Diplomates of Dance

Abstract

Early dance programs and departments at colleges and universities tended to focus on modern dance rather than ballet, but ballet has been more central to dance in higher education since the 1960s. Many college dance programs started in physical education departments, signaling the early twentieth-century concern with women’s bodies and appropriate physical activity for women, but they eventually moved into performing arts divisions. This change reflected the shift from a more holistic approach to an emphasis on performance. Dance programs in higher education today are more likely to focus on producing professionals than on training dance teachers or educating those who see dance as a liberal art. As a result, a small but growing number of professional ballet dancers have graduated from college, which was rare until very recently. There is also a growing field of dance studies with roots in history, philosophy, art, and culture as well as performance.