Bachelor in Dance (BFA)

Tuition fees are 56,074 USD per year.

The Bachelor in Dance is a four-year Bachelor degree for students who love to dance and want to become professional dancers or choreographers. At California Institute of the Arts, students learn ballet and contemporary dance styles and develop their skills through daily technique classes.

Students also learn about dance composition, choreography, and production, and get to showcase their work in concerts and performances. The program helps students develop their artistic style and prepares them for a career in dance. Students learn about stagecraft, lighting design, and costume design, and can take courses in music, theater, and film to deepen their understanding of dance.

Graduates can become professional dancers, choreographers, dance teachers, or dance company directors. They can work in dance companies, theaters, or film and television production. With a strong foundation in dance and related arts, they can also pursue careers in dance therapy, dance criticism, or arts administration.

California Institute of the Arts, located near Valencia in Southern California, is a leading institution for creative education founded with a legacy of innovation in the arts. CalArts encourages experimental practice across disciplines including art, film, music, theater, dance, and animation, and offers a compact, studio-focused learning environment where students develop original work under the mentorship of practicing artists and industry professionals.

The institute promotes interdisciplinary collaboration and hands-on learning, supporting individual artistic development with cutting-edge studios, performance spaces, and digital labs. Small class sizes and intensive critique-based courses help students refine their voices and build professional portfolios, while visiting artists, festivals, and partnerships provide exposure to the wider creative industry. Academic advising, portfolio coaching, and career development services support transitions to festivals, galleries, studios, and commercial roles.

International students find a welcoming community and opportunities to participate in collaborative projects, residencies, and public exhibitions that elevate their practice. CalArts fosters a culture of experimentation, critical inquiry, and professional networking, making it a strong choice for creative learners who seek rigorous mentorship, cross-disciplinary exploration, and direct engagement with the contemporary arts scene in the United States.