Photo from the 2023 Student Dance Concert.

Prospective Dance Students

Information for those interested in studying dance at Southern Utah University

On this page:

Dance Areas of Study

Dance Admissions & Auditions

If you are interested in becoming a Dance major, you must first apply and be accepted to Southern Utah University.

The Dance Program is committed to students' health and wellbeing, as well as their artistic and personal development. Therefore, incoming students will complete a placement audition to adequately begin their progression of dance techniques.

Interested High School Seniors or Transfer students will complete a placement audition and optional scholarship interview in any of the following ways:

SUU Day of Dance
Saturday, February 14, 2026
Location: Southern Utah University Multipurpose Center  Room 116.
Time: 8:30 – 12:30 pm

Prospective students joining us face-to-face for SUU Day of Dance can complete technique level placement and scholarship interviews during the event. This event is free for all participants.

Check-in will start at 8:30 a.m. with the placement audition classes beginning at 9 a.m. Please be sure to register in advance via the audition form and liability form.  Students will come prepared with lunch and a water bottle, as well as plan to work barefoot, and in ballet shoes and jazz shoes (socks are permitted as an alternative).

Event activities will include:

  • Jazz Dance, Ballet, and Modern Dance classes taught by SUU Dance Faculty (technique level placement will take place during these classes)
  • Brief, individual interviews of scholarship applicants with Dance Faculty
  • Group Q&A with students and faculty
  • Complimentary attendance to the matinée performance of the Student Dance Concert at the Randall Jones Theater, 2:00 pm, February 14, 2026

Preparing the videos:

  1. Review the dance combinations provided via the SUU Dance tutorial link within the audition form
  2. Video 1: record yourself demonstrating each of these combinations from the SUU Dance tutorial link (using the provided Spotify soundtrack sound if you would like, not required)
  3. Video 2: record yourself answering the SUU Dance prospective student questions listed at the end of the form

Submitting the videos:

  • Submit your general information, headshot image, demonstration video, and prospective student questions video via the audition form
  • Prospective Dance and Dance Education majors interested in Dance program scholarship consideration must submit by 11:59pm on Friday, January 12, 2026
  • Prospective students and current students seeking technique level placement via the video submission form (no scholarship consideration) can submit materials at any time on an ongoing basis
  • Upload videos to Google Drive or Vimeo and submit the link to each video submission or a folder of all. If using Google Drive, be sure it is set to "anyone with the link can view" in your share settings. If using Vimeo, please share a password for any private links

Please Note: Faculty are off contract between May 15 - August 15. If video auditions are submitted for placement only during this time, expect delay in notification.

Study with Dance Industry Professionals

Each year, the Dance Program invites nationally recognized professional dance artists to teach and choreograph, both remotely and in person, enriching students' knowledge and experience in the field. Additionally, students benefit from our collaboration with the Tony Award-winning Utah Shakespeare Festival, gaining access to state-of-the-art equipment and performance spaces. 

Engaged Learning Community

Join the SUU Dance Organization and participate in multiple productions, masterclasses, and additional student initiated projects throughout the academic year. Dance Program students also routinely collaborate with Nutrition and Kinesiology faculty for wellness clinics, evaluations, and injury prevention seminars.

National Recognition

The SUU Dance program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD). Our faculty and students have received multiple grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and have been recognized for outstanding contributions in education, research, and choreography.

To qualify for a secondary and/or a K-12 education teaching license, students must take professional education courses through SUU's Department of Teacher Education. Please see the degree requirements for Secondary Education Licensure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, placement auditions are required to major in Dance and Dance Education, as well as to pursue the minor. Auditions are available through the department directly. You can sign up for a virtual audition here or attend one of our in-person events. You can apply to the university either before or after your audition. Applications for admission to SUU are available through the Admissions office.

The Bachelor of Arts/Science (BA/BS) is a traditional liberal arts degree that offers broader and more flexible coursework. The program provides a comprehensive foundation in dance history, theory, and practice, while leaving ample room for electives, minors, or even a second major. It is ideal for students who value a well-rounded education and wish to explore multiple disciplines. The Bachelor of Arts emphasizes liberal arts and humanities, while the Bachelor of Science focuses more on math and science.

The difference is that Dance Education majors complete coursework to gain experience in teaching dance and can pursue the degree with or without licensure. Sometimes, out-of-state students prefer to complete the Dance Education degree without licensure so that they can do so in their home state. Other students may be more interested in owning and operating their own dance company, studio, or nonprofit and again choose to omit the pursuit of licensure. Others are sure they want to teach in schools and therefore pursue the licensure. We do not restrict Dance Education students from performing, unlike many dance programs across the nation.

Dance majors are typically seeking performance and choreographic opportunities post-graduation in the field and therefore pursue this degree instead. We work hard to maintain a cohesive structure for all our Dance majors regardless of the degree they are seeking.

Yes! The department offers Secondary Teaching Licensure in Dance. Southern Utah University's Beverley Taylor Sorensen College of Education & Human Development enrolls more than 1,500 students and has been nationally recognized by the most prestigious education accreditation agency in the country, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). Working collaboratively with SUU's accredited College of Education, the department has trained and placed strong, passionate teachers in the public school system across the nation.

You can be cast as early as your freshman year! All Dance and Dance Education majors are expected to audition for Mainstage dance productions (Student Dance Concert and Faculty Dance Concert) and are encouraged to audition for Musical Theatre productions. Students may be cast in a maximum of two dance works per production. Faculty has additional oversight in casting decisions in additional department sponsored projects such as Black Box, Second Studio, etc.  This policy exists to both protect student well-being and encourage a wide spectrum in casting. All students are also required to work backstage on at least one production during the academic year for majors and one production for the length of their academic career at SUU for minors.
No! Current Dance majors, minors, and all SUU students are eligible to audition to perform in all Mainstage Dance productions. These auditions are announced at the beginning of the fall semester.
Students graduating from our Dance, Dance Education, and minor programs find work within the live entertainment and education industries. Alumni of the program have been found dancing with The Hale Center, Celebrity Cruise Lines, Wasatch Contemporary Dance Company, Fem Dance Co, and Lagoon Theme Park, to name a few. Students are also well represented in education teaching at Las Vegas Performing Arts Academy, Durango High School in Las Vegas, as well as at Canyon View High School, and a variety of local dance studios in Utah. Other students find that they prefer other fields in place of live entertainment or education and have become successful entrepreneurs, executives, and more. Please see our alumni page to see what the alumni have been up to.

Yes! There are several opportunities to interface with Guest Choreographers and Teachers within the Dance Program. Some highlights have included: Dante Puelio, Artistic Director of the José Limón Dance Company (NYC), Larry Keigwin (NYC), Jazz Antiqua Dance and Music Ensemble (LA), Hola Jazz (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), Repertoire Dance Company, Ririe Woodbury Dance Company, and Safos Dance Company (Phoenix). While attending SUU, students have also participated in internships with the Women in Dance Leadership Conference, the Dance Data Project, and the Ririe Woodbury Dance Company. 

In the summer, students have trained with Dance West Fest, SALT Contemporary Dance Company, Red Rock Dance Festival, Alvin Ailey Extension School: Ailey Experience NYC, Perry Mansfield Dance Intensive, and Chu This Summer Intensive.

The SUU Dance Program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance. We are proud members of the American College Dance Association, Jacob's Pillow College Partnership Program, National Dance Education Organization, International Association of Blacks in Dance, and the Dance Studies Association.
Yes! Southern Utah Dance Organization (SUUDO) is a student-run organization providing SUU with entertaining, engaging, and educational dance experiences.

The SUU Dance Team is housed with SUU Athletics. You can find out more information regarding auditions and clinics here.

The SUU Ballroom Dance Company auditions are announced at the beginning of each semester. You can contact Sami Kevern at ballroomdance@suu.edu for more information.