Dance with intelligent, dynamic minds and bodies in Canada’s largest and most comprehensive university program.
York's dance program is the only dance program in Canada to offer a wide array of world dance courses. Receive an integrated education in dance, combining intensive studio training with academic studies in dance and other fine and liberal arts.
Choose from streams in choreography/performance and dance education. We offer you professional training in contemporary/ballet and world dance, complemented by courses in composition, production, dance history and ethnography.
Performance opportunities abound! Joint/diploma degree programs with Canada’s National Ballet School and the School of Toronto Dance Theatre are also available.
Featured Facilities
- Five spacious rehearsal studios
- Two choreography studios
- One black box dance theatre-studio
- A 600-seat thrust stage
- Strate Dance Studio Theatre
- Pilates conditioning equipment
- Extensive costume collection
- Audio and video recording facilities
- Extensive library collection of dance books and periodicals
- Dance-specific computer software and peripherals
- Students have the opportunity to explore the increasingly important field of computer applications in dance studies, in areas such as notation, history and dance science.
- We also offer a joint teaching program with the National Ballet School of Canada's Teacher Training Program and with York's Faculty of Education. As well, you may participate in exchanges with dance programs at British universities or, with the help of York International, with universities in other countries.
- The York Dance Ensemble is a young company featuring outstanding student performers, creative artists and production crew from York University's Department of Dance. This company regularly premieres works by guest choreographers, faculty and students, offers selected upper-year students a unique pre-professional training and performance experience.
Sample First-year Schedule
- Contemporary/Modern Dance Forms
- Fundamentals of Physical Practice
- Dance Production
- Introduction to Dance Studies
- Contemporary/Ballet Dance Forms
- The Basics of Music
- Human Anatomy for Fine Arts
Possible Career Paths
Explore what you can do with your degree- choreographer
- performer
- movement therapist
- dance teacher
You are required to provide official evidence of academic achievement in secondary education. This can be demonstrated through:
- Final grades under the Ontario curriculum (obtained through correspondence, night school or through TVO)
- Credentials through other curricula, such as results from Advanced Placement (AP) or Advanced-level courses in the General Certificate of Education (GCE). (Students may register to sit for the AP and GCE examinations as private candidates.)
In the absence of final grades in courses:
- You must submit the results of standardized tests such as the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) with a minimum combined total of 1170 on the Critical Reading and Math components or a composite American College Testing (ACT) score of 24.
- Your application will be reviewed by an admissions sub-committee. If admitted, you will not be eligible for entrance scholarships. You will be considered for continuing student scholarships at the end of your first year of study, if you satisfy those criteria.
You may also be required to provide proof of language proficiency. You will be considered for entrance scholarships on the basis of your overall averages in the six 4U/4M (Ontario curriculum) or equivalent courses.
We are adding to our database of admission requirements by country. Please check back in October for additional admission requirements by country. General requirements are currently available by country — note that program-specific requirements may apply in addition to general requirements.