Overview

The Dance programme at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee offers a sophisticated Master of Fine Arts curriculum tailored for working artists, educators, and choreographers. This low-residency course provides the flexibility to balance professional commitments with advanced academic and creative inquiry in a supportive environment.

The curriculum prioritises contemporary choreography and individual research, encouraging students to explore the intersection of critical dance studies and physical practice. Through a combination of intensive in-person summer sessions and flexible online or on-campus learning during the autumn and spring, participants develop a global perspective on their work. The programme emphasises social and racial justice, helping artists connect traditional forms with emergent practices and diverse communities.

Why Dance at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee?

The institution provides exceptional facilities, including six dedicated rehearsal studios and ample studio space for choreographic development. Located in the vibrant city of Milwaukee, the university offers a unique artistic setting with close proximity to the major cultural hub of Chicago. This location facilitates numerous opportunities for collaboration with both local and national artists across various disciplines.

The Department of Dance has maintained accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Dance since 2011, ensuring high educational standards. Students learn from nationally and internationally acclaimed faculty whose research specialities include somatic modalities, site-specific performance, and new media integration. The programme also offers unique performance platforms such as Winterdances and Springdances, where students premiere works alongside faculty and guests.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

International fee: USD 27090 per year
National fee: USD 27090 per year
Local fee: USD 13659 per year

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

Modules may include:

Choreographic Practice
Dance Scholarship
Contemporary Choreography
Creative Research
Critical Dance Studies
Somatic Perspectives
Technical Movement Practice
Thesis Project

Careers with Dance

Graduates are well-equipped to pursue diverse roles within the global arts sector, ranging from performance to administration. Many alumni find success as professional dancers, choreographers, or artistic directors for established companies. The programme also prepares individuals for leadership positions in arts advocacy, curriculum development, and higher education, reflecting the versatile nature of the MFA degree.

Potential career paths include:

Artistic Director
Choreographer
Dance Researcher
Educator
Movement Analyst
Performance Artist
Rehearsal Director
Arts Administrator

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Dance Techniques and Somatics (Modern, African, Ballet, Alexander, Pilates, Yoga)
Creating, Staging, and Performing Dance Works
Theory and Application of Dance
Electives in Complementary Studies
Final Project

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 24 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-05-27 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-03-01 00:00:00

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

120

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TOEFL^® IBT

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IELTS

6.5

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Credits

60 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Milwaukee, United States

Disciplines

Dance View 69 other Masters in Dance in United States

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Academic requirements

GPA

2.7

GRE^®

Required

GMAT

Required

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

120

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

IELTS

6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Reason Statement

Required Work Sample: Work sample description page with video URLs for 10-12 minutes of recent performance and/or choreography. This may consist of excerpted works (minimum two minutes from each work). Must include exact web address for each work. For each work, the description should include choreographer, performers, venue, company or organization, dates, and any other applicable information (designers, etc).

Required Curriculum Vitae or Resume.

Optional Press Materials: Preference is a single pdf (not individual file uploads).

Recommendations: Two (2) recent recommendations from people who can provide information on your qualifications. The site permits the recommenders to write or upload their statements directly into the system (preferred) or the department can upload on behalf of the recommenders.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

27090 USD / year

≈ 27090 USD / year
Out-of-State

27090 USD / year

≈ 27090 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

13659 USD / year

≈ 13659 USD / year

Living costs

Milwaukee

United States

1066 - 1767 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Dance.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

On this page

About

Overview

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

Milwaukee

Funding

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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