Dance Degrees That Don't Break the Bank

Community colleges offer good training at nice prices

By Monica J. Cameron Frichtel



As the economic crisis looms on, many of us are forced to spend less and do without. Pursuing dance in college, however, does not need to be put off during a financial downturn. Community college can be an excellent and cost-effective option. There are over 100 dance programs offered at two-year community colleges throughout the United States. Some offer certifications, many offer two-year degrees such as the A.A. (Associate of Arts), A.F.A (Associate of Fine Arts), and A.S. (Associate of Science), and most can prepare
students to transfer into four-year dance programs.
Graduating from high school, I knew that I wanted to pursue dance in college. Excited to begin my dance studies, I did not think community college was even an option, unless I was willing to put off taking courses in my major for a couple of years, so I didn’t look into them. With the help of scholarships and my California residency, I was able to complete a B.A. in dance at the University of California, Irvine.
But as a graduate student in dance at Temple University in Philadelphia, I became interested in the training offered at community colleges, particularly because I began to recognize that not all states have strong four-year programs. Talking to dance peers and undergraduates in my department, I was surprised to learn about the diverse community colleges that some attended. One student was about to take out loans to attend an out-of-state college when a community college offered him a full scholarship. Choosing to save money during his first two years of school, while developing a strong dance base, enabled him to enjoy his last two years of undergraduate coursework with much less financial concern. I became so interested in this often overlooked dance degree option that for my master’s thesis I searched the websites of more than 1,000 community colleges, finding about 100 that have organized dance programs where students can earn degrees in dance, certificates in dance, or prepare to transfer to a four-year college dance program.
In addition to cost, I discovered other advantages to community college education. Many are conveniently located in large and small cities, have smaller class sizes, and boast of top-notch teaching faculty. If you are anxious to begin your professional career, or concerned about delaying it for four years, a community college can provide a great compromise. Students can make a schedule that fits their needs, attending part time or full time. Then if they want to pursue a four-year degree later they’ll already be well on their way.
Community college students can live at home and commute or, for those who desire a more traditional college experience or want to go out of state, some community colleges now provide room and board. Additionally, a growing number of private, dormitory-style living options are available near four-year college campuses and may be open to housing community college students. My friend Ashley, while not a dance major, did just this. She attended the two-year Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, California, before transferring to nearby California Polytechnic State University. She was able to live with and get to know students at Cal Poly before she transferred, while saving a substantial amount of money in tuition costs. (If you do intend to transfer to a four-year college, it is advisable to plan ahead by contacting counselors at the university you hope to attend to learn about specific school and department transfer requirements.)
Most community college dance programs include ballet, modern, and jazz classes, but many also offer other courses, such as Pilates, pedagogy, improvisation, and composition. Community College of Baltimore County in Maryland, for example, offers courses in theatrical dance and dance internships. Sinclair Community College in Ohio has classes titled, Dance Class Accompanying, Movement as Therapy, and Middle Eastern dance. Some programs have specializations, such as Palomar College in California. It has a world dance emphasis and offers classes in Afro-Cuban/Brazilian Dance and Capoeira. A few programs, such as Barton County Community College in Kansas, have close connections with athletics and support dance teams.
Two unique programs in Florida are based on a conservatory model. The dance programs of Saint Johns River College and Miami Dade College are affiliated with Florida School of the Arts and New World School of the Arts, respectively. Students take dance classes at the arts conservatories and academic classes nearby, on the main campuses. Both schools offer a variety of degrees and certificates. At Florida School of the Arts, the dance program includes different tracks (including ones that focus on dance performance and commercial dance careers), preparing students to either transfer to a four-year institution or enter the professional field.
Performance is a focus at many community college programs, and some have earned special recognition from the American College Dance Festival Association (ACDFA) for their choreographic works. The ACDFA holds regional conferences each year that are attended by thousands of college students. Students have the opportunity to meet other college dancers, take classes, participate in workshops, see performances, and present their choreography for adjudication. At these conferences, several works are selected to appear in regional galas. And from among those, a select few (including San Jacinto College of Texas in 2007) are chosen to attend the biennial National Dance Festival at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. Community colleges recognized for choreographic excellence and selected for gala performances multiple times in recent years include: Anne Arundel Community College in Maryland, Scottsdale Community College in Arizona, and Riverside Community College in California.
The economic downturn presents students with particular challenges, but it’s not an excuse for letting go of your college dance dreams. If four-year program prices seem too high–or you don’t like the thought of having to repay big college loans on a dancer’s salary–check out the many top-notch community college choices.

—Monica J. Cameron Frichtel is a former Dance Magazine intern, PhD candidate at Temple University, and performs in the Philadelphia area.