ROLE CALL: College Admissions for Dancers™

Description of Program: The University of Central Oklahoma Department of Dance is an award-winning program that emphasizes a diverse dance foundation with equal emphasis in ballet, modern, and jazz, with additional opportunities for training in aerial dance, hip hop, tap, dance film, and world dance forms. Coursework offered includes classes in dance technique, teaching methods, improvisation, composition, history, movement analysis, and more. There are three degree programs that allow for each student to follow a path that aligns with the individual education and career goals including a B.F.A. in Dance, a B.A. in Dance Education, and a B.A. in Arts Administration. UCO offers the only B.A. in Dance Education leading to teacher certification in the state of Oklahoma. National and international study tours are available including recent trips to Seoul, Korea; Paris, France; London, England; New York City, NY; Puebla, Mexico; and Newfoundland, Canada. The Department of Dance provides ample opportunity to perform and choreograph, presenting six concerts per year with two main-stage productions, two Student Choreography Showcases, and two Senior Project Showcases. The program invites guest artists from around the world to teach and choreograph. Past guest artists have included: Pilobolus, Diavolo Dance Theater, Bubba Carr, Bradley Rapier, Noa Shiloh, Teddy Tedholm, Bill Evans, Mike Esperanza, Christian Von Howard, Adam Parson, and many others. The UCO Department of Dance also features the Kaleidoscope Dance Company; the dance program’s touring repertory company, which entertains and educates audiences with its varied repertoire of modern, ballet, jazz, hip hop, and theater dance. UCO’s Kaleidoscope Dancers have received many awards including the National College Choreography Initiative Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, Outstanding Student Choreographer/South-Central America College Dance Festival, and Outstanding Student Performer/South-Central America College Dance Festival.

Alumni perform in the field, K-12 Education, and pursue graduate degrees.