Four Colleges Introduce New Dance Majors Amid Arts Program Cuts

Four U.S. colleges—Ithaca College, Saint Anselm College, Samford University, and Vassar College—have launched new dance degree programs despite broader trends of arts program reductions in higher education, according to institutional reports and faculty interviews. These additions reflect efforts to meet student demand and expand academic offerings, with each program tailored to its institution’s unique focus.

Why Add a Dance Major?

Colleges often require faculty to demonstrate “genuine hunger” for new programs, as noted in a 2024 report by the National Association of Colleges and Schools. At Samford University, Assistant Professor Alisa McCool cited student demand and a gap left by a Birmingham-area university that closed its dance department in 2022. “We had a lot of students who wanted more,” McCool said, explaining the 2025 launch of Samford’s B.A. in dance.

Vassar College’s decision to introduce a B.A. in dance in fall 2026 followed years of expanding dance courses, including two “correlates” in performance and studies. “We realized we were already doing the work of a major,” said Miriam Mahdaviani-Goldstone, chair of dance at Vassar. The program received unanimous faculty approval, according to the college’s academic calendar.

Curriculum and Unique Features

Each program emphasizes distinct strengths. Ithaca College’s B.F.A. in dance and choreography for musical theater, set to begin in 2026, integrates “balance between dance and choreography,” according to associate professor Amy O’Brien. The program is part of a broader restructuring that created the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance.

Saint Anselm College’s BA in dance, launched in fall 2024, allows students to specialize in a primary dance genre. The curriculum includes a semester at New York City’s Broadway Dance Center, as reported by the college’s press release. “We want to put them in the right position to achieve their unique goals,” said tap dancer Aaron Tolson, who led the program’s creation.

The Intangible Benefits

Formal dance majors offer students “credibility” for graduate school or professional auditions, according to Mahdaviani-Goldstone. At Samford, the first cohort included nine freshmen, two juniors, and one senior, with faculty emphasizing mentorship and flexibility. “Our BA has so much room to grow,” McCool said, citing student feedback.

Small class sizes and interdisciplinary opportunities—such as Vassar’s cross-departmental electives—highlight the programs’ appeal. “It reflects students’ hard work,” Mahdaviani-Goldstone added, noting that a dance major signals “seriousness” to future employers or institutions.

Broader Implications for Arts Education

The trend contrasts with national data showing 12% of U.S. colleges reduced arts funding between 2020 and 2023, per the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. However, institutions like Ithaca and Vassar frame their investments as aligning with student interests and institutional identity. “It says the school is proud of what we bring to the campus,” Mahdaviani-Goldstone said.

As these programs mature, their success may influence other colleges considering similar expansions. For now, the four institutions underscore the resilience of dance education in higher learning.