Julian Jernigan
Here is a list of great colleges for dance. They are broken down into type of technique they emphasize, as well as size and type of college experience.
Butler University is not only known for its intesive style ballet sudy program, but has a sophisticated job placement service and currently boasts over 100 graduates working professionally!
Indiana University is another Ballet powerhouse, boasting choreography by George Balanchine, international tours and multiple performances per year. For the serious ballerina only!
University of Oklahoma boasts a resident ballet company that not only performs locally, but also does community outreach. In the educational end, ballet students may choose a BFA in either Dance Performance, or Dance Pedagogy.
NYU-Tisch School of the Arts was one of the first colleges to experiment with a small permanent dance faculty and a massive amount of adjunct professionals. With New York City being the capital of dance, it is no surprise that this model has since been adopted nationwide as well as at the high school level. The schools main emphasis is modern dance.
FSU is another Modern Dance haven. They have an extremely well connected faculty as well as graduate degree programs. The faculty is one of the most knowledgeable, committed, and educated members of the dance dance world and especially the most highly qualified educators one will find under any one umbrella.
Another well noted contender in the modern dance family, SUNY Purchase has some of the most groundbreaking integration of technology and dance in the entire United States. If one is looking to push the boundaries of dance in multiple aspects, this is the place to make it happen.
Oklahoma City University is the sole entity under theater and jazz dance. They boasts a well founded program and have more current graduated to work in the theater industry than any other two schools combined.
Point Park University is firat on the list of best for all around dance. They boast at least two degrees in each of the techniques and also have two resident companies as well as a state of the art performance space.
The University of the Arts boasts a 300 member student body in dance alone. They have several professional companies that are in residence, giving their students constant exposure to working professionals. On a personal note I have a close friend who graduated as their valedictorian in 2009 and loved every minute of it.
University of South Carolina is first on the locals list. Although it is out of state and the tuition will be significantly more as a result, it is the closest large scale program to Savannah, Georgia. Savannah Arts Academy Dance Department currently has one alumni dance major at this campus. She would be glad to make herself available for any specific questions that anyone may have.
The second on the locals list, Kennesaw State Dance Department is run by a colleague, Ivan Poulinkala. He has built the program from nonexistent just eight years ago to the world renowned well connected juggernaut that it has become. Some of their accomplishments in the short time include invitational performances at Atlantic College Dance Festival world gala in Tokyo, Japan, a educational partnership with the Atlanta Ballet, and a brand new multi-million dollar facility.
Want a small town feel in your dance education. Brenau University is run by my close personal friend Vincas Greene. I can assure you that while a private university, they will go out of their way to accommodate your needs. They actually used me as a guinea pig in instituting a distance dance education degree. They were more than happy to count most of my undergraduate work and I was able to complete my dance education certification in only four semesters.
Everyone boasts their alma mater as the best program ever. While I loved my time at ECU, and was educated from scratch while in its hallowed halls, I am thankful for the chances they gave me and the large amount of risk that they took in allowing me to pursue a BFA in Dance.
