Our small program model allows for individual mentorship in the studio classroom, in performance, and in the capstone experience. We teach and inspire our dance students through scholarship, studio practice, and live performances directed by faculty and guest artists. The flexibility of this 39-credit hour major supports opportunities to double major or minor in another discipline within the liberal arts degree framework of Converse.
Combine your love of music and movement with Converse’s Dance major or minor. The Dance program at Converse explores choreography, music theory, and the physical capabilities of the human body to prepare you for a myriad of professions from dance education, to performance, to production.
Converse’s Dance program provides an inclusive, flexible environment for students to develop their artistic, physical, and intellectual capabilities in the field of dance. Major or minor in Dance at Converse, where our training is rooted in healthy, sustainable techniques that support injury prevention and longevity.
At Converse, you’ll hone your craft while gaining interdisciplinary skills that will give you an edge when seeking opportunities following graduation. We value individual mentorship, collaborative choreographic processes, and culturally engaged dance pedagogy. You’ll have opportunities to perform in faculty, guest, and student dance productions, create your own choreography, and study every aspect of dance performance and production.
Degrees Offered
- BA in Dance
- Minor in Dance
Related Programs
About Dance
The study of dance at Converse began in 1960 with Professor Emerita, Janis Dengler. Our Dance program continues to provide a holistic approach to technique, composition, performance, and artistic research. We value versatile performers and choreographers who engage in the world around them and bring their unique artistic vision into the dance studio.
As a dancer at Converse, you’ll have the opportunity to perform in Faculty & Guest dance concerts, yearly capstone performances choreographed by senior dance majors, musicals, showcases, and other opportunities within the Theatre & Dance Department’s season. There are ample opportunities to perform and present choreography at Converse.
You will meet with and learn from guest artists, as well as professional opportunities to expand your professional experience.
Dance Converse Professional Collaborations
- ProMotion Rehab & Sports Medicine
- Ballet Spartanburg
- Libation West African Dance Company
- Glow Lyric Theatre
- Greenville Dance Fusion
- Gye Nyame Dance Company
Dance courses may be taken as electives by anyone interested in dance, or you may choose to minor in dance.
In introductory technique courses, you’ll improve your technique in specific genres, enhance your visual skills, spatial awareness, rhythm, and creativity. In intermediate courses, you will continue to build on these skills, and begin to focus on techniques necessary for the particular genre being studied. In advanced level courses, you’ll gain a deeper understanding and exploration of a genre. You’ll also gain experience through improvisation, compositional studies and different styles within the genre.
Sample Courses
- Alexander Technique
- Composition
- Ballet
- Tap
- Jazz
- Modern Dance
Major in Dance
The flexibility of Converse’s 39-credit hour major supports opportunities to double major or minor in another discipline within the liberal arts degree framework of Converse.
Students will engage in studio and theory classes, create, produce, and perform in fully staged dance works, and gain the skills necessary for a diverse range of career opportunities. Majoring in dance will prepare students for careers in performance, choreography, education, arts administration, dance medicine, and other fields that value collaboration, critical thinking, leadership, and creative problem solving skills.
View the Dance Major requirements.
Minor in Dance
As a Dance Minor at Converse, you will take a minimum of 18 hours, with Composition History of Dance being 6 of those credit hours. With the remainder of the hours you are encouraged to take a variety of technique classes in jazz, ballet, tap and modern dance. You will have the chance to set your own choreography for performance through your Junior and Senior projects.
You must audition and be accepted into the dance minor. Auditions are held in both fall and spring semesters.
View the Dance Minor requirements.
Studying dance will prepare students for careers in performance, choreography, education, arts administration, dance medicine, and other fields that value collaboration, critical thinking, leadership, and creative problem solving skills.
- Dancer
- Choreographer
- Educator (children’s theater, high school, college)
- Dance Therapist
- Production Manager
Department News
Dancing Into History: Jemma Van Jaarsveldt ’24
Written by Amanda Mathis Jemma Van Jaarsveldt is making Converse University history this spring as the first student to graduate with a degree in Dance. A newly created major in fall …
Academic Programs Added to Meet Student Demand
Dedicated to remaining relentlessly student-centered, Converse has developed new and exciting programs to better align with student demand and workforce needs, and to maximize growth opportunities. This year, the University …
Welcome Guest Director of Opera Elizabeth Margolius ’90
Converse alumna and five-time Joseph Jefferson Award nominee, stage and movement director Elizabeth Margolius’ selected directorial credits include London Road for Shattered Globe Theatre, Tidy and Rose for Renaissance Theaterworks, Crimes of the Heart for American Stage, Le …
Programs of Study
Converse offers over 100 majors, minors, certificates, and graduate programs across 2 campuses and online.