Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance: Commercial Dance

Department

“We're helping dancers realize what makes them unique and how they can make themselves the most marketable dancers in the field.”
Ruka Hatua-Saar White, Associate Professor

Program Overview

Boston Conservatory at Berklee’s groundbreaking B.F.A. in Dance: Commercial Dance is the first and only three-year B.F.A. program offered at the conservatory level that is focused on dance performance and creation for commercial industries—film, television, theater, theme and amusement parks, stadium and arena concerts, cruise line industries, music videos, tours, circus arts, and more.

The program's curriculum is designed for highly skilled dancers who are looking for immersive training in a broad range of commercial styles while learning the ins and outs of this expansive industry so that they are fully prepared to launch their careers by the time they graduate. Through the curriculum’s career component, developed in partnership with Berklee’s state-of-the-art Career Center, commercial dance students will be connected with industry professionals and have access to many gig and internship opportunities.

Due to the rigorous nature of the training, the program is best for strong dancers with high proficiency in at least one of the following dance styles: hip-hop, jazzdance, tap, Latin styles, musical theater styles, contemporary styles, and more. While classical dance experience is welcome, it is not required for admission; applicants can audition with whichever dance form best represents their skills and artistry.

What Sets Our Program Apart

Boston Conservatory’s commercial dance program is unlike any other B.F.A. program available.

We’re among the most reputable schools for dance.

Boston Conservatory is consistently ranked among the best schools for dance (Backstage, DanceUS, Dance Magazine, College Magazine) and has been credited as a top school for aspiring choreographers (College Magazine, 2019). Dancers who study here receive the signature in-depth training that Boston Conservatory is best known for.

We offer the only three-year B.F.A. program focused on commercial dance.

This is major—Boston Conservatory’s B.F.A. in Dance: Commercial Dance can be completed in just three years, thanks to its flexible structure. Finishing in three years means that students save a year’s worth of tuition and can start their careers sooner, giving them both a professional and financial edge.

Boston Conservatory has dance, music, and theater all under one roof.

There is no shortage of creative inspiration at Boston Conservatory. In addition to being located in the heart of a vibrant city, Boston Conservatory boasts a multidisciplinary campus where dancers and choreographers interact daily with musicians, actors, singers, and composers. In addition, dancers often collaborate on creative projects with their peers at Berklee College of Music, located just down the street from the Conservatory.

We’re also part of Berklee, which means full access to Berklee College of Music’s deep expertise in the music industry.

Music-related projects account for a large portion of commercial dance industry work. Conveniently for Boston Conservatory students, Berklee College of Music is the world’s leading training ground for music industry performance and production, and presents hundreds of concerts each semester—many of which incorporate dance.

Performance Opportunities

Commercial dance students perform regularly throughout the year in multidisciplinary projects that incorporate elements of commercial dance. Some examples include:

Tribute Shows with Berklee Ensembles: Each year, Berklee presents tribute shows, or concerts that celebrate revered artists. Recent tribute shows have featured the Beyoncé Band, the Ariana Grande Ensemble, the Bruno Mars Ensemble, and more.
Arena and Stadium Performances: Students also dance in large-scale arena performances, such as Berklee College of Music’s annual commencement concert at the 7,200-seat Agganis Arena in Boston, which in the past has honored artists such as Justin Timberlake and Missy Elliott.
Mainstage Performances: Second- and third-year commercial dance students will perform world premieres on the Conservatory mainstage in From the Ground Up, alongside contemporary dance students. First-year commercial dance students will perform in Winterworks alongside first-year contemporary dance students.

Curriculum Overview

The core curriculum for the B.F.A. in Dance: Commercial Dance includes intensive movement and performance training, dance academics, career preparation, and health and wellness education in a flexible structure that can be completed in just three years (six semesters). Through this dynamic combination of immersive training, students will safely master a range of common commercial dance styles while gaining a comprehensive understanding of the entertainment industry and forming important professional connections.

Students should be prepared for three years of highly intensive study. In order to complete this program in three years, over the course of six fall/spring semesters, students will need to commit to full-time attendance, taking a minimum of 20 credits per semester (approximately 40+ hours of study per week).

Movement and Performance Training

Throughout the three-year program, students will take a minimum of six movement training modules of their choice:

Hip-hop and urban dance
Dance for the Screen
Circus and Las Vegas arts
Social & Vernacular dance (swing, ballroom, African, salsa)
JazzDance, broadway, and tap dance
Improvisation
Acting and voice
Ballet and modern dance
Dance composition for film, video, and stage

In addition, each semester students will take Composition and Performance for Commercial Dance, a flexible course in which students collaborate on various performance projects that utilize commercial dance styles, such as music videos, music concerts, theater productions, and other multidisciplinary projects.

Career Preparation

As students cultivate their unique artistry through movement classes and the Performance Ensemble Project, they will also learn about the commercial entertainment industry and how to secure professional work through the program’s robust career development component, designed in partnership with Berklee’s state-of-the-art Career Center.

Through workshops, master classes, seminars, and professional networking events organized through the Career Center, students will have the opportunity to learn directly from industry experts (producers, directors, agents, choreographers, and performers).

Students will also take courses designed to develop self-sufficiency and career sustainability, including courses on auditioning, career skill development, and technology.

In addition, the commercial dance program is designed to accommodate one semester of internship and/or professional dance work, which is credited towards degree completion. This means that of the program’s six total semesters, students will only be required to study on campus for five of those semesters. They can dance professionally for one semester—anywhere in the world—and receive credit towards their degree completion.

Dance Academics

Students will take a series of foundational studies to contextualize what they are learning in the studio and help them connect it to their future careers. These courses include:

Introduction to Iconic Dance
Introduction to Dance on Film and Video
History of Hip-Hop
Dance and Pop Culture
Dance and Technology Lab.

In addition, students will take various liberal arts and academic dance electives of their choosing to further tailor their educational experience to their interests.

Health and Wellness

All dance students at Boston Conservatory undergo comprehensive health and wellness education to ensure that their artistic development is supported by safe and healthy practices. This includes somatic courses that teach students how to care for and train their bodies, prevent injuries, and develop healthy habits that will support a lifelong career.

As part of the Conservatory’s state-of-art approach to dance training, we provide excellent physical therapy services, massage therapy, and training in Alexander Technique to support optimal health and functioning.

Program Requirements

The Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance: Commercial Dance requires students to complete 120 credits, consisting of the course requirements listed below. View the Sample Curriculum by Semester for additional details.

Movement and Performance Training

D-EN 0901 Composition and Performance for Commercial Dance (4 credits; taken five times—20 credits total)
X-XX xxxx Movement Modules (six modules, 24 credits total) from the list below

Hip-Hop/Urban Dance Module