Dance Performance BA
Dance like everyone’s watching.
Put your passion into motion on stage, in the classroom, and beyond.
This exciting program combines a strong foundation in history and theory with rigorous training in style and technique and experiential learning opportunities in composition and performance. Students are prepared to work professionally within a dance troupe, choreograph performances, and operate a dance studio.
Just a Few Future Possibilities
- Dancer
- Choreographer
- Dance instructor
- Dance studio administrator
- Movement coach/therapist
- Stage manager
Why Dance Performance? | Why Our Program?
- Professionally oriented Bachelor of Arts program includes courses in modern, jazz, tap, choreography, studio ownership, and more with faculty who are working professionals.
- Students gain performance and training experience through membership in the pre-professional Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏÂÛ̳ Dance ensemble.
- Minor enables students from other disciplines like music, theatre, and physical education to enhance their skill sets with movement.
- Topics covered in the include: Ballet; jazz; choreography; musical theatre; dance teaching; tap.
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Start Your Dance Dream - Audition Soon!
Auditions are required for music, theatre, and dance majors at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏÂÛ̳. What to expect at the audition.
You don't need to wait to be admitted to Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏÂÛ̳ to audition, but we recommend that you have your Admissions application completed by your audition date.
Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏÂÛ̳ Dance majors have multiple opportunities to train with national and international guest artists, teachers, and choreographers in residence throughout the course of their studies.
Dance Faculty
Angelica Cardente-Vessella
- Professor
Ms. Jessica T. Pearson
- Associate Professor
Hear from a Student
Tyler Louie
"My mentors [Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏÂÛ̳ Director of Dance] Angelica Vessella and [Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏÂÛ̳ Associate Professor] Jessica Pearson gave me critiques that were tough to digest sometimes, but I took them with grace. I would struggle with how to change various dance mannerisms but they helped me get through."
– Dance Performance Major
Opportunity and Exposure
"We're protesting in the streets to fight for equal rights. We're shot in the streets because we don't have equal rights. And then we're rioting in the streets to show how angry we are, which only leads to us hurting each other – same old stuff, different day."
Take the Next Step!
Arts and Sciences
The Faculty of Arts and Sciences is a community of scholars that pride themselves on academic excellence, diversity and service.
- emailDeanFAS@ric.edu
- phone401-456-8106
- placeGaige Hall
