ROLE CALL: College Admissions for Dancers™

Description of Program: At James Madison University, The School of Theatre and Dance is rooted in the belief that the relevant artist is the thinking artist who couples the mastery and embodiment of concrete skills with knowledge of and sensitivity to the cultural environments of ideas, artistic forms, and other persons.

The school trains and educates artists, scholars, and teachers in the rich traditions and current practices of dance, theatre, and musical theatre. The school’s programs blend liberal arts education and critical thinking with intensive, pre-professional training and practice.

Faculty foster an environment that values and cultivates creative, passionate, disciplined, curious, innovative, engaged, articulate, collaborative, and independent-thinking artists and scholars. Committed to a teaching approach that emphasizes mentorship and individual attention to students, faculty members of the school empower students in the development of their own personal strengths, provide them with tools and opportunities to realize their potential, and equip them for successful work in professional environments, graduate programs, and as lifelong learners.

Dance students develop abilities in performance, choreography and movement instruction. Through intensive dance courses and abundant performance opportunities, students receive a well-rounded education and the skills necessary to pursue a dance career.

The School of Theatre and Dance at James Madison University believes that equity, access, and inclusion are moral imperatives and artistic obligations. Diversity—in the stories we represent, the students we serve, and the audiences we engage—is vital for the health and relevance of contemporary performing arts practice. The School of Theatre and Dance, therefore, welcomes diversity of perspective, race, ethnicity, religion, socio-economic status, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ability.

The James Madison University Dance Program is a place where young artists come to grow, be challenged, and join a diverse artistic community. We offer a major in Dance with a rigorous curriculum that prepares students for a diverse range of career paths. A career in “Dance” is a wide spectrum, and we work with each student to help define and shape their individual path.

Our program is built on the premise that we work as a community: To develop each student's abilities as a performer, choreographer, creator, collaborator, and movement instructor. To provide an encouraging environment that nurtures confidence, creative and critical thought, and the development of each student’s artistic voice. To provide the tools and space to develop one's own path in dance.

The Dance Major provides a challenging combination of liberal arts curriculum and an intensive study of dance with extensive performance and creative opportunities. Our coursework offers progressive levels of: Modern and Ballet technique, Dance composition, Dance History, Performance production and management, Repertory ensemble experience, Teaching methods and Teaching Licensure. Other dance courses include Jazz, Tap, Ballroom, Improvisation, Dance in the Community, Latin Dance Styles, and Yoga, among many others.

Our rigorous curriculum prepares students for a diverse range of career paths. A career in “Dance” is a wide spectrum, and we work with each student to help define and shape their individual path. We encourage students to Create Your Path at JMU, supporting them on their creative journey to their next professional or academic goal.