Studies & Degrees in Dance
Dance Study Programs
Dance as a field of study covers the training of performers, choreographers and dance teachers. It joins daily physical practice in one or more styles (ballet, contemporary dance, Spanish dance, flamenco, jazz and others) with subjects that explain and support it: music, anatomy, dance history, composition and teaching methods. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that most dancers begin training at a young age, so higher study in dance usually builds on years of earlier classes.
Programmes differ in emphasis. A conservatory trains the body and the technique for the stage. A university degree places dance next to academic subjects and often leaves room for a second field. Both include technique classes, repertoire, improvisation and composition, stage practice, and usually some pedagogy and injury prevention.
Qualifications and levels
In Spain dance belongs to the artistic education system, not to the universities, and has three official levels.
- Elementary studies (enseñanzas elementales). Each autonomous community sets their organisation.
- Professional studies (enseñanzas profesionales). Six academic years in one of four specialities: flamenco (baile flamenco), classical dance, contemporary dance or Spanish dance. Entry is by a specific entrance test, and students who finish receive the título profesional de danza with their speciality. Most pupils combine these years with secondary school.
- Higher studies (enseñanzas artísticas superiores). Four academic years of 60 credits each, 240 credits in total, in one of two specialities: choreography and performance, or dance pedagogy. Applicants need the Bachiller or an equivalent and must pass a specific entrance test. Under Law 1/2024, the qualification is a Grado en Enseñanzas Artísticas Superiores, placed at the same level as a university bachelor's degree and equivalent to it for all purposes. A master's level, the Máster en Enseñanzas Artísticas, follows.
In the United States dance is a university subject. The usual degrees are the Bachelor of Arts (BA), a liberal arts degree with dance as the major, and the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), which gives more of the timetable to studio work. Both normally take four years. The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) is the usual graduate degree for choreographers and university teachers; at Jacksonville University, for example, the MFA in Choreography takes two years. Many departments admit students by audition.
Private studios and academies everywhere also offer courses and their own diplomas. Before enrolling, ask the school what recognition its qualification has.
Where to study
SpainExchange lists 122 active schools for dance. Most are in the United States (81), followed by Spain (11), the United Kingdom (8), Mexico (4), Canada (3) and Italy (2).
In Spain, the Conservatorio Profesional de Danza Fortea in Madrid is a public conservatory that teaches elementary studies and the professional specialities of classical dance, Spanish dance and flamenco. Higher studies are taught at conservatorios superiores de danza, such as the Conservatorio Superior de Danza María de Ávila in Madrid, with the specialities of choreography and performance and of pedagogy. Moveo, in Barcelona, works in a neighbouring field: it is a centre for physical theatre and dramatic corporeal mime.
Examples from the United States show the range of degrees:
- the University of Washington offers a BA in Dance, described as a liberal arts degree, in which the major needs a minimum of 56 credits
- DeSales University offers a BA in Dance of 120.5 credit hours over four years, with admission by audition or interview
- Jacksonville University offers a four-year BFA or BA and states that it is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD)
- Hofstra University lists a BFA in Dance, a BA in Dance and a BSEd in Dance Education
The Ohio State University, The University of Texas at Austin, the University of Michigan and Duke University are also in the list. In Mexico the list includes the Universidad de Guadalajara.
Language matters less in the studio than in the classroom, but theory subjects, written work and teaching practice are in the language of the country. International applicants should also check how auditions are organised: some schools accept a video, others require attendance.
Careers
Graduates work as dancers in companies, musical theatre, television and events, as choreographers and rehearsal directors, and as teachers in conservatories, schools and private studios. Others move into dance therapy, arts management or production after further training. Performing careers tend to be short and physically demanding, which is why many dancers add a teaching qualification.
The BLS is direct about the job market in the United States: it counts 18,600 jobs for dancers and choreographers in 2025, projects growth of 2 percent from 2025 to 2035, slower than the average for all occupations, and notes that part-time work is common. It adds that a formal credential is not always required for dancers, while teaching dance in a college or school may require a degree. No comparable official figure for Spain was found for this page.
Frequently asked questions
Is dance a university degree in Spain?
Not strictly. Higher dance studies are taught at conservatorios superiores, outside the universities, but the qualification has 240 credits and is equivalent to a university bachelor's degree for all purposes.
Do I need previous training to study dance at higher level?
In practice, yes. Spanish higher studies require a specific entrance test as well as the Bachiller, and many US departments admit by audition. Most dancers begin training at a young age.
What is the difference between a BA and a BFA in dance?
A BA is a liberal arts degree with dance as the major and room for other subjects. A BFA is a professional arts degree in which studio practice takes a larger share of the credits.
Can I teach dance with a dance degree?
It depends on the country and the type of school. In Spain, dance pedagogy is one of the two specialities of higher studies. In the United States, teaching in a college or school may require a degree, according to the BLS.