Department of Dance

- 4000 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98105

For aspiring artist-scholars across Washington State and the Pacific Northwest, the **Department of Dance** at the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle stands as a nationally recognized center for both academic rigor and creative innovation. Operating under the umbrella of a prestigious public research **University**, the department is committed to expanding the meanings and experiences of dance as both a field of critical study and a vibrant, living art form. This local point of interest is highly regarded for its forward-thinking curriculum that elevates the value of play, creativity, critical thinking, and embodied knowledge.

Unlike programs solely focused on producing professional performers, the UW Department of Dance provides an integrated course of study. It maintains a rigorous balance between creative work—such as performance and choreography—and academic study, often resulting in students who excel as interdisciplinary double majors. This approach prepares graduates for a diverse range of careers, from professional performing arts to fields like medicine, arts administration, and physical therapy. The department actively engages with historically and culturally informed pedagogical perspectives, particularly working to decenter Western and European perspectives by embracing global dance traditions.

The department contributes significantly to the cultural landscape of Seattle and Washington by regularly producing high-quality concerts and bringing world-renowned guest artists to campus, reinforcing its role as a key contributor to the regional arts community.

The Department of Dance is centrally located on the main campus of the University of Washington, situated in the thriving University District of Seattle, WA. This location places it within a dynamic intellectual environment, close to the resources of a major research university and the broader Seattle arts scene. The specific address is:

• Address: 4000 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98105, USA

Its physical location near **Meany Hall for the Performing Arts**—a primary venue for departmental concerts—is a major logistical advantage for students. Furthermore, the UW campus is known for its transportation connectivity. The department demonstrates its commitment to serving all members of the Washington community by ensuring accessibility to its facilities:

• Wheelchair accessible entrance: Ensures easy access into the facility for students, visitors, and performers.
• Wheelchair accessible parking lot: Provides dedicated and convenient parking for those with mobility needs.

The Department of Dance provides comprehensive academic and artistic services primarily focused on dance education, research, and performance. The core services and programs offered to students in Washington and beyond include:

• Undergraduate Degree Programs: Offering a **Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Dance**, which provides flexible and comprehensive training, often paired with a second major in an unrelated field like Biology or Communications.
• Undergraduate Minor and Honors: Providing a **Dance Minor** for students wishing to pursue dance alongside a different primary degree, and an **Honors Program** for advanced scholarly and creative research.
• Graduate Program: A **Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Dance** designed to transition experienced dance professionals into roles in higher education, focusing on research, choreography, and pedagogy.
• Diverse Technique Classes: A wide range of technique courses encompassing over 15 genres, including Contemporary Ballet, Contemporary Modern, **Street Styles**, and **West African Dance**, along with social dances and cultural forms.
• Academic Coursework: Classes on choreography, production, dance science (anatomy/kinesiology), scholarly dance studies (history/theory), dance education, and arts administration.
• Performance Opportunities: Producing four major annual concerts—including the Grad Lab Concert and Dance Majors Concert—in prestigious venues like Meany Hall, allowing students to perform and showcase original work.
• Masterclasses and Residencies: Regularly hosting workshops and masterclasses taught by world-renowned visiting local, national, and international guest artists, enriching the student experience.

For students in Washington considering higher education in the performing arts, the UW Department of Dance offers several distinguishing features:

• Interdisciplinary Strength (The Double Major): A major highlight is the curriculum's design that allows—and encourages—over 80% of students to pursue a double major, creating uniquely versatile graduates prepared for a wide array of career fields.
• Decentered Curriculum: The department is in the vanguard of a national movement to diversify dance education, integrating non-Western forms like West African dance and actively questioning dominant historical narratives in the field.
• Artist-Scholar Community: The program actively bridges the intuitive with the analytical, challenging students to be both rigorous artists and critical scholars, often combining creative research (e.g., choreography) with scientific inquiry (e.g., motion-capture technology research).
• Professional Venue Access: Students regularly perform in one of the region's most celebrated venues, the Meany Center for the Performing Arts, providing professional-level production experience.
• Dedicated Faculty Mentorship: Students benefit from the expertise and personalized mentorship of faculty who are themselves active artist-scholars and leaders in the global dance community.
• Commitment to Local Arts: The "bst (body, space, time)" residency program actively supports local Seattle dance artists by offering free studio space, demonstrating a strong commitment to enriching the regional dance ecosystem.
• Accessibility: Key physical accessibility features, including a wheelchair accessible entrance and parking lot, ensure the facility is welcoming to all members of the Washington community.

Prospective students, alumni, and community members in the Seattle area can reach the Department of Dance offices for inquiries regarding programs, events, and tours:

• Address: 4000 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98105, USA (Main UW Campus)
• Phone: (206) 543-9843
• Mobile Phone: +1 206-543-9843

Choosing the University of Washington Department of Dance is an intentional choice for a future that is not confined to the traditional stage. For Washington students, what is truly worth choosing is the **future-proof education**. This department uniquely understands that a degree in dance is a degree in critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and deep somatic knowledge—skills that are invaluable in any 21st-century career.

The curriculum’s flexibility allows an aspiring dancer to simultaneously pursue pre-med, engineering, or communications, resulting in graduates who are highly marketable and intellectually rich. The department prepares students for life beyond performance, evidenced by alumni successfully transitioning into medical residencies, arts leadership, and other demanding fields. By committing to diverse genres and a progressive, equitable curriculum, the UW Department of Dance ensures its students are not only technically skilled but are also culturally aware, critically engaged citizens ready to lead and innovate within the vibrant arts and academic sectors of Washington State and the world.

Department of Dance

4000 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98105, USA