our dance majors receive scholarships at various award levels. Many SCCDance students hold academic scholarships or other forms of grant aid that can be combined with their dance awards. For more information about our endowed dance scholarships, please visit the Scholarship & Aid.