Talent, innovation, and artistry come together in every Chapman dance student performance!
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» Welcome to the Department of Dance!
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.
Learn and Perform in Professional-Grade Spaces
Sandi Simon Center for Dance
Our recently opened new home for dance features:
- Six dance studios, including a performance studio that transforms into a black box theatre.
- A dedicated training room for injury prevention.
- Student lounge.
- Classrooms, rehearsal studios and all the other facilities of a top dance program.
- 2023 Preservation Design Award for Rehabilitation
- 2023 SCUP Excellence in Architecture Award
Versatile Performance Spaces
- Musco Center for the Arts—a 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—a 905-seat performance space located inside the historic Memorial Hall, built in 1921.
- Simon Center black box theatre—a 100-seat, informal performance space.
Tour the Department of Dance
Prospective students and their families can register for an in-person or virtual tour of the Department of Dance. The 45-minute tour includes a look at our brand new Sandi Simon Center for Dance, including dance studios, classrooms and performance spaces. Learn more and register 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
Our highly accomplished faculty specialize in both traditional and contemporary techniques in many genres; in dance science and somatic practices; in choreography, production, and artistic directorship; and in pedagogy, history and aesthetics.
For a complete list of our award-winning dance faculty, visit the faculty directory.
Guest Artists
Chapman dance students have worked closely with an impressive roster of guest artists and companies in residencies, or multi-day intensives, that cover topics like setting up company repertory, choreography mentorship, auditions, performances by the companies and students, lectures, workshops masterclasses. Previous key artists include:
- Camille Brown, choreographer, educator, artistic director of Camille A. Brown & Dancers
- Cirque du Soleil®
- Complexions Contemporary Ballet Company
- Rennie Harris, choreographer, founder, Rennie Harris Puremovement, American Street Dance Theatre
- Mark Morris, choreographer, founder, Mark Morris Dance Center
- MOMIX
- Peridance Contemporary Dance Company
- Pilobolus
- Fatima Robinson, choreographer, director, creative director
- Monika Felice Smith, choreographer, movement director
- Micaela Taylor and TL Collective
- Lula Washington, founder, Lula Washington Dance Theatre
And master classes with:
- BODYTRAFFIC
- Chloe Arnold & Syncopated Ladies
- Tyce Diorio, choreographer, So You Think You Can Dance
- Bret Easterling, gaga technique
- Justin Giles, SoulEscape
- Channing Cook Holmes, tap dancer for The Gregory Hines Show and A Showtime Original: Bojangles
Bojangles - Rina Mehta, Kathak master teacher, SPEAK artistic director
- Matthew Rushing, rehearsal director, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
- Kurtis Sprung, The Bad Boys of Dance
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.
Choreography fellowship with Jacob's Pillow.
Performing on tour with Taylor Swift.
Pursuing a M.Phil. in Genomic Medicine at Cambridge University, UK.
Works in entertainment for Holland America Cruise Lines.
Company dancer with NW Dance Project in Portland, OR.
Named "25 to Watch in 2023" by Dance Magazine.
Director of Early Childhood and instructor of dance at O.C. Music & Dance in Irvine, CA.
Student Clubs and Organizations
Joining a student club is a great way to expand your interests and community. You can join any of the hundreds of Chapman clubs and student organizations, but the following section lists the ones Dance students enjoy most:
Dance Clubs and Organizations
- Chapman Dance Alliance: student-run organization dedicated to bringing together dancers on campus
- Chapman Dance Team: 14-time champions at the USA Collegiate Championship Nationals
- Heels Club:
- Tap Ensemble: all about the art of tap
- Team Shaka: sharing enthusiasm for hip-hop
- Twilight: K-pop dance team
- Chapman Dance Film Club: for students interested in cultivating Dance in Film
- Floor 13: sharing love for dance with the Chapman community
Our performance season begins in fall semester of each academic year. Watch this space for dance event and ticketing information as it becomes available!
Contact Us
Program Questions
dance@tuwabuki.com
(714) 744-7040
Admission Questions
copaadmit@tuwabuki.com
(714) 516-5223