This major is designed for students who want to explore movement from all possible angles.

In our program, you’ll engage with dance on multiple levels—creative, intellectual, and physical. Guided by our outstanding faculty, you’ll receive conservatory-caliber training in a small class setting. As a Dance Studies emphasis, you’ll immerse yourself in the historical, theoretical, and cultural roots of dance, while also learning and performing a variety of styles and choreography. You’ll have the opportunity to attend shows throughout the Bay Area and work with a diverse range of guest artists. Your studies will culminate with a self-generated project that demonstrates mastery in your chosen field. 

Our students grow tremendously in their critical thinking, writing, and verbal communication skills, all valuable skills for any future career. Some of our graduates head for careers in dance, theatre, and the arts. Many continue onto graduate studies. Others put their critical and creative skills to work outside of the arts, in education, health care, and beyond.

Myriad possibilities await you, and we are here to prepare you for them!

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Learn more about the program

Get to know our well-respected faculty and their specialties, as artists and scholars. Or explore scholarship opportunities and an array of performance possibilities.

Earn an Dance, BA and a Single-Subject Teaching Credential at Saint Mary's in just four years through our Single Subject Teaching Credential Integrated Pathway!

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What can you do with a degree in Dance?

A degree in Dance provides students with preparation in choreography, performance, pedagogy, and cultural theory for careers across the arts and education. 

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Dance MFA performances

Dancer / Performer
Audition, rehearse, and perform in concert, commercial, and community productions.

Choreographer
Create original works, set repertory, and direct rehearsals for stage and screen.

Teaching Artist / K–12 Dance Educator (prep)
Teach technique, composition, and history in schools, studios, and nonprofits.

Rehearsal Director
Maintain choreographic integrity; schedule, coach, and give performance notes.

Company / Stage / Production Manager
Coordinate budgets, contracts, tech, and touring logistics.

Arts Administration / Program Coordinator
Manage marketing, grants, community partnerships, and audience engagement.

Community Arts & Outreach Leader
Run workshops and residencies; design inclusive, culture-centered programs.

Dance Writer / Critic / Content Producer
Review performances; create media, podcasts, and documentary features

Saint Mary's Testimonials

Katie Lawson-Gill, Class of 2020

“I got both of my jobs as a dance instructor and professional dancer through professors and resources I met through the Saint Mary’s College Dance Program. I truly would not be doing what I am today without them.”

Katie Lawson-Gill, Class of 2020

#15

In GradReports' 2020 Top 25 Colleges

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