CONTACT
Ashley Rivera
Senior Undergraduate Admissions Coordinator
512-232-2741
Overview
The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance offers intensive, professional training within a rigorous academic setting. Students pursing a B.F.A. in Dance can choose between two distinct emphases:
- Performance and Choreography
- Dance Education, which leads to Texas state teacher certification for grades 6-12, with reciprocity in many states
B.F.A. in Dance students pursuing either emphasis will train in contemporary, ballet, African and street dance forms, with numerous opportunities for performance and choreography. Both emphases also provide training in pedagogy, conditioning, anatomy, dance history and production and performance with the department’s award-winning student dance company, Dance Repertory Theatre.
The University of Texas at Austin is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD).
Application Requirements
First-Year (Freshman) Application Procedures
1. SUBMIT THE COMMON APP APPLICATION
Available: August 1, 2025
Deadline: December 1, 2025
All applicants must submit a freshman university application via Common App. This university application will include:
- Application
- Fee
- Essay
- Short answers
- Transcript(s)
- Official SAT or ACT scores
- Other required or optional materials, if applicable
- Scholarship interest form
For a full list of application requirements, please visit the Office of Admissions website.
2. SUBMIT THEATRE AND DANCE APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Available: September 1, 2025
Deadline: December 1, 2025
Applicants will be required to submit the prescreen materials listed below. Select applicants may be invited to attend an in-person or virtual callback interview/audition.
- College of Fine Arts application
- Headshot – this does not have to be a professional headshot. It can be a clear image taken on your mobile device.
Video 1 - Movement Samples: Learn and perform the three provided movement phrases using the music provided in the application and the prompt outlined in the Movement Samples document. The focus should be to perform the movement as accurately as possible. Title your video "Movement Samples."
Please ensure that the provided music can be heard in your video recording.Be sure to edit your samples into one video file in the following order:
1. Contemporary Technique
2. Contemporary Nigerian Dance
3. Ballet Technique- Video 2 – Creative Dancemaking Assignment: Complete the creative dancemaking assignment using the prompt outlined in the Creative Assignment document. The focus should be to fulfill the prompt with your unique voice and creative ideas and to adhere to the time limit (30-60 seconds). Title your video "Creative Assignment."
- Video 3 – Personal Reflection Video: Complete the personal reflection using the prompt outlined in the Reflection Video document. Remember, this is an opportunity for us to "meet you," so be yourself and have fun! Be sure to keep your reflection video under 1-minute and title the video "Reflection."
Please reference the Fall 2026 Dance Audition Resources Folder for further instructions, movements samples and other materials.
The portal to submit a Theatre and Dance application will be accessible via the applicant’s MyStatus portal after submitting the Common Application.
APPLICATION DEADLINES FOR FIRST-YEAR APPLICANTS
| Common App application for admittance in Fall 2026 opens. | August 1, 2025 |
| Department of Theatre and Dance application opens. | September 1, 2025 |
| Common App application deadline. | December 1, 2025 |
| Deadline for students to submit all additional application items, including Theatre and Dance application. | December 1, 2025 |
View a full list of important application dates and deadlines.
External Transfer Application Procedures
1. SUBMIT THE COMMON APP APPLICATION
Available: August 1, 2025
Deadline: March 1, 2026
All applicants must submit a transfer university application via Common App. This university application will include:
- Application
- Fee
- Essay
- Short answers
- Transcript(s)
- Official SAT or ACT scores
- Other required or optional materials, if applicable
- Scholarship interest form
For a full list of application requirements, please visit the Office of Admissions website.
2. SUBMIT THEATRE AND DANCE APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Available: September 1, 2025
Deadline: March 10, 2026
Applicants will be required to submit the prescreen materials listed below. Select applicants may be invited to attend an in-person or virtual callback interview/audition.
- College of Fine Arts application
- Headshot – this does not have to be a professional headshot. It can be a clear image taken on your mobile device.
Video 1 - Movement Samples: Learn and perform the three provided movement phrases using the music provided in the application and the prompt outlined in the Movement Samples document. The focus should be to perform the movement as accurately as possible. Title your video "Movement Samples."
Please ensure that the provided music can be heard in your video recording.Be sure to edit your samples into one video file in the following order:
1. Contemporary Technique
2. Contemporary Nigerian Dance
3. Ballet Technique- Video 2 – Creative Dancemaking Assignment: Complete the creative dancemaking assignment using the prompt outlined in the Creative Assignment document. The focus should be to fulfill the prompt with your unique voice and creative ideas and to adhere to the time limit (30-60 seconds). Title your video "Creative Assignment."
- Video 3 – Personal Reflection Video: Complete the personal reflection using the prompt outlined in the Reflection Video document. Remember, this is an opportunity for us to "meet you," so be yourself and have fun! Be sure to keep your reflection video under 1-minute and title the video "Reflection."
Please reference the Fall 2026 Dance Audition Resources Folder for further instructions, movements samples and other materials.
The portal to submit a Theatre and Dance application will be accessible via the applicant’s MyStatus portal after submitting the Common Application.
APPLICATION DEADLINES FOR EXTERNAL TRANSFER APPLICANTS
| Common App application for admittance in Fall 2026 opens. | August 1, 2025 |
| Department of Theatre and Dance application for external transfers opens. | September 1, 2025 |
| Common App application deadline. | March 1, 2026 |
| Deadline for students to submit all additional application items, including Theatre and Dance application. | March 10, 2026 |
View a full list of important application dates and deadlines.
Internal Transfer (Change or Add Major) Application Procedures
1. COMPLETE THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN INTERNAL TRANSFER APPLICATION
Available: February 1, 2026
Deadline: May 1, 2026
Applicants will be required to submit a list of prescreen materials provided in the application portal. Select applicants may be invited to attend a virtual interview and/or audition. Further information about Theatre and Dance application requirements will be available in January, 2026.
For more information regarding the internal transfer process, please visit the Office of Admissions Internal Transfer website.
APPLICATION DEADLINES FOR INTERNAL APPLICANTS (CHANGE OR ADD MAJOR)
| Application for internal transfers (change of major) opens. | February 1, 2026 |
| Deadline to submit all application requirements. | May 1, 2026 |
View a full list of important application dates and deadlines.
Sample Curriculum - Performance and Choreography
| FIRST YEAR | SECOND YEAR | THIRD YEAR | FOURTH YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
Contemporary Technique Ballet Technique Public Practice Physical Conditioning Production Lab | Intermediate Contemporary Technique Intermediate Ballet Technique Movement Improvisation Fund Projects in Dance Performance and Repertory Movement Composition | TD Elective Option Dance History I & II Projects in Dance Performance and Repertory | Choreography I Dance Pedagogy Theory Topics in Dance Movement Adv Projects in Dance Performance and Repertory Choreo Design Dance Movement TD Elective Option - History/Cultural Diversity |
The schedule and availability of Theatre and Dance courses changes each semester. The courses listed above are examples for this focus. Students must also fulfill The University of Texas at Austin’s core curriculum, department core, and elective requirements.
DOWNLOAD SAMPLE DEGREE PLAN:
You may need to install Acrobat Reader to access this document.
Sample Curriculum - Dance Education
| FIRST YEAR | SECOND YEAR | THIRD YEAR | FOURTH YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|
Contemporary Technique Ballet Technique Public Practice Physical Conditioning Production Lab | Intermediate Contemporary Technique Movement Improvisation Dance History I & II Fund Projects in Dance Performance and Repertory Intermediate Ballet Technique Movement Composition Teaching Cert: PSY 304, PSY 309, EDP 350G, or HDF 313 & 113L Projects in Dance Performance & Repertory (PDPR) Teaching Cert: Individual Differences | Advanced Projects in Dance Performance and Repertory Choreography I Dance Pedagogy Experiential Anatomy Addition Dance Technique Teaching Cert: Teaching Dance | Teaching Cert: Designs for Instruction Teaching Cert: School Organization & Classroom Management Additional Dance Technique & PDPR Projects in Dance Studies Teaching Cert: All-Level Teaching Practicum |
The schedule and availability of Theatre and Dance courses changes each semester. The courses listed above are examples for this focus. Students must also fulfill The University of Texas at Austin’s core curriculum, department core, and elective requirements.
DOWNLOAD SAMPLE DEGREE PLAN:
You may need to install Acrobat Reader to access this document.