Associate of Arts Degree in Dance
San Mateo, USA
Associate of Arts
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
30 Jun 2026
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2026
TUITION FEES
USD 4,512 / per semester *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for a 12-unit semester | 376 USD per unit | non-inclusive of miscellaneous fees
Fast-track counseling
By contacting the school, you'll get access to free priority counselling for any study and application questions.
The Associate of Arts Degree (AA) in Dance is designed for students planning to transfer to a four-year university to major or minor in dance. A comprehensive dance education will develop skills required to create, perform, communicate, and understand dance. These skills are acquired through the study of modern dance, ballet technique, jazz technique, performance, as well as production, dance appreciation, music appreciation, and composition.
Major Requirements
| Required Core Courses: 14-16 units | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| DANC 100 | Dance Appreciation | 3 units |
| DANC 121.1 | Modern Dance I | 1 unit |
| DANC 130.1 | Jazz Dance I | 1 unit |
| DANC 140.1 | Ballet I | 1 unit |
| DANC 390 | Dance Composition/Theory/Choreography | 3 units |
| DANC 400.1 | Dance Performance & Production I | 1 - 2 units |
| DANC 400.2 | Dance Performance & Production II | 1 - 2 units |
| MUS. 202 | Music Appreciation | 3 units |
| OR | ||
| MUS. 275 | History of Jazz | 3 units |
| Required Selective Courses: Select 6 units from the following courses: | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| DANC 116.1 | Waltz I | 0.5 or 1 units |
| DANC 116.2 | Waltz II | 0.5 or 1 units |
| DANC 116.3 | Waltz III | 0.5 or 1 units |
| DANC 116.4 | Waltz IV | 0.5 or 1 units |
| DANC 117.1 | Tap Dance I | 0.5 or 1 units |
| DANC 117.2 | Tap Dance II | 0.5 or 1 units |
| DANC 117.3 | Tap Dance III | 0.5 or 1 units |
| DANC 117.4 | Tap Dance IV | 0.5 or 1 units |
| DANC 121.2 | Modern Dance II | 0.5 or 1 units |
| DANC 121.3 | Modern Dance III | 0.5 or 1 units |
| DANC 121.4 | Modern Dance IV | 0.5 or 1 units |
| DANC 128.1 | Latin Dance I | 0.5 or 1 units |
| DANC 128.2 | Latin Dance II | 0.5 or 1 units |
| DANC 128.3 | Latin Dance III | 0.5 or 1 units |
| DANC 128.4 | Latin Dance IV | 0.5 or 1 units |
| DANC 130.2 | Jazz Dance II | 0.5 or 1 units |
| DANC 130.3 | Jazz Dance III | 0.5 or 1 units |
| DANC 130.4 | Jazz Dance IV | 0.5 or 1 units |
| DANC 140.2 | Ballet II | 0.5 or 1 units |
| DANC 140.3 | Ballet III | 0.5 or 1 units |
| DANC 140.4 | Ballet IV | 0.5 or 1 units |
| DANC 151.1 | Social Dance I | 0.5 or 1 units |
| DANC 151.2 | Social Dance II | 0.5 or 1 units |
| DANC 151.3 | Social Dance III | 0.5 or 1 units |
| DANC 151.4 | Social Dance IV | 0.5 or 1 units |
| DANC 167.1 | Swing Dance I | 0.5 or 1 units |
| DANC 167.2 | Swing Dance II | 0.5 or 1 units |
| DANC 167.3 | Swing Dance III | 0.5 or 1 units |
| DANC 167.4 | Swing Dance IV | 0.5 or 1 units |
| DANC 400.3 | Dance Performance & Production III | 0.5 - 2 units |
| DANC 400.4 | Dance Performance & Production IV | 0.5 - 2 units |
Total Required Major Units: 20 - 22
And required General Education coursework and electives as needed to meet the minimum 60 units required for the Associate degree.
Employment opportunities in the field are numerous and include areas such as: 1. Performance: Dance or performance artist 2. Education: Dance instructor, dance studio owner, somatic educator (i.e., Yoga, Pilates, Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais) 3. Administration/Management: Artistic director, rehearsal director, dance company manager, arts administration/management 4. Dance Medicine: Dance and physical therapist, dance kinesiology 5. Specializations: Choreographer, dance notator, dance critic, dance historian, dance researcher.
Students completing this program will be able to:
- Demonstrate a working knowledge of production techniques, including backstage, and show management.
- Compose a dance demonstrating knowledge of the choreography process.
- Demonstrate an understanding and appreciation for the principal historical, theoretical, and critical approaches to dance as a performing art.
- Demonstrate the skills required to perform at a proficient level in a variety of dance styles including ballet, jazz, modern.
The San Mateo Colleges of Silicon Valley (SMCSV) offer more than 50 institutional scholarships each year, and all enrolled students are eligible to apply. Award amounts range from $300 to $7,000, helping make college more affordable. Students can also apply for external scholarships, such as the $1,000 Study in California Scholarship, to further support their educational journey.