Dance application process 

Application and acceptance to the University of Iowa is the first step toward admission to the Department of Dance.

Please visit the University of Iowa admissions website to apply to the university. On your application, select Dance Interest Degree as a program of study. After admission to the University of Iowa, you will receive an email with a link to the supplemental application, which will be accessible in your Admissions Profile on MyUI.  

A supplemental application is required for all incoming and transfer students interested in majoring or minoring in dance. The Department of Dance offers two degree programs, the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Fine Arts. The department also offers a Dance Minor.

The department admits all students to the Dance Minor and Dance BA and uses this supplemental application to place BA and Minor students in the appropriate movement courses during their first year of study. For consideration for admission to the Dance BFA, you must have a high school grade-point average of 3.5 or higher. An audition solo is also required.

After filling out the supplemental application, all students are welcome to attend a Hawkeye Dance Day event on campus, where you will take classes with faculty, meet current students, and learn more about the Department of Dance.

Important dates

• Nov. 3, 2023 – Priority deadline to attend Hawkeye Dance Day on Nov. 10 
• Nov. 10, 2023 – Hawkeye Dance Day 
• Jan. 15, 2024 - Priority deadline for dance scholarship consideration for Dance BA and BFA, if applying by video only;  Department of Dance does not award scholarships to minors
• Feb. 16, 2024 – Priority deadline to attend  Hawkeye Dance Day on Feb. 23
• Feb. 23, 2024 – Hawkeye Dance Day 
• May 1, 2024 – Final application deadline 

Questions? Contact Molly Dahlberg, Dance Recruitment Coordinator.

Supplemental application instructions

Minor in Dance

On the application, students entering the minor have the option to submit video for placement in ballet and contemporary movement practices. Ballet and contemporary practices courses are not required to complete the minor.  

BA in Dance and BFA in Dance

All students in the Dance BA program are required to take courses in ballet and contemporary movement practices to complete their degree requirements. For placement in the appropriate courses in fall 2024, faculty will assess your skills in these genres. On the supplemental application, you will have the option to submit video for assessment or you may choose to be assessed in person at a Hawkeye Dance Day. 

Additional application requirement for BFA in Dance

All BFA applicants must either submit a video of a solo or perform a solo at an Hawkeye Dance Day. Solos must be a maximum of two minutes in length. You can perform any style of dance that you feel shows you at your best.

Combinations for ballet and contemporary movement practices videos

If you are submitting videos for placement, please watch these videos to see the combinations to learn.

Please provide a video of yourself performing these combinations on your supplemental application if you choose the submit by video option. You may perform to the music in the performance video, or you may choose your own musical selections that have similar tempo and style. 

Scholarship application

The Department of Dance is pleased to offer Iowa Center for the Arts (ICA) Scholarship Awards of up to $5,000 for the first year of study as a dance major. Dance minors are not eligible. Please visit the ICA Scholarship page for more information. Students applying for the BFA are automatically considered for scholarships.

Current UI students applying for a Minor in Dance

Current students who would like to add the dance minor may do so by emailing Department of Dance administrative specialist, Molly Dahlberg. A placement audition is required for permission to register for majors-level (2000-level and above) courses in ballet and contemporary movement practices. Molly will assist you in setting up an audition if you are interested. It is possible to complete the minor without taking ballet or contemporary movement practices. See requirements in the General Catalog.

Current UI Students applying for BA in Dance or BFA in Dance

Current students who are interested in adding a Dance BA or Dance BFA may email Department of Dance administrative specialist, Molly Dahlberg to arrange an in-person audition or video submission. Students are encouraged to contact director of undergraduate studies, Kristin Marrs to learn more about being a dance major and how you may incorporate other interests or programs of study into your dance studies. See requirements for both the BA and BFA in the General Catalog.

Hawkeye Dance Day schedule 

Hawkeye Dance Days will take place on Nov. 10, 2023 and Feb. 23, 2024, from approximately 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Hawkeye Dance Day attire

• Dancewear: Choose comfortable and form-fitting dancewear so we can adequately assess your technique and movement (leotard, tights, form-fitting t-shirts, etc.).
• Shoes: Bring ballet shoes for the ballet class. You may be barefoot or in socks for the contemporary class. 
• Hair: Have your hair securely pulled away from your face. 

Please email Molly Dahlberg with questions.