ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ provides Dance Majors with three degree choices: a Bachelor of Fine Arts (127 credits), a Bachelor of Arts (124 credits), and a Bachelor of Science in Education/Dance Education (124 credits). The dance program’s focus is modern/contemporary dance with a strong ballet component, supported by a variety of dance genres including African, Irish, tap, jazz and hip-hop. Hofstra’s proximity to New York City enriches the curriculum and enables the program to attract nationally and internationally known faculty and guest artists. Students are encouraged to visit the city often for performances, classes and auditions.
The Hofstra dance program, part of the School of Humanities, Fine and Performing Arts, is committed to offering ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ a professional-level dance education. The BFA degree embraces both the traditional and the contemporary, developing artists who intend to pursue careers in performance and choreography. Entry into this program is by audition only. Please scroll down for audition information.
The BA degree integrates a rich experience in the liberal arts through Hofstra’s core curriculum program and provides the possibility for ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ to minor or double-major in other areas of interest such as Drama, Public Relations, Business, Psychology, Exercise Science and many other subjects. As soon as ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ are accepted academically, they may declare their BA dance major. An audition would only be required for class placement and to apply for possible dance scholarship funds.
The BS in Dance Education follows the identical dance curriculum as the BA program, while also teaching ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ how to design and implement dance programs in PreK – 12 schools. Upon graduation, ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ are eligible for New York State initial certification as a teacher of dance in the public schools. They are also well qualified to teach in private schools, dance studios and community centers. The curriculum culminates with a semester of student teaching alongside a certified dance educator. Students begin this degree as Dance BA majors, so auditions are not required to declare the major, only for class placement and scholarship consideration.
Performance opportunities are abundant at Hofstra. Recent mainstage productions have included work by guest artists Doug Varone, Sean Curran, Larry Keigwin, Claire Porter, David Parker, Earl Mosley and Liz Gerring. Students have also performed reconstructions by major artists of the 20th century, including Martha Graham, Jose Limon, Trisha Brown, Eleo Pomare, and Anna Sokolow. In addition, ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ have many opportunities to showcase their own choreography, both on campus and at various venues throughout the New York City area. They have often won accolades at the American College Dance Festival.
Hofstra alumni are performers, choreographers, teachers and arts administrators. They perform with such diverse companies as the Paul Taylor Dance Company, Camille A. Brown and Dancers, and New York Theatre Ballet as well as with the Radio City Rockettes and on Broadway. They have formed their own companies, including Bessie Award winning Keigwin + Company, are arts administrators at organizations such as American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, the Mark Morris Dance Center and Pentacle Arts Management, and teach PreK-12 dance throughout New York City and beyond. Dance scholarships are available for all three degrees.
Audition information:
In person auditions are scheduled for Sat. 1/31/26 and Sun. 2/15/26 on the Hofstra campus. Please contact the Hofstra Department of Drama and Dance office in January to reserve your spot (Wanda.Williams-Pringle@Hofstra.edu, 516-463-5444). We will also accept online video submissions.
To submit video materials, please send the following to Rachel.List@Hofstra.edu as well as a dance resume outlining previous dance training and a full-body photo in dance attire. Preferably, all materials should be received by mid-January 2026, but could be accepted at any time. Hofstra admissions are rolling.
To be included:
- A selection of ballet barre work (exercises on one side only)
- A selection of ballet center work (adagio, pirouette combination, petite allegro combination)
- Performance of a modern/contemporary phrase which travels and includes movement that goes down to the floor and returns to standing as well as some jumps. This could be two separate phrases.
- A solo (1-2 minutes long, preferably modern or contemporary) which could be choreographed by the student or by someone else (please name the choreographer)
When submitting an online video audition:
- Go to youtube account
- Click upload in upper right corner
- Click privacy dropdown in center of upload area, set to public or unlisted
- Upload the video
Once upload is completed and processed, go to the video and click “share” underneath right corner of video, copy the link shown and send it to Rachel.List@Hofstra.edu.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Hofstra Dance Program!
Sincerely,
Rachel List