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M.F.A. Dance

The University of Maryland’s School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies (TDPS) offers a 60-credit, three-year, full-time M.F.A. in dance degree alongside M.F.A.s in design, Ph.D.s in theatre history and performance studies and undergraduate degrees in dance and theatre.

M.F.A. Dance

M.F.A Dance

About the School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies

The University of Maryland’s School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies (TDPS) offers a 60-credit, three-year, full-time and fully funded M.F.A. in Dance degree alongside M.F.A.’s in design, PhD’s in Theatre History and Performance Studies, and undergraduate degrees in Dance and Theatre. The School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies is one unit in the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, a state-of-the-art facility with large dance studios, a variety of theatre spaces, and world outreach seminar rooms. Through The Clarice’s Visiting Artist Series, graduate students engage with national and international performing artists through master classes, performances, and conversations.

M.F.A. in Dance program overview

The M.F.A. in dance focuses on embodied creative scholarship centered in choreography, physical practice, pedagogy, collaboration and writing. Over the course of three years, through critical inquiry in the studio and seminar room, graduate students deepen the practice of individual investigation, discovering artistic and sociopolitical connections to other artists, scholars and the dance field at large.

The program offers rigorous immersive study to those who are curious, motivated, self-directed and possess a spirit of expansive inquiry and innovation. This includes interdisciplinary projects, presentation of choreography in formal and informal settings throughout the three-year program, performance in guest artist and faculty works, presentation of academic work at conferences and symposia and participation in community-based performance and scholarly events. The program provides modern dance techniques each semester and welcomes entering graduate students whose dance backgrounds are not modern-based. 

Emphasizing creative work and collaboration with fellow M.F.A. candidates in lighting, set, costume and media/projection design at TDPS, the degree culminates with a thesis: an original choreographed and performed creative project and a written thesis. The third year also includes an off-campus internship with an arts organization or research venue in the Washington, D.C. area, such as the Kennedy Center, Dance Place, Dance Exchange, Dance USA or the National Dance Education Organization.

Auditions for Fall 2024 admittance will be held on Monday and Tuesday, February 12 and 13, 2024.

 

Prospective students

Application deadline for 2024-2025: Friday, January 19, 2024 (best consideration for graduate assistantships); Monday and Tuesday, February 12-13, 2024: Virtual Audition (required); Wednesday, February 14, 2024: Completed application deadline (domestic and international) 

To apply for admission to the M.F.A. in Dance program, please 1) complete and submit the UMD Graduate School application materials via the application portal and 2) complete audition registration including requested audition materials. The audition this year has been changed to a virtual-only audition format. Please see further information below in the Auditions section.

Interested in graduate studies in dance? Please complete this form to receive program information and event updates.

Virtual Visit & Open House Events

Considering graduate studies in dance? Attend a virtual or in-person event to get a sense of the UMD M.F.A. in Dance program and how graduate studies can support your artistic and scholarly growth. 

Events will include an overview of the M.F.A. in Dance program: the application process, introduction to faculty and current graduate students, graduate research, how the M.F.A. in dance intersects with the M.F.A. in Design and the Ph.D. program, life in the greater DC-Metropolitan area and more. A Q&A will follow. 

Open Houses (in-person): 
UMD, College Park - by appointment
New York City - Saturday, Dec 2 

Virtual Visits: 
Zoom - Tuesday, Dec 12, 11–12 am ET
Zoom - Monday, Jan 8, 12:30–1:30 pm ET

Grad Chat! 
Zoom - Wednesday, Dec 13 (various times)
Connect with current TDPS graduate students to gain insight about graduate student life at UMD and the Greater DMV area.

For more information and to register for visit events, please complete this VISIT FORM. Once complete, a confirmation email with event details will follow.

Apply to the program

The University of Maryland’s Graduate School accepts applications through its online application system. Before completing the application, applicants are asked to check the Admissions Requirements site for specific instructions.

The M.F.A. in Dance program only starts in Fall of each year, with an application deadline in January or February. This year's best consideration deadline is January 19, 2024; the final deadline is Wednesday, February 14, 2024. Please see the information below to prepare for the Fall 2024 application. For additional information, please contact:

All components and requirements for the application must be completed and received by the deadline date before a review of any materials sent with the application can take place.


As required by the Graduate School, all application materials are to be submitted electronically:

  1. Graduate Application
  2. Transcripts
  3. A current CV: This document should accurately reflect your completed educational background and all of your professional and related experiences to date. Please be thorough and comprehensive, as your CV is critical in our determination of appropriate potential fellowship nomination.
  4. Statement of Purpose: Please compose a brief but engaging narrative that relates your research and movement practice interests to our MFA program. Your essay should situate yourself within the field at the present time and should gather significant details of your previous experience, clarify your current involvement and interest in dance, and speculate about your future intentions within the field. We are interested in getting to know something about you as a dance professional through this writing: what you have done that has led you here, how you articulate your aesthetic sensibility, and what you hope to accomplish in your studies. You can also use this as an opportunity to let us know of any community involvement and/or service; engagements you may have with leadership roles or mentoring, or overcoming social, economic, educational or physical barriers. Please keep the length to 1-2 pages single-spaced or 3-4 pages double-spaced and upload it as a Word or PDF file. 
  5. Work Sample(s): Submit Vimeo, YouTube, etc. links to recordings of samples of your work. These samples should demonstrate your expertise and interests, such as excerpts of your choreography, documentation of your performance and teaching, or dance media projects. All materials must be accompanied by a clearly written legend identifying the contents, including title, order of materials, date and explicit identification of your contribution. It is also helpful if you can guide us by identifying yourself in performance clips that include more than one person. Film clips may be edited or unedited and should be limited to 10 minutes.
  6. Writing Sample: The Graduate Studies committee reviews writing samples to determine applicants’ potential research and creative interests and to assess their competency as writers. Please submit a substantive piece of writing that demonstrates your thoughtfulness and capacity to handle language with fluency. Your submission may be about 4 pages double-spaced but no more than 20 pages; this might take the form of a critical review, process paper, or scholarly essay.
  7. Letters of recommendation: Submit names and email addresses of three recommenders for the electronic recommendation forms to be sent to them.
  8. Audition: the 2024-2025 audition will be held virtually, February 12-13, 2024. To register please see the Auditions section below.
  9. Non-refundable application fee: ($75) for each program to which an applicant applies (Fee Eligibility Waiver: https://gradschool.umd.edu/feewaiverinformation)

Auditions

The M.F.A. in Dance program at UMD holds an audition early in the spring semester of each year. Auditions are required. Register to audition HERE.

Auditions for Fall 2024 admittance will be held virtually February 12-13, 2024 (ET). M.F.A. applicants are expected to attend the virtual February audition unless other arrangements are made with the TDPS Graduate Services Coordinator or the Head of M.F.A. in Dance. Applicants are notified of the admission decision by March.
 
Acceptance into the M.F.A. in Dance program requires admission to the UMD Graduate School and to the TDPS Dance program. The application is reviewed by the TDPS Dance faculty. Applicants are notified of the admission decision in late February. Offer letters are sent out by May of each year. Later applications are considered when space and funding is available.

To audition:

Submit an application to the UMD Graduate School and email the Head of M.F.A. in Dance. January 19 is the deadline for best consideration for graduate assistantships. Complete this Audition registration by Friday, February 2, 2024, including the following materials:

  • Work Samples
    • Please provide links (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.) for up to three excerpts (totaling no more than 10 minutes) of your dance choreography and/or performance. 
    • When applicable, please include selected timestamps, identify yourself in group choreography, and choreography credit. 
  • Written Statement
    • Please upload one or a combination of the following: Teaching Philosophy Statement, Artist Statement, or Statement of Purpose as detailed in the Graduate School application. 2 pages single-spaced or 4 pages double-spaced, PDF or Word Doc. (This statement may double as your writing sample submitted via Graduate School application portal).
  • Teaching Experience
    • Please give an overview of your teaching experience and a list of up to three open-level movement classes you are prepared to teach. If you do not have teaching experience, please list "not applicable."

Requirements

You must have earned a 4-year baccalaureate degree from a regionally-accredited U.S. institution, or an equivalent degree earned at a non-U.S. institution with at least a 3.0 GPA. 
 
For potential graduate students who DO NOT have an UNDERGRADUATE MAJOR IN DANCE: You may still apply and audition—however, you may be required to take additional coursework at the undergraduate level in order to meet prerequisites for some graduate courses. (These courses include: Improvisation, Dance History, Modern Movement Analysis and Teaching Dance.)
 
The M.F.A. in Dance program does not require the GRE but does require an audition and interview.
 
All international students must show evidence of acceptable scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). See information on the International Educational Services website for specific admissions requirements, including minimum TOEFL score. See information on the International Educational Services website for specific admissions requirements, including minimum TOEFL score.
 
Upon time of enrollment, your final official transcript, with degree earned included, should be sent by your previous institution to UMD at the following address:

University of Maryland College Park
Enrollment Services Operation – Attn: Graduate Admissions
Room 0130 Mitchell Building
College Park, MD 20742
DANC is the program code for the M.F.A. in Dance
 
The electronic submission of application materials helps expedite the review of an application. Completed applications are reviewed by an admissions committee in each graduate degree program. The recommendations of the committees are submitted to the Dean of the Graduate School, who will make the final admission decision. Students seeking to complete graduate work at the University of Maryland for degree purposes must be formally admitted to the Graduate School by the Dean.
 

Information for international graduate students

The University of Maryland is dedicated to maintaining a vibrant international graduate student community. The office of International Students and Scholars Services (ISSS) is a valuable resource of information and assistance for prospective and current international students. International applicants are encouraged to explore the services they offer and contact the office with related questions.

The University of Maryland Graduate School offers admission to international students based on academic information; it is not a guarantee of attendance. Admitted international students will then receive instructions about obtaining the appropriate visa to study at the University of Maryland which will require submission of additional documents. Please see the Graduate Admissions Process for international applicants for more information. To ensure the integrity of the application process, the University of Maryland authenticates submitted materials through TurnItIn for Admissions.

Financial assistance

The School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies is committed to fully funding all graduate students accepted into its programs and makes every effort to meet that goal. Assistantships are available for graduate study and are awarded by the TDPS graduate program only after a successful audition and Graduate School acceptance. Competitive support for workshops, conference presentations, summer study and other projects is also available.

In addition to assistantships, there are opportunities for awards and fellowships through the College and University. To find more opportunities outside of TDPS offerings, please visit the ARHU website page for financial support.

 

Contact us

For questions related to the admissions process, prospective students may contact the Graduate School.

If you have any questions about the M.F.A. in Dance program or application, please contact the Head of the M.F.A. in Dance program, Kendra Portier, portier1@umd.edu
 

Current students

We offer a 60-credit, three-year, full-time and fully funded M.F.A. degree in Dance that focuses on performance, choreography and teaching. The M.F.A. in Dance program is small (four students are accepted each year) and individualized. Auditions are required and admission is for Fall semester acceptance only.

The degree process culminates in an original choreographed and performed thesis project and includes an off-campus internship with opportunities to work with a professional company, to engage with presenting organizations or to intern at the Kennedy Center, Dance Place, Dance Exchange or other professional venues in the Washington, DC area.

The successful M.F.A. in Dance graduate is informed by dance theory as a performing artist, has achieved their own definition of the teaching artist and demonstrates the following attributes and values:

  • Curiosity
  • Innovative thinkers/creators
  • Agile/skillful /eclectic movers
  • Articulate advocates
  • Caring/competent educators
  • Knowledgeable citizens with personal agency
  • Responsible collaborators
     

Curriculum requirements

General Requirements

M.F.A. in Dance candidates must adhere to the following requirements:

  • Full-time enrollment in the three-year M.F.A. in Dance program
  • Minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 over 60 graduate semester units
  • Creation and production of a 20-30 minute choreographic project
  • Submission of 50-75 page written thesis and choreographic project recording
  • Successful completion of 15-20 minute thesis presentation, followed by an oral examination (defense)

View the one-page course description and credit requirements for the M.F.A. in Dance program.

Coursework

Coursework includes:

  • DANC600: Graduate Dance Research
  • DANC604: Graduate Studies in Dance Pedagogy
  • DANC608: Graduate Choreography I: Creative Process
  • DANC611: Dance Technology & Media
  • DANC648/649: Modern Dance Technique I and II
  • DANC679: Graduate Dance Performance
  • DANC698: Independent Study in Dance
  • DANC708: Graduate Choreography II: Collaboration
  • DANC719: Graduate Choreography III: Projects
  • DANC766: Graduate Movement Observation and Analysis
  • DANC777: Graduate Internship in Dance
  • DANC784: Dance in Global Context
  • DANC788: Graduate Tutorial
  • DANC799: Master’s Thesis Project in Dance

M.F.A. Dance students are also able to take electives in other areas including Theatre and Performance Studies courses, such as Alexander Technique, Voice, Media Design, Puppetry, Playwriting and Theatre History.
 

Thesis

M.F.A. in Dance candidates create and realize a choreographic project. Thesis projects are the culmination of a several months long, four-stage process (conceptual, design, integration and implementation). The written component of the thesis brings together more traditional scholarship with choreographic research and includes all relevant visual material, including research images, drawings, renderings and production photographs relating to the choreographic project. The thesis presentation is an oral overview of the written paper and the project overall. It is an account of the candidate's hypothesis, creative explorations/process/goals, choreographic project, questions and conclusions articulated for an audience who may not have seen the concert. 

M.F.A. in Dance Handbook and Graduate Catalog

The M.F.A. Dance Handbook is available here. It is recommended that all M.F.A. in Dance candidates are familiar with the program’s handbook.

The UMD Graduate Catalog can be found on their website.

Dance Faculty

Crystal Davis

Associate Professor, Dance Performance and Scholarship
Head of Dance Performance and Scholarship, School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies

1929 The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
College Park MD, 20742

(301) 405-3198

Adriane Fang

Associate Professor, Associate Director of the International Program for Creative Collaboration and Research (IPCCR), Dance Performance and Scholarship

1933 The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
College Park MD, 20742

(301) 405-3195

Maura Keefe

Associate Professor, Dance Performance and Scholarship
Director of the School, School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies

2811 The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
College Park MD, 20742

(301) 405-3187

Kate Ladenheim

Artist in Residence, School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies

Ama Law

Artist in Residence in dance, School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies

Alvin Mayes

Principal lecturer, Dance Performance and Scholarship

1931 The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
College Park MD, 20742

(301) 405-3194

Sara Pearson

Professor, Dance Performance and Scholarship

1925 The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
College Park MD, 20742

(301) 405-3652

Kendra Portier

Assistant professor (Maya Brin Endowed Professor in Dance), Co-Director of the Maya Brin Institute for New Performance, Dance Performance and Scholarship
Head of MFA Dance Program, School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies

1939 The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
College Park MD, 20742

(301) 405-5883

Patrik Widrig

Professor, Dance Performance and Scholarship

1925 The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
College Park MD, 20742

(301) 405-3652