Dance | College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

students dancing in a house-party setting in a recent thesis performance at Public Space One

Make your move.

Move into a dance community that will support your growth as a dynamic dance artist. Move into a place that will challenge you as a dancer, creator, and clever communicator. Immerse yourself daily in rigorous practice from the studio to the stage, from the classroom to career.

Upcoming Events Virtual Dance

Why Iowa?

Iowa Dance is a close-knit creative community, nestled in the heart of a major university, in a vibrant small city that loves the arts and ideas. Guided by nationally respected artist-professors, you'll dance, study, and perform as part of a well-rounded liberal arts and sciences education.

Study Here

group of dancers dressed in yellow with orange socks

Prepare for any career

Whether you focus solely on dance or add a second major, you'll be ready for any path you choose.

Prepare for any career

Todd Rhoades, dancing in red pants and a gray t shirt in a parking ramp on campus

Earn your MFA in choreography or performance

Nurture your vision. Sharpen your skills. Evolve your professional dance career.

Earn your MFA in choreography or performance

Professor Kristin Marrs teaching in a ballet class in Halsey Hall

Extraordinary artists, scholars, and teachers

Our faculty–dancers, educators, researchers, and mentors--are nationally respected leaders and innovators.

Extraordinary artists, scholars, and teachers

Join the Iowa Dance Family

We're a welcoming and supportive community of creators on a campus full of friendly people doing fascinating things. We invite you to train and perform with professors and fellow students who are as passionate about dance as you–and to develop your artistry, your career, and your knowledge of the world.

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Write Your Story

You have lots of interests–and we want you to explore them all as part of our Iowa Dance family. As an undergraduate, we'll encourage you to double-major, to transcend disciplinary boundaries, and to build your unique life and career.

Apply

Earn your Masters of Fine Arts in Dance

Your MFA in Dance prepares you to take the next step in your professional journey. If you're an expressive, curious, and passionate dancer seeking an immersive education in a creative community through supportive, comprehensive training, we invite you to experience our graduate program.

undergraduate students practicing ballet at barres in Halsey Hall gym

1 ST

university to award MFA degree in the U.S.

undergraduate student Ellie Daley dressed in black dancing on the steps of Catlett Hall. she is linging forward with her arms stretched over her head in the opposite direction and looking back at the camera

12 +

student-led dance concerts and performances each year

1

The only comprehensive Dance Program in Iowa

dancer in Intermediate Jazz dance class. Primary Instructor, Lovar Kidd

64 %

of BA students are double majors

group of BFA students performing onstage

News and announcements

March News from the UI Department of Dance

Monday, March 9, 2026

An opportunity to share your memories of Halsey Hall, and an invitation to join us in Iowa City

VIDEO: Performing Arts at Iowa - New Work City

Thursday, February 26, 2026

VIDEO: Trisha Brown Dance Company on campus at the University of Iowa

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

In the Fall 2025 semester, Hancher Auditorium welcomed the Trisha Brown Dance Company to the University of Iowa campus for a transformative residency with our students. A new video documented the remarkable experience.

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Events

Dance Faculty Concert

Friday, March 13, 2026 8:00pm

Space Place Theater

This performance will feature works choreographed by faculty from the University of Iowa Department of Dance.

One Day for Iowa | The University of Iowa's Annual Giving Day

Wednesday, March 25, 2026 (all day)

Virtual

One Day for Iowa returns on Wednesday, March 25, marking 10 years of Hawkeyes coming together to support what matters most at the University of Iowa.

Give now: https://1dayforiowa.org/3N96oqb

Our 24-hour online giving day is a chance for alumni, students, faculty, staff, and friends to make an impact—supporting scholarships, research, health care, the arts, student experiences, and more. With special matching and unlocking opportunities throughout the day, every gift has the power to go further.

Ce...

Dance Thesis Concert: Tori Lefler

Thursday, March 26, 2026 8:00pm

Public Space One

Free and open to the public.

This site-specific performance at Public Space One will feature work choreographed by graduate student Tori Lefler from the University of Iowa Department of Dance.

It's all part of #NewWorkCity, the spring initiative by #PerformingArtsAtIowa to highlight new work created by our talented graduate students in the performing arts. Join us as we celebrate one part of the full range of creative work happening at the University of Iowa. Keep an eye out for more posts this...