Indiana University Bloomington, IN offers the aspiring professional ballerina an accredited ballet program. Ballet dancers will immerse themselves in the art form by taking five technical classes a week in addition to another class of the student's choice. The university promises three staged performances each year. Partnerships with the university's music program, as well as other theatrical and musical institutions, offer students additional performance opportunities. Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana is another option for the serious dancer to major in ballet. With the production of a full-scale classical ballet and several modern ballets each year, students are able to gain performance experience. It is necessary to audition for a position in both universities.
Modern Dance is not as controlled as ballet. Though choreographed, it is expressive and is known for freedom in movement. University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance, in Ann Arbour, MI offers both a Bachelor Fine Arts with an emphasis on dance and a Masters of Fine Arts in Dance. Students have a number of performance opportunities through the year including a show at the Power Center of Performing Arts in Ann Arbour.
Professional dancers teach the students at California Institute of the Arts, The Sharon Disney Lund School of Dance in Valencia, CA. The core material focuses on all aspects of dance from dancing to staging a performance. There are eight to 10 shows each year which give students the opportunity to gain experience before graduation.
Since its inception in 1905 as an Institute of Musicial Art and its later merging with Julliard Graduate School in 1926, Julliard School of Music has been regarded as one of New York's finest scholastic institutions. The acclaimed Dance Division was established in 1945. Julliard offers classes toward a Bachelor of Fine Arts in ballet, modern dance or a combination of both. A sampling of courses includes various classes in technique, dance history, acting and voice classes for dancers, jazz, tap and choreography. In addition to presentations in class, Julliard Dance Division produces about 15 performances a year.
These respected dance schools and companies prepare dancers to audition into professional companies and university programs. Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance, located in Ridgefield, CT, is a non-profit dance school. It provides a structured class environment to learn various dance disciplines including ballet, modern dance, jazz, hip-hop and tap.
Considered by many to be the preeminant school of ballet, The School of American Ballet, located in New York's Lincoln Center, trains dancers to enter the world of professional dancing. Its alumni are hired by renowned companies including New York City Ballet.