Dance

Dance

DANCE. INSTRUCTION. PASSION. CAREER.

You know how much dance means to you. The unique thrill of performance, the community you’ve found, maybe the mentor who means more than you can say — these things will always be an important part of how you got to where you are right now. Let’s talk about how we can help you make dance an even more important part of your future.

The dance program at Coker University is not like other programs. There is room in your schedule to explore what interests you, so you’re not locked into a rigid set of degree requirements. You will be surprised to learn how much you can do with an undergraduate dance degree.

Our community is intimate enough that you’ll get the kind of individual attention that fuels remarkable development. You won’t be the same dancer by graduation — that’s guaranteed. However, we have many of the resources you would normally find in a much larger program, including outstanding facilities and access to world-class instruction from our faculty and guest artists. When you add it all up, we believe our program is just the right size for ideal growth and student development.

We have distinct degree options that fit many different dance interests and career paths. You will find study abroad opportunities that open doors for you to learn about dance and culture around the world. There is so much available to you here that we can only begin to start showing you what’s possible, but here’s an overview of what we can offer you as a member of the Coker dance community.

Coker University is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD).

Coker dance students on stage

Will You Be Auditioning?

Are you interested in applying for a visual and performing arts program at Coker University? Learn more about the process and submit your audition through the link below!

Click here to audition
A Coker student performing on stage solo

Interested in Summer Courses?

Looking to expand your technique in our Summer Dance Intensive? Find out more about the process and register on the page below!

Learn more about the program

KEY CLASSES FOR YOUR SUCCESS

Dance Practicum

Start building your dance resume while you’re still in school! In this course, you will have the opportunity to either perform or choreograph a dance production or work as a backstage crew member for a production. This hands-on production experience is an important foundational course for much of what will come later in your studies.

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Dance Science

As a dancer, your body is the most essential piece of equipment. We will teach you how it works and how to care for it in the dance science course. You will have the opportunity to focus on the specific ways your muscles and anatomy affect movement in dance.

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Coker Repertory Dance Company

Would you like to audition for a pre-professional dance company? You’ll have the opportunity to do that with the Coker Repertory Dance Company as early as your first year of studies. As a member, you will learn choreography from both faculty and guest artists, and perform at venues on- and off-campus.

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Dance Scholarship Opportunities for You

We know that financial assistance is a significant priority for many undergraduate students. Coker University offers some of the most competitive scholarship and aid packages of any South Carolina school. As a dance student, you will also have the opportunity to apply and audition for a variety of dance scholarships. Read more about the audition process details.

Coker dance students on stage

(B.A.)

Dance

Are you interested in owning a dance studio one day or a career in arts administration? What about performance and choreography — are those things you want to explore in more detail? If any or all of these sound like you, then the Bachelor of Arts in Dance program could be a great fit for your future.

This program is grounded in engaged teaching and will cultivate all your technical, artistic, creative, and scholarly abilities. Many students have other strong academic interests alongside their passion and desire to study dance. This program is also an excellent option for students like you who might want to create a strategic double-major in dance and another discipline. This is the most flexible and widely applicable dance degree option at Coker University.

A dancer holds a pose on one knee while colorful powder spirals around her

(B.A.)

Dance Education

If you love dance, then you have probably already had at least one mentor or teacher who made a big difference in your life. Maybe you are thinking about giving back a little and investing in the next generation of dancers. Did you know South Carolina has a perpetual shortage of qualified dance instructors in our public schools? Every single one of our Bachelor of Arts in Dance Education graduates has found employment doing what they love.

The B.A. in Dance Education degree from Coker University will give you everything you need to meet the South Carolina Department of Education’s requirements for teaching in the K-12 public or private school setting. As a part of your training, you will observe and assist certified dance educators in public schools. In your final semester, you will take the lead as a student-teacher and get a fuller experience of your new career.

Dance professor demonstrating a dance pose with a student to a class

(B.F.A.)

Choreography

Some dancers just know they must give their all to performance and choreography and pursue the life of a creative artist or work in a related career. If this is you, consider Coker’s Bachelor of Fine Arts in Choreography degree program. You will find intensive professional training with nationally recognized guest artists and faculty in the Coker Repertory Dance Company. We will give you plenty of space to explore and display your creative work.

Your fundamentals in dance technique, performance, and composition will develop rapidly as we prepare you for performance-related work and perhaps further studies at the graduate level. As your dance aesthetic and artistry flourish, we will also refine your technical and creative abilities, as well as your skills for observation, evaluation, and discussing dance as a true scholar.

Each of our degree programs is grounded in engaged teaching, but the B.F.A. in Choreography places a special emphasis on creating an environment with attentive instruction and training, as well as freedom for your artistic growth. What you will discover in our community is a serious commitment to your growth with faculty and fellow students who are supportive. There is room to value and celebrate everyone’s achievements here.

Coker dance students on stage

OTHER OPTIONS

Dance & Interdisciplinary Studies

Your dance studies will pair very well with another discipline for an interdisciplinary studies degree. Business, other art forms, a concentration on dance or movement therapies — there are so many possible combinations that would make the ideal bachelor’s degree for you. This is one of the great strengths of what we offer at Coker University: our commitment to flexible, diverse degree options that fit your interests, skills, and plans. With the interdisciplinary studies approach, you can choose what to focus on, but you don’t have to figure it all out on your own. If you need help understanding how to bring together the different things you’re interested in, we are always here to help you sort it out and advise you.

Coker dance students on stage

OTHER OPTIONS

Dance Minor

Even if it isn’t your major area of study, dance can still be a vital part of your degree through the dance minor option. It is designed to give you a strong collegiate-level experience and understanding of dance through classes such as dance history, ballet technique, dance composition, dance improvisation, and more. The faculty advisors at Coker are glad to help you make dance a strategic and vibrant part of your focus here while you concentrate on coursework for your major.

Students in the dance studio practice choreography

OTHER OPTIONS

Let’s Take a Tour

We are delighted in your interest in the dance program at Coker University. We have created a wonderful environment for artists like you to grow and explore your career options to make dance a meaningful part of your life. Of course, we would love to answer any questions you might have, so you can always reach out to one of our faculty members. The best way to get a real sense of the community here and all that we have to offer is to come and see for yourself. Schedule a personal tour and we will show the facilities, give you some one-on-one time with a faculty if you’d like, and answer all your questions. We look forward to meeting you soon.

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  • Performance Opportunities

    • Annual Faculty & Guest Artist Dance Concert
    • Student Choreography Showcase
    • Informal Dance Concert (each semester)
    • Coker Repertory Dance Company
    • Senior Thesis Concert
    • Musical Theatre Performances
  • Dance Facilities

    • Mainstage Theater
    • Black Box Theater
    • Two dance studios
    • Pilates Reformer Equipment

Meet Your Mentors

Dance Events


Dances in grey outfits on stage

Be part of our community, as we work together to learn, lead, and inspire.

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