Undergraduate Dance degrees only (BA, BFA) are offered at UMass Amherst.
More information about Dance degrees >>
BFA Audition dates for Fall 2025 entry are Friday, Nov. 8 and Friday, Feb. 14, both at 12pm.
(Auditionees must have completed the Common App through Undergraduate Admissions before attending the BFA audition)
UMass Dance Application >>
Financial Aid & Scholarships >>
Dance Program Open House: Date for the Dance Engagement Day (Virtual Open House) is Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 7pm
See below for details about applying and auditioning.
Admissions Procedure
Admission to the Dance Program is a two-part process. Applicants must first apply to the university using the Common Application through the Admissions Office. Applicants then apply to the Dance Program by submitting a Dance Application Form, which includes uploading a personal statement and a movement sample (BA applicants). For BFA applicants, there is also an audition sign-up section on the form.
Admission Application Deadlines for UMass Amherst:
- Early Action: November 5, 2024
- Regular Decision: January 15, 2025
- Transfer: November 5, 2024 (spring 2025 term), March 1, 2025 (fall 2025 term, priority deadline)
For more information on applying to UMass Amherst, please contact Undergraduate Admissions, @email
Submission of the UMass Dance Program supplementary material
Rolling applications; please submit as soon as possible following your application.
For more information on applying to the UMass Dance Program, please contact Cathy Maclutsky, @email
UMass Dance Application Procedure
Once you apply to UMass Amherst, we ask that you apply to our program by submitting the following:
Dance Application Form (link to form). The form includes capability to upload your personal statement and your movement sample (BA applicants), plus sign-up for an audition (BFA applicants).
Personal Statement
The UMass Amherst Dance Program and its faculty support divergent and individualized pathways in dance, specifically across the areas of dance performance and composition, dance education and community engagement, and dance science and applications in research. In uniquely considering your intended career trajectory in dance, please provide a personal statement of 350–500 words. Share with us your passions, dreams, interests, and goals that connect to dance and those that are outside your current experiences in dance. Your personal statement should respond to the following: What interests and background in dance will you bring to the program? Which aspects of the program, its faculty expertise, and overall programmatic offerings do you foresee will prepare you for "the dance career of tomorrow" and support your unique pathway in this field?
Movement Sample (BA applicants):
A movement sample is required for all BA degree applicants. Your movement sample should emphasize your strengths and creativity in dance. There are no specific requirements for content or your chosen medium. When making this movement sample, consider your strongest technique, movement language, and/or your innate interest in dance. Video submissions (uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo) should be two to three minutes in length.
Audition (BFA applicants)
A live audition is required for all BFA degree applicants. A movement sample is recommended, though not mandatory. Please sign up for one of our scheduled audition dates. You can do this as part of the Dance Application Form. BFA Audition dates for Fall 2025 admission are Friday, Nov. 8 and Friday, Feb. 14, both at 12pm.
Questions may be directed to Dance Program Coordinator Cathy Maclutsky, @email, 413-545-6064
The Dance Program accepts applicants on a rolling basis.
First-year and transfer applicants are encouraged to attend our Dance Engagement Days (virtual events). Offered in the Fall and Spring, these events are curated for prospective dance majors, including high school juniors and seniors, transfers, and current UMass students. You will interact with dance majors and faculty and receive a program overview, Q&A, and virtual tour of our facilities. Current dance students will share their research and excerpts of performances. Our faculty will guide you through movement experiences that reflect the scope of our department. There will be opportunities to register for individual meetings with faculty that will support your pathway to becoming a UMass Dance Major and leading to a career and life in the arts.
Fall 2024 Dance Engagement Day (Virtual Open House) is Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 7pm, on Zoom).
Details => Registration =>
Please email Cathleen Maclutsky @email or call (413) 545-6064 for additional information, upcoming event dates, scheduling meeting appointments with faculty, and online department tours.
Visits/Inquiries
We encourage and welcome visits by prospective students and their families and can arrange meetings with faculty and students, attendance at classes and rehearsals, and tours. Please contact the Dance Program at 413-545-6064 in advance to schedule an appointment. Please see the Visit Us page for links to directions to campus and downloadable maps.
Dance Program:
Director of Dance Admissions
Totman Building, Room 12
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA 01003
Tel. (413) 545-6064
Email: @email
Undergraduate Admissions Office:
University Admissions Center
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA 01003
Tel. (413) 545-0222
A Day in the Life: Sample Dance Schedules

Hannah, Senior, BFA, Fall semester
Monday/Wednesday
12:20–1:35, Theater
4:00–6:00, Senior Seminar
7:00–9:00, Faculty Repertory rehearsal for University Dancers
Tuesday/Thursday
10:00–11:15, Advanced Modern at Mount Holyoke College
4:00–5:20, Intermediate Contemporary at Amherst College
6:00–9:00, Faculty Repertory rehearsal at Mount Holyoke College
Friday
9:25–12:05, Contact Improvisation at Smith College
2:00–4:00, Rehearsal for a student’s senior thesis at Mount Holyoke College
Saturday
9:00–12:00, Rehearsal for a student’s senior thesis at Mount Holyoke College
Sunday
12:00–3:00, Rehearsal for my own senior thesis
4:00–6:00, Rehearsal for a student’s senior thesis
Stephanie, Senior, BA Dance and BA Psychology (Dual degree), Fall Semester
Monday/Wednesday
11:00–1:00, Volunteering in psychology related work
2:30–3:45, Psychology of Trauma
4:00–6:00, Senior Seminar
Tuesday/Thursday
11:30–12:45, Cognitive Psychology
4:00–5:15, Modern III
5:30–8:30, Faculty Repertory rehearsal at Amherst College
Friday
9:15–10:00, TA Meeting for Professional Development in Psychology
10:10–11:00, TA for Professional Development in Psychology
11:10–12:10, Office Hours
4:00–6:00, Color Guard practice (Dance Staff)
Sunday
12:00–3:00, Rehearsal for a student’s senior thesis
4:00–6:00, Rehearsal for my own senior thesis
Becca, Freshman, BA Dance, Double major in Spanish, Fall Semester
Monday/Wednesday
9:05–9:55, Spanish 240
10:10–12:05, Dance in the 20th Century
1:25–2:15, Ballet 1
2:30–3:35, Improvisation
5:45–7:00, Hip Hop
Tuesday/Thursday
11:30–12:45, Jazz 1
1:00–2:15, Modern 1
4:00–4:50, Freshman Year Seminar (Tuesday only)
Friday
9:05–9:55, Spanish 240
12:20–1:10, Drop in pointe class
1:25–2:15, Ballet 2
Natasha, Freshman, BA Dance and BS Communication Disorders, Fall Semester
Monday/Wednesday
10:10–12:05, Dance in the 20th Century
1:25–2:25, Ballet I
2:30–3:45, Improvisation
4:00–5:30, Rehearsal for student choreography show (Monday Only)
5:45–7:00, Hip Hop I
Tuesday/Thursday
11:30–12:45, Jazz I
1:00–2:15, Modern I
4:00–5:15, Psychology 100
5:30–7:30, Rehearsal for a student’s senior thesis (Thursday Only)
Friday
11:30–12:05, Freshman Seminar
1:25–2:25, Ballet
The University of Massachusetts Amherst prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, national origin, mental or physical disability, or veteran status, in any aspect of the admission or treatment of students or in employment.