The Department of Theatre and Dance offers undergraduate degree programs in Dance (Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Fine Arts), Music Theatre (Bachelor of Fine Arts), and Theatre (Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Fine Arts) with concentrations in Performance and Design and Technology. In addition to our Bachelor’s programs, Theatre and Dance also offers a Theatre Minor; we do not offer a Dance minor.
Acceptance into the department varies by program, with specific instructions below. All programs require academic acceptance into the university through the Office of Admissions. Current students wishing to transfer in must be in good academic standing with the university, and have a minimum GPA of 2.5.
An audition is required for our BA and BFA Dance degree programs. Prospective students are encouraged to audition prior to matriculation at UB. Current UB students who audition for the dance major should contact the Theatre and Dance Academic Manager to discuss their degree completion timetable. Students who have successfully completed their first year of study as a Dance BA can then audition for the Dance BFA at the start of their second year. Transfer students can apply to the BFA program during their first year if they have completed a full year at another dance institution. UB does not offer a dance minor.
* UB students who are non-dance majors wishing to take dance technique courses should see the course schedule for dance courses listed as “open”.
See the below audition link for details on the audition process and application materials to be submitted.
Students must be accepted both by the University via the online application and by the department via an audition.
*Prospective students who receive a fee waiver for the university application process are exempt.
2022-2023 Audition Dates:
UB Dance is committed to providing you with a full audition experience while keeping you safe. We look forward to the opportunity to get to know you and your dancing, as well as for you to get to know us and our program.
Live In-Person Auditions:
Friday, October 14, 2022 @ 10am - noon
(Location: University at Buffalo Center for the Arts, North Campus)
Friday, November 11, 2022 @ 10am - noon
(Location: University at Buffalo Center for the Arts, North Campus)
Friday, March 3, 2023 @ 10am - noon
(Location: University at Buffalo Center for the Arts, North Campus)
Video Submission Options (2021-2022 Information Listed Below. TO BE UPDATED SOON!)
Dancewave Through College & Beyond
Video Audition and virtual Information session
Pre-Event App Engagement: Oct. 8 - 21, 2021
Special Event Weekend: Oct. 22-24, 2021
Register here: https://dtcb.dancewave.org/
UB Video Submission
You will record yourself dancing a short improvisation and three movement phrases taught by our faculty in modern, ballet, and jazz that you have learned through the video link sent to you once you have registered for an audition. You will then submit 1 single video of you dancing these movement phrases in the form of a link (vimeo, youtube) or file (mp4, other). Please be sure to choose a safe space in which to dance. Please wear clothes that allow you to move in all four dance genres and that allow us to see your dancing clearly. Wear dance shoes appropriate to your space.
Deadline: Video submission is due two weeks after you’ve registered for the video audition.
The video submission is accompanied by a live virtual presentation and Q+A with UB Dance Faculty.
Please complete the Registration Form below for an on-campus audition.
Video Audition Information Sessions: (2021-2022 Information Listed Below. TO BE UPDATED SOON!)
Friday, February 11, 2022 @ noon - 1pm ET via Zoom
Wednesday, February 23, 2022 @ 7pm - 8pm ET via Zoom
Please complete the Registration Form below for a remote video audition.
2021-2022 Audition Dates:
Friday, November 12, 2021 @ 9am - 2pm
(Location: University at Buffalo Center for the Arts, North Campus)
Saturday, February 5, 2022 @ 9am - 2pm
(Location: University at Buffalo Center for the Arts, North Campus)
Friday, February 11, 2022 @ 9am - 2pm
(Location: University at Buffalo Center for the Arts, North Campus)
Fall of Senior Year (or semester prior to transferring): Register for Departmental Audition or Interview.
By December 31st (for fall applicants): Submit a UB application to the Admissions Office. A completed application includes all test scores, transcripts, etc.
March: Students will be notified by the Department of their audition or interview results.
By May 1st: Notify the University and the Department of your decision.
Students should audition prior to their matriculation at the University at Buffalo. Please do not wait to be accepted by the university before auditioning. Students must be accepted both academically by the Office of Admissions and departmentally by an audition or interview in order to join the Dance Program, the Music Theatre program, or the Theatre BFA programs.
