Programs

Bachelor of Arts in Dance

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Dance at the University of California, Riverside (UCR) offers a comprehensive program for students passionate about dance as both a creative practice and an academic discipline. Taught by nationally and internationally recognized faculty, the program draws on diverse backgrounds including choreography, performance studies, African diasporic ritual cultures, Hip Hop, Indian diasporic dance, Indigenous studies, and digital technologies. Students engage in rigorous creative research alongside critical cultural and historical perspectives through studio and seminar courses. The curriculum examines aesthetics, the body, gender, race, class, and sexuality within the broader field of dance studies. Students are expected to maintain a consistent movement practice, with opportunities to explore various dance forms such as Hip Hop, Modern, Ballet, Jazz, West African, House, Capoeira, Somatics, Yoga, and Latin American Social Dance. Students pursuing the B.A. in Dance will complete core courses in both Choreography/Dance Making and Dance Studies. The program allows students to choose a specialization for their capstone project, focusing either on performance-based work or a research paper, with the option to complete projects in both areas. Throughout their studies, students have numerous performance opportunities, including annual concerts like 'UCR is Dancing' and 'Spring Forward,' as well as potential involvement with the undergraduate ensemble for the Gluck Fellows Program of the Arts. The department frequently hosts workshops, master classes, and lectures by visiting professional dancers, choreographers, and scholars, enriching the student experience.