Master of Fine Arts in Dance

The Master of Fine Arts in Dance provides an opportunity to increase knowledge, broaden understanding, and develop research and artistic capability. Building on a well-balanced undergraduate education, graduate students are expected to develop a thorough understanding of the specific discipline of dance, supported by a personal commitment to high scholarly and artistic standards. A fundamental purpose of the School of Dance is to encourage each graduate student to demonstrate outstanding standards of scholarship and to produce high-quality original research and creative work.
The diverse graduate population provides a sense of community in which students can learn from various perspectives. In addition, the close alliance between the graduate and undergraduate students provides an opportunity for graduate students to choreograph on and perform with some of the top undergraduate dance students in the country. The triple-track program allows the graduate student to explore and gain experience, skills, and knowledge in ballet, modern, and jazz dance.
Unique to the University of Arizona School of Dance MFA program is the opportunity to choreograph a fully produced thesis concert featuring your fellow graduate students and undergraduate dancers. All graduate students are eligible to perform masterworks set on the UA Dance Ensemble. Recent masterwork choreographers include George Balanchine, Nacho Duato, Larry Keigwin, Martha Graham, Christopher Wheeldon, Jose Limon, Darrell Grand Moultrie, Jerome Robbins and Jessica Lang. The UA School of Dance also provides many opportunites for community outreach performances at venues such as Diamond Children's Hospital and Tucson Museum of Art. Graduates from the MFA program are teaching professionally at all levels. Many have gone on to become Professors at Universities and Colleges throughout the US and Canada, while many others are teaching K-12, at conservatories, and at dance studios both nationally and internationally. Additionally, many have gone on to work in a variety of positions in professional dance companies. These positions include founder, director, artistic director, rehearsal director and performer.
The graduate curriculum in dance allows the student to focus on teaching, research, choreography or performance for dance. It also provides opportunities for interdisciplinary studies with other arts, humanities and sciences in support of the student's development as a scholar, teacher and artist.
The M.F.A. degree has two emphasis areas that allow for intensive focus in performance or choreography. The program facilitates and nurtures dance artists in their area of emphasis while offering a comprehensive graduate education in dance. The M.F.A. degree is 60 units requiring 2-3 years of residency at the University of Arizona. The curriculum includes core courses and dance technique as well as courses in theory and pedagogy.

To apply for admission for the graduate program, the candidate must have extensive dance training, hold an undergraduate degree in dance and meet the minimum requirements of the UA Graduate College.
Within that online application are directions for submitting your three letters of recommendation, undergraduate transcripts, and Statement of Purpose.
Prior to auditioning, the School of Dance office must also receive the following application materials via mail or email:
Curriculum Vitae (comprehensive resume)
Online link of recent creative work (performance/choreography/teaching)
Graduate Admission Status
Once your application to the Graduate College has been processed, the School of Dance will review all application materials and consider an on-campus audition/interview. Since nearly all applicants have previously earned a B.F.A. degree in Dance, we do not encourage any applicant to apply without having already completed all prerequisites. A 2-3 year hiatus is also recommended between completion of a BFA and entering the MFA program to demonstrate self-motivated professional activity.
Students will be admitted to enter graduate studies who meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate College and the School of Dance including:
Demonstrated advanced level in technique in ballet, modern dance, or jazz dance.
Have completed at least one year of dance composition, achieving a grade of B or higher, or at least two professional compositions that have been publicly presented.
Have completed at least one year of Dance or Drama Theatre Production, achieving a grade of B or higher, or at least 2 years of professional experience.
Have completed at least one course each in:
Music history/literature, music for dance, or two years of applied music study.
Anatomy for Dance, Kinesiology, or Biomechanics.
Aesthetics of dance or the arts, or in dance ethnology/anthropology.
Dance History
All students applying for admission to the program of study must also meet qualitative standards determined by the dance faculty including:
Review of three confidential letters of recommendation
Review of the applicant's performance or choreographic work
Review of the student's written Statement of Purpose
On-site audition, with personal interview
Criteria for admission to the program of study are based on the quantitative and qualitative requirements listed above, and admission will be determined according to:
Each student's demonstrated expertise in performance or choreography
Evidence of self-motivated professional experience in the field
Potential for successful completion of the degree at the University of Arizona
Personal maturity, independence and academic and artistic integrity
THE GRE IS NOT REQUIRED FOR CONSIDERATION

Standardized Tests
Required test(s): No Tests Required for Admission to the Master of Fine Arts in Dance.
Minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) - 3.00

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - minimum score of 79 iBT (or 60 on the revised PBT with no section score lower than 15). Individual MyBest scores must also be dated within 2 years of the enrollment term to be considered valid.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - minimum composite score of 7, with no subject area below a 6