Dance Performance (B.F.A.)
Why Dance at NIU?
The School of Theatre and Dance offers a Bachelor of Fine arts in Dance geared to students interested in a career in dance. Our program will develop students as professionals in the dance arts through rigorous and equal training in ballet and modern dance techniques. You’ll have numerous opportunities to perform everything from original works by our renowned faculty to masterworks in ballet and modern dance. You’ll receive unparalleled support from our renowned faculty who are working professionals in the industry and have opportunities to perform outside the university setting.
Careers with a Dance Performance Degree
When you graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance from NIU, you'll have a solid foundation for your life's work as a dancer.
Our alumni have performed with or are members of:
- ABT
- National Ballet of Canada
- Martha Graham Dance Company
- Nevada Ballet Theatre
- Pacific Northwest Ballet
- Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
- Cirque Du Soleil
- Milwaukee Ballet
- Pittsburg Ballet
- Dayton Ballet
- Richmond Ballet
- Chicago Lyric Opera
- Louisville Ballet
- David Taylor Dance Theater
- Ballet Met
- Arial Dance Chicago
- Chicago Ballet Repertoire
- Broadway NY and International Tours
- And more
Dance Faculty
Meet our dance faculty who specialize in:
- Ballet, Jazz, Modern Dance and Tap
- Composition
- Dance History, Dance Pedagogy
- And more
Hands-on Learning Opportunities
You'll have access to a wide variety of great opportunities and productions, such as:
We are close to Chicago and its world-class museums and galleries. Chicago has established itself as a stimulating home for the performing arts. Lyric Opera, Court Theatre, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Goodman Theatre, Thodos Dance Chicago and Steppenwolf Theatre Company are all prominent, highly respected and cutting-edge companies in Chicago. But there are numerous smaller off-Loop resident theaters that are also highly regarded by the arts community.