Dance Choreography (B.F.A.)
Create Forward Motion with a Choreography Degree at Seton Hill
A Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Choreography at Seton Hill provides a lasting foundation for movement artists that want to:
- Understand production.
- Think critically about the connection between dance and audience.
- Expand their boundaries through movement creation.
- Graduate with strong artistic experiences leading to a life-long pursuit of working with dance.
Why a B.F.A. in Choreography from Seton Hill?
- Work closely with faculty mentors to develop and identify your artistic voice through movement creation.
- Investigate multiple forms of choreography.
- Develop specific skills in your area of interest.
- Collaborate with other artists from multiple disciplines.
- Perform and choreograph for stage in Seton Hill's Performing Arts and Arts Centers (and in other site-specific productions).
- Dedicate time to learning elements of both commercial and traditional screendance.
Arts Center & Performing Arts Center
Seton Hill’s award-winning Arts Center is the home of the Dance Program and offers spacious studios, new classrooms and plenty of places to practice, study, hang out or grab something to eat. The Seton Hill University Performing Arts Center, one block away, provides a variety of performance venues, including an expansive concert hall and a black box theatre.
Performance & Production Opportunities
As a Seton Hill dance student, you will receive individualized training coupled with abundant production and performance opportunities. Every year, Seton Hill produces a full season of theatre and dance performances.
Students also have the opportunity to:
- Audition for three concerts per year (auditions are open to all Seton Hill students).
- Present work at the American College Dance Association (ACDA) conference.
Internships & Apprenticeships
Seton Hill dance majors are employed in the university’s costume and scene shops as well as in the box office. Dance majors also have a long track record of success working as interns, apprentices and performers in theatre companies and theme parks around the country.
Students have been accepted for continuing study into:
- Mark Morris Dance Group Summer Intensive
- Joffrey Ballet
- New York City Ballet
- American Ballet Theatre New York
...and have held internships with:
- American Dance Festival
- Attack Theatre
- Ballet de Montreal
Artist-Faculty
Dance faculty at Seton Hill have backgrounds in performance, teaching and choreography. Faculty areas of specialty include:
- Dance Science
- Dance for Individuals with Disabilities
- Dance Pedagogy
- Performance
- Choreography
Students also get exposure to professionals working in the field through adjunct faculty. Guest artists work with students through semester-long courses, master classes and residencies.
Partnerships
As a Seton Hill dance student, you will have the opportunity to take advantage of unique partnerships that will enhance your dance education experience. We are currently a member of the Jacob's Pillow College Partnership Program.
Study Abroad Opportunities
Seton Hill's Study Abroad Program helps dancers take the leap to experience somewhere new, including locations like London, Dublin and New York City. In the past, students have had the opportunity to attend the Dublin Dance Festival, take dance classes in other countries, and meet in-person with professional choreographers and dancers.
Clubs & Organizations
- Student Dance Organization (SDO) - a student-run organization that offers master classes, performance opportunities, and other group events
- University Dance Team - performs at events throughout the year
Careers
The concentration you choose will influence your future career path, as you develop a deeper understanding of a specific area of dance. Graduates from Seton Hill’s B.F.A. in Choreography are prepared to:
- Perform in a wide variety of settings, from entertainment venues to Broadway.
- Choreograph original work that can be used independently or collaboratively for dance and theatre productions.
Your professors and Seton Hill’s award-winning Career and Professional Development Center will work with local, regional and national employers to provide you with the career preparation skills, internship opportunities and placement services you need - as a student and after you graduate.
Recent graduates have gone on to work with:
- Jacob’s Pillow
- Mid-Atlantic Ballet
- RWS Entertainment Group
- Seton Hill University Dance Academy
Admissions & Aid
At Seton Hill University, we offer streamlined admissions requirements and a comprehensive aid program.
Interview & Audition
Once you apply have been accepted to Seton Hill, you must successfully complete an interview and audition with members of the dance faculty to be admitted into the Dance Program (and to become eligible to compete for merit-based dance scholarships.)
Learn More About the Seton Hill Dance Program
The Seton Hill Dance Program creates versatile and well-rounded artists grounded in the liberal arts. All dancers, regardless of the degree or concentration, complete the core dance curriculum, which includes study in technique, cultural dance, improvisation, teaching dance, and more. Learn more here.
