»Welcome to the Department of Dance!

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Chapman University's Department of Dance offers rigorous professional training with high-caliber productions, renowned faculty and guest artists, a new state-of-the-art dance center, and all the benefits of a small liberal arts university.

The BA and BFA degrees focus on equitable and varied training in ballet, jazz, and modern technique supported by tap, hip hop, ballroom, and other forms. Additional curricular strengths include choreography (with more than 100 student works produced annually in four performance venues), and dance science and wellness (with courses in somatics, Pilates, yoga, anatomy, and kinesiology).

Chapman University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Dance, and the department is ranked as a Best College Dance Program by Dance.org.

Faculty are experts in their fields and include world renowned artists Dwight Rhoden and Ido Tadmor. Located in beautiful Orange, California, Chapman frequently hosts master classes, performances, and auditions with L.A.’s top artists and talent agencies.

Chapman Dance Programs

You can choose from a pre-professional BFA in Dance Performance or a more broad-based BA in Dance. Both degrees provide excellent preparation for entering the professional dance world or graduate school. We also offer a Minor in Dance Studies.

EXPLORE DANCE PROGRAMS »

Talent, innovation, and artistry come together in every Chapman dance student performance!

Learn and Perform in Professional-Grade Spaces at Sandi Simon Center for Dance which feature:

Six dance studios, including a performance studio that transforms into a black box theatre.
A dedicated training room for injury prevention and warming up.
Student Loft & Lounge.
Classrooms and rehearsal studios can be reserved outside class hours.
2023 Preservation Design Award for Rehabilitation
2023 SCUP Excellence in Architecture Award
The Sandi Simon Center for Dance was recently featured on CBS' America by Design program, here is the link. The segment appears at 25:56 and runs just over 6 minutes.

Dance Students Perform in Versatile University Performance Spaces That Include:

Musco Center for the Arts: World-class 88,000 sq. ft. performance space; seats up to 1044 patrons across three levels.
Waltmar Theatre: An intimate 240-seat theatre.
Chapman Auditorium: A905-seat performance space located inside the historic Memorial Hall, built in 1921.
Simon Center Black Box Theatre: A 120-seat performance space.

Tour the Department of Dance

Prospective students and families can register for an in-person or virtual tour of the Department of Dance. The 45-minute tour includes a look at our new Sandi Simon Center for Dance, including dance studios, classrooms, and performance space. Book your tour below:

Learn from the Best

You’ll develop your skills alongside faculty, who are expert teachers and accomplished artists in their own right, and guest artists from around the world.

Faculty Expertise

Students will develop skills alongside our expert faculty who are accomplished artists in their own right, and with guest artists from around the world. Our highly regarded faculty specialize in both traditional and contemporary techniques, in dance science and somatic practices, choreography, production, artistic directorship, pedagogy, history and aesthetics. For a complete list of our award-winning dance faculty, visit the faculty directory.

Guest Artists and Masterclasses

Dance students have worked closely with an impressive roster of accomplished guest artists and companies in residencies, or during multi-day intensives that cover topics such as setting up company repertory, choreography mentorship, auditions, teaching and lectures, workshops and masterclasses.

Artists and Masterclasses Include:

BalletX
BODYTRAFFIC
Camille Brown: Choreographer, educator, artistic director.
Chloe Arnold & Syncopated Ladies
Complexions Contemporary Ballet Company
Dance Theatre of Harlem
Doug Verone: Choreography and director.
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
Mark Morris: Choreographer, founder of Mark Morris Dance Center
Martha Graham Dance Company
Matthew Rushing Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
MOMIX
Paul Taylor Dance Company
Peridance Contemporary Dance Company
Pilobolus
Rennie Harris: Choreographer, founder of Rennie Harris Puremovement, American Street Dance Theatre

Career Connections for Life

Chapman Dance students have career support from our dedicated performing arts career advisor from day one and beyond graduation. A few notable dance alumni are listed below.