Ballet, jazz and modern. Anyone with information on these to share: Western, Mi; Southeastern Missouri State; Wichita State University; Alma College, Mi; University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point. Thanks
Well I can’t address those particular programs but I can tell you about Friends University in Wichita KS. It is a small private university with a great dance program focusing on ballet with additional training in jazz, modern and tap. My daughter attends there and is having a wonderful college experience while being trained by experts with real world experience in ballet, having danced with major companies around the U.S. They present original choreography created by nationally known choreographers create for Friends University Ballet each year (world premiers) as well as those pieces choreographed by the head of the department. They also do many classical ballet pieces such as Mid-Summer Nights Dream, Le Sylphide and others. They limit the number of students accepted to approximately 30 dance majors and in essence comprise a regional ballet company for Wichita and the surrounding area. The dancers are of very high caliber and the presentations equally wonderful. Presentations are in a 600 seat auditorium which is nearly always sold out for every performance. They present a 3 day weekend fall performance and spring performance and 6 performances of a full-fledged Nutcracker each year with a choreography showcase on alternate years. Having watched ballet since my early college years of nationally renowned companies throughout the U.S., I can state emphatically the training at Friends is of the highest quality in technical expertise and creativity. Dancers train as though in a regional company while enjoying a wonderful campus with dedicated professionals. This program offers opportunity to dance in major productions starting your freshman year, a distinct difference from big university programs around the country which typically limit opportunity to upper classmen. If you want to build a great portfolio of dance experience, get a good education and develop a great group of peers who share your dream of dancing professionally you can’t find better than Friends University. They always look for aspiring well trained dancers focused on establishing a professional career in dance. Call them, you won’t regret it!
In addition, Friends University offers the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ballet Performance, one of only a handful in the country!
UMKC is strong in ballet as is University of Oklahoma.