Career Opportunities for Majors in Dance


Introduction

Rutgers offers two distinct programs of study in dance: the Bachelor of Fine Arts and the Bachelor of Arts. Both programs are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD).

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Dance is offered through the Mason Gross School of the Arts. It is a more specialized degree program for students who want to be professional dancers and choreographers. Two primary goals of this program are excellence in modern dance performance and outstanding creative achievement. The curriculum includes three main areas of focus: technique and performance, choreography, and theoretical studies.

Students can pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree (BA) in Dance through the School of Arts and Sciences. This is a generalist program that combines a broad experience in the liberal arts with a specialization in dance. It prepares students to advance beyond the bachelor's degree in performance, teaching, dance criticism, or history.

Some graduates choose to pursue careers closely related to dance, such as performance, education, and choreography. Others choose careers behind the scenes or in the business area of dance in careers such as production, management, and marketing. A bachelor's degree is sufficient for many entry-level positions, but an advanced degree may be required for career opportunities in an area of specialization. Many careers do not require a specific major but rather a wide range of demonstrated skills and accomplishments. Thus some graduates pursue careers in fields quite unrelated to dance. Regardless of your career choices, increase your marketability to employers through a responsible work ethic, good grades, and involvement in college activities.


A Sample Of Related Occupations

Advertising Specialist Dance Writer Public Relations Specialist
Artistic Director Dancer Publicist
Choreographer Director of Arts Advocacy Agency Sales/Marketing Representative
Community Relations Director Director of Arts Council Special Events Coordinator
Costume Designer Editor/Writer Stage Manager
Dance Company Manager Lighting Designer Talent Agent
Dance Critic Lobbyist Teacher/Professor
Dance Studio Owner Production Manager Tour Manager
Dance Therapist Promoter
Types of Employers

Private & Nonprofit Organizations
Arts Advocacy Agencies Media Firms Public Relations Firms
Colleges/Universities Newspapers/Magazines Publishing companies
Dance Companies Performing Arts Centers Theater Companies
Elementary and Secondary Schools Private Dance Studios Theme Parks
Entertainment Firms Production Companies
Government Agencies
Cultural Affairs Agencies National Endowment for the Arts Peace Corps/AmeriCorps
Department of Education   National Endowment for the Humanities
National Archives & Records Administration Office of Int'l. Education
Jobs Obtained by Rutgers Graduates - First Jobs of Recent Graduates - Dance

Organization Job Title
Pilates Method Alliance Teachers And Instructors
Walt Disney Company Dancers And Choreographers
Saint Paul Ballet Teachers And Instructors
RIX Pool and Spa Supply Dancers And Choreographers
Dance studio Dancers
Wag Labs Inc. Dog Walker
Starbucks Food And Beverage Serving Workers


Professional Dancers and/or Choreographers
American Repertory Ballet Amy Pivar Dancers
Broadway Cast, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes Cleo Mack Dance Project
Connecticut Ballet David Dorfman Dance Company
Doris Humphrey Repertory Company Elizabeth Streb Dance Company
Erick Hawkins Dance Company Laura Glenn Dance Company
LKB Dance Mark Jaracke Dance Company
Michael Foley Dance Company Murray Louis and Nikolais Dance
Nicholas Rodriguez Dance Compass Ohio Ballet
Pilobolus Dance Company Pittsburgh Dance Alloy
Race Dance Randy James Dance Works
Rhombus Dance Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus
Sarah Pearson, Patrick Widrig Dance Company Stephanie Shura Dance Company
Stomp Tennessee Dance Theater
Dance Educators
Adademie Des Tanzes, Germany Ball State University
BOCES Cultural Arts Center Chicago State University
Cicely Tyson High School Columbia High School
Duncan Centre Conservatory, Prague East Brunswick Vocational High School
Franklin Township Board of Education Laban Center, Goldsmith College, London
Marymount Manhattan College Mercer County College
Mercer County Vocational High School Middlesex County College
On the Move Performing Arts Center Piscataway Board of Education
Princeton Ballet School Princeton High School
Purnell High School Rowan University
Rutgers University Smith College
Temple University
Private Dance Studio Owners and/or Managers
Center Stage Dance Studio, Inc. Dance Express School
Dance Plus Studio Dance Unlimited
Kaye-Lynn Studio Miss Carol School of Dance
Standing Ovation School of Dance
Additional Related Fields
American Repertory Ballet Company, Marketing Bill T. Jones Dance Company, Manager
Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company, Lighting Designer and Stage Manager Duchess County Cultural Arts Council, Director
Princeton Dance Book Publisher, Editor San Francisco Ballet Association, Admin. Assistant
Tricia Brown Dance Company, Manager University of Southern Califormia, Graduate Student, Ph.D., Physical Therapy
Jobs Obtained by Rutgers Graduates - Jobs of Experienced Alumni - Dance

Graduate Schools Attended

Institution Degree Field
Fordham University Media Studies Media Management
Rutgers -The State University of NJ Education Dance Education

Additionally, you may: