The Columbia College Dance program challenges each dance major to realize the full potential of her talents while being adequately prepared to meet the rigorous standards within the dance field. In addition, the Dance program educates the broader community about dance and its role in the human experience by serving as a leader in the wider fields of education and arts advocacy.
The program goals are:

• To provide movement training consisting of daily classes in numerous contemporary and classical dance styles taught by qualified and dedicated dance faculty.  Based in sound somatic principles, these technique classes are supported by dance musicians and live accompaniment, and are further augmented with master classes taught by visiting artists.
• To develop the student’s creative voice and attainment of academic excellence nurtured through course work in the theory and practice of performance, choreography, pedagogy, aesthetics, entrepreneurship, technology, and advocacy.
• To professionally develop the student as a leader in education and arts advocacy through active participation in community outreach programs working with diverse populations, offering frequent touring and hosting guest residency activities, and fully produced performances featuring choreography by dance faculty, guest artists, and students.  In each of these roles the student is challenged to become an articulate leader capable of effectively verbalizing the complexities of her nonverbal art form and its further connections to other disciplines.

To fulfill its mission and goals, three Dance degree programs designed to meet the individual needs of each student.  All three programs are structured to challenge the student’s ability to connect the theory and practice of the liberal arts, while also preparing the student for her future role as a leader in the fields of dance, education, and arts advocacy.  A dance minor also is available to serve the needs of our liberal arts students.

Training and opportunities provided through Columbia College Dance Company and Leadership experiences enable students to develop the knowledge and dispositions needed to become leaders in the dance field.  The curriculum is firmly rooted in technique study in contemporary dance, ballet, and other diverse forms.  Classes are offered on multiple levels based on technical proficiency in ballet and contemporary dance with classes specifically for majors meeting daily.

The Columbia College Dance Program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD). More information about majoring in Dance can be found in the Dance Majors Handbook.