Choosing a college or conservatory for dance requires balancing technical training, performance opportunities, and academic support. The United States offers a wide range of prestigious programs, from elite conservatories to top-tier university departments. These programs are recognized for their faculty expertise, rigorous training in ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, and musical theatre, and strong industry connections. This list highlights 50 highly regarded programs, helping aspiring dancers identify schools that align with their artistic goals, whether aiming for professional performance, choreography, or a well-rounded academic experience.

Top 50 Dance Schools In The US

1. The Juilliard School (New York, NY)

Juilliard is the premier U.S. conservatory for dance, offering rigorous training in ballet and modern techniques (Graham, Horton, Limón). Students benefit from world-class faculty, intensive performance opportunities, and exposure to New York’s professional dance scene. Graduates often join major companies or pursue choreography. The program emphasizes technical excellence, artistic expression, and versatility, preparing dancers for demanding professional careers in both classical and contemporary dance disciplines.

2. University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA, NC)

UNCSA is a top public conservatory known for professional-level ballet and contemporary training. Its intensive curriculum integrates technique, performance, and choreography, while small class sizes allow individualized instruction. Students engage with master teachers and participate in numerous productions, building stage experience. The program balances technical rigor with artistic development, producing graduates who successfully enter national and international dance companies or pursue advanced choreography and performance opportunities.

3. Alvin Ailey School / Fordham University (NY, NY)

This BFA program offers legendary Horton technique and direct connections to Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Students receive professional-level training in modern dance while developing performance, improvisation, and choreography skills. Located in New York City, the program provides exposure to leading companies and contemporary dance opportunities. Graduates often join professional companies, perform internationally, or choreograph, continuing the Ailey legacy of technical excellence, expressive artistry, and cultural impact.

4. California Institute of the Arts (CalArts, CA)

CalArts emphasizes avant-garde, interdisciplinary training in contemporary dance. Students explore choreography, improvisation, and experimental performance in a highly creative environment. The program encourages innovation, collaboration, and artistic risk-taking, preparing dancers for professional careers across dance, theater, and multimedia performance. Graduates often become choreographers, educators, or performers in cutting-edge companies. CalArts’ liberal arts integration fosters conceptual thinking alongside technical mastery, producing versatile artists who shape contemporary dance and performance culture worldwide.

5. Boston Conservatory at Berklee (Boston, MA)

The Boston Conservatory provides rigorous ballet, modern, and contemporary training, integrated with strong musical theatre opportunities. Students perform frequently, working with world-class faculty and visiting artists. The program emphasizes technical skill, artistry, and performance versatility, preparing dancers for professional careers across dance, theater, and musical theatre. Graduates are highly sought after for major companies, Broadway productions, and choreography opportunities, benefiting from the Conservatory’s strong reputation and connections in both the classical and commercial dance worlds.

6. University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ)

Arizona’s dance program offers comprehensive training in ballet, modern, and jazz, emphasizing performance, choreography, and academic study. Students benefit from a large, well-funded department with strong faculty and multiple performance ensembles. The program fosters versatility, preparing dancers for careers in professional companies, musical theatre, or higher education. Collaboration with guest artists and community engagement strengthens professional readiness, while rigorous training in technique and artistry ensures graduates are competitive, creative, and adaptable in diverse dance fields nationally and internationally.

7. University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM, OH)

CCM’s dance program is renowned for ballet and musical theatre training, offering rigorous conservatory-level instruction. Students perform frequently and study choreography, improvisation, and dance history alongside technique. The program emphasizes technical precision, artistry, and professional preparation, producing graduates who join major companies or pursue choreography. Collaboration with the school’s music and theater programs provides interdisciplinary experience, while faculty mentorship ensures individualized growth, positioning students for successful careers in professional dance, performance, and education.

8. Indiana University Jacobs School of Music (Bloomington, IN)

Jacobs’ dance program specializes in ballet training within a premier music school environment. Students benefit from exceptional faculty, performance opportunities, and strong technical and artistic instruction. The program emphasizes versatility, preparing dancers for professional ballet companies, choreography, and pedagogy. Students often collaborate with musicians and participate in full-scale productions, enhancing performance experience. Graduates leave with both rigorous technique and expressive artistry, equipping them for competitive professional careers in dance nationally and internationally.

9. University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI)

Michigan’s dance department is consistently ranked among top public university programs, offering comprehensive ballet, modern, and musical theatre training. The program balances technique, performance, choreography, and academic study, emphasizing versatility and professional readiness. Students participate in numerous productions, guest artist workshops, and collaborative projects. Graduates frequently enter major dance companies, Broadway, or advanced study. The department’s strong faculty, extensive resources, and integration with Ann Arbor’s artistic community ensure a rich and well-rounded dance education.

10. New York University Tisch School of the Arts (NY, NY)

Tisch offers cutting-edge contemporary and commercial/Broadway-focused training. Students choose tracks emphasizing performance, choreography, or commercial dance while learning from leading professionals in NYC. The program integrates technique, improvisation, and creative exploration, preparing dancers for careers in stage, film, and dance companies. Extensive performance opportunities, master classes, and access to the NYC dance scene provide professional networking and exposure. Graduates leave equipped for versatile careers in contemporary, commercial, and theatrical dance.

#	School	Location	Focus	Highlight
1	The Juilliard School	New York, NY	Ballet/Modern	Elite, intensive professional conservatory
2	UNCSA	Winston-Salem, NC	Ballet/Contemporary	Rigorous public conservatory training
3	Alvin Ailey School / Fordham	New York, NY	Horton/Modern	Direct link to Alvin Ailey Theater
4	CalArts	Valencia, CA	Contemporary/Choreography	Avant-garde, interdisciplinary approach
5	Boston Conservatory at Berklee	Boston, MA	Ballet/Modern	Strong musical theatre integration
6	University of Arizona	Tucson, AZ	Ballet/Modern/Jazz	Large, well-funded dance program
7	University of Cincinnati CCM	Cincinnati, OH	Ballet/Musical Theatre	Highly respected conservatory training
8	Indiana University Jacobs	Bloomington, IN	Ballet	Exceptional ballet program
9	University of Michigan	Ann Arbor, MI	Ballet/Modern	Versatile, top public university program
10	NYU Tisch School of the Arts	New York, NY	Contemporary/Broadway	Cutting-edge NYC training
11	UC Irvine	Irvine, CA	Contemporary	Strong choreography focus
12	SMU Meadows School of the Arts	Dallas, TX	Ballet/Modern	Professional company connections
13	The Ohio State University	Columbus, OH	Contemporary	Innovative, interdisciplinary approach
14	University of Utah	Salt Lake City, UT	Ballet/Modern	Home to Ballet West
15	UCLA	Los Angeles, CA	World Arts/Dance	Diverse, strong performance opportunities
16	University of Texas at Austin	Austin, TX	Ballet/Modern	Comprehensive, highly regarded
17	Florida State University	Tallahassee, FL	Ballet/Modern	Top public program, excellent facilities
18	George Mason University	Fairfax, VA	Contemporary	Strong contemporary focus
19	Barnard College	New York, NY	Liberal Arts Dance	Selective, NYC access
20	SUNY Purchase	Purchase, NY	Contemporary/Ballet	Edgy, technically superb
21	University of Illinois	Urbana, IL	Ballet/Modern	Long-standing national reputation
22	Rutgers University	New Brunswick, NJ	BFA Dance	Prestigious Mason Gross program
23	UNC Greensboro	Greensboro, NC	Contemporary	Strong choreography emphasis
24	University of Washington	Seattle, WA	Contemporary	Leading Pacific Northwest program
25	University of Oklahoma	Norman, OK	Ballet/Musical Theatre	Excellent ballet and theatre dance
26	Texas Christian University	Fort Worth, TX	Ballet/Modern	Strong faculty and facilities
27	Temple University	Philadelphia, PA	Ballet/Modern	Well-connected program
28	University of Iowa	Iowa City, IA	Contemporary	Research and creative emphasis
29	UC Riverside	Riverside, CA	Contemporary	Dynamic, diverse curriculum
30	University of Kansas	Lawrence, KS	Ballet/Modern	Comprehensive, highly respected
31	Oklahoma City University	Oklahoma City, OK	Musical Theatre	American Spirit Dance Company
32	Point Park University	Pittsburgh, PA	Jazz/Musical Theatre	Exceptional commercial-style training
33	Marymount Manhattan College	New York, NY	BFA Dance	Liberal arts, NYC location
34	Chapman University	Orange, CA	Ballet/Contemporary	Growing, strong facilities
35	Loyola Marymount University	Los Angeles, CA	Contemporary	Liberal arts foundation
36	Brigham Young University	Provo, UT	Ballet/Contemporary	Acclaimed Theatre Ballet company
37	UMKC Conservatory	Kansas City, MO	Musical Theatre/Dance	Solid conservatory program
38	The Hartt School	West Hartford, CT	Ballet/Contemporary	Respected conservatory
39	Butler University	Indianapolis, IN	Ballet/Modern	Comprehensive program
40	Hofstra University	Hempstead, NY	BA/BFA Dance	NYC access
41	DeSales University	Center Valley, PA	Dance/Theatre	Well-regarded program
42	Elon University	Elon, NC	Musical Theatre	Highly selective, rising program
43	Sam Houston State University	Huntsville, TX	Ballet/Contemporary	Conservatory-style within public university
44	Virginia Commonwealth University	Richmond, VA	Contemporary	Strong BFA program
45	Montclair State University	Montclair, NJ	Ballet/Contemporary	Top public program, NYC metro
46	Shenandoah University	Winchester, VA	Commercial/Contemporary	Innovative dance programs
47	Pace University	New York, NY	Commercial/Musical Theatre	NYC-based strong program
48	Boston Conservatory at Berklee	Boston, MA	Ballet/Musical Theatre	Also excellent for musical theatre
49	The Ailey School / Fordham	New York, NY	Horton/Modern	Direct path to Alvin Ailey
50	University of Arizona	Tucson, AZ	Jazz/Ballet/Modern	Also a top jazz program

Closing

Selecting the right dance program is a highly personal decision, influenced by style preference, degree type, faculty, and location. All the programs listed here provide rigorous training, vibrant performance opportunities, and pathways into professional dance careers. Prospective students are encouraged to research individual programs, attend auditions, and engage with current students or alumni to find the best fit. With dedication and the right environment, these top programs can serve as a launching pad for a successful and fulfilling career in dance.