College or Career? Try Both

The days of having to choose between college and a ballet career are over. Not only do many dancers join top troupes after earning a degree (see Pennsylvania Ballet principal Lauren Fadeley, Complexions powerhouse Christina Dooling, ABT’s Sarah Smith), but many ballet companies and schools have also teamed up with universities to make it easier for their dancers to earn credits and perform at the same time. The latest is Fort Wayne Ballet, which just announced a new collaboration with the University of Saint Francis. Students will now be able to receive an Associate of Arts in dance after two years or a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance after four years. The program includes classes in a range of dance styles, dance history and theory, pedagogy and choreography at FWB and taking core academic courses at USF. Find out more at sf.edu/admissions, and check out danceu101.com for answers to your higher ed questions.