About Our Graduate Students

Graduate students in the UC Irvine Department of Dance come from diverse professional, academic, and artistic backgrounds, each bringing unique experiences and aspirations. Whether you're transitioning from a professional performance career, teaching in private studios, or continuing directly from an undergraduate degree, our program is designed to support your growth and goals.

Our alumni pursue a wide range of career paths, including teaching at colleges and universities, working in K–12 education, leading community-based programs, choreographing and performing professionally, engaging in dance media (videography and photography), or advancing in arts leadership and administration. Some continue their academic journeys by pursuing doctoral study in dance or related fields.

The graduate experience at UCI is both rigorous and individualized, building on your existing strengths while expanding your knowledge and skill sets across technical, creative, pedagogical, and scholarly areas. Your success will be shaped by the expertise, curiosity, and commitment you bring to your studies.

We are proud to have welcomed students with professional affiliations including the Martha Graham Dance Company, Paul Taylor Dance Company, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Houston Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Joyce Trisler Danscompany, Philadanco, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Atlanta Ballet, Los Angeles Ballet, Metropolitan Opera Ballet, and the commercial dance industry.

As a prospective graduate student, we encourage you to reflect deeply on your intentions. What areas of inquiry or practice are you passionate about? What do you hope to explore, create, or master during your time in the program? What project or line of research will shape your trajectory as a dance professional and artist-scholar?

Thesis Guidelines

Advancement to Candidacy

Graduate Resources

Pictured: New Slate, 2017. Photo by Skye Schmidt.