"I wanted to pursue dance at a Christian university with an excellent ballet program, and Belhaven University was the top school in that category." —Alisa Nipp Major ('19 BFA), Laguna Hills, California
The Bitsy Irby Visual Arts and Dance Center is a 42,756-square-foot facility that is home to five professional dance studios, a state-of-the-art performance space, computer design labs, faculty offices, photography studios and darkroom, painting, drawing and sculpture studios, and a beautiful art gallery.
Love to dance and want to own a studio one day—double major in Dance and Business. Can’t decide between Chemistry and Dance. Do both. See yourself overseas in the field of dance? Board the plane with a double degree in International Studies and Dance.
The Double Major Promise allows incoming freshmen to double major and should you need the extra year to finish—the 5th year tuition is on us.
The Belhaven University Dance Department is known nationally for excellence in dance. American College Dance Association adjudicators selected Belhaven Dance to perform at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. in 2016 and 2018 as part of the National College Dance Festival.
Imag[(I)n]e uses multi-media in an imaginative and original way. The dance goes beyond entertainment and conveys a universal message to the audience.” —ACDA adjudicators, about Belhaven faculty member Erin Rockwell’s choreographic work
It’s really rare to find a student body that is almost 100% fully hungry, fully engaged, fully present in each class and each rehearsal…[Belhaven Dance] is a really vibrant community that is, again, unmatched in any other place that I’ve ever taught or been a part of.” —Whitney Dufrene ('12 BFA), Guest Artist from Doug Varone and Dancers in New York City
My BFA degree in Dance will also show the time and effort I have poured into fine-tuning my technique, artistry, and choreographic skills. In addition, this degree will enable me to view the world through a Christian perspective and inspire me to seek ways to make God known among our neighbors and the nations.” —Audrey Hammitt ('20 BFA), Richmond, Va.
The Belhaven Dance Department presents a variety of concerts through the Belhaven University Dance Ensemble and Dance Ministry Ensemble. Each semester, notable guest artists visit the department to teach master classes, choreograph or re-stage repertoire for dance concerts, and offer insight into the professional world of dance. All of our events include original choreographic works created by our innovative dance faculty, seasoned guest artists, and students studying dance composition.
My time at Belhaven was purposeful. I was embraced by the faculty and staff. They demonstrated a genuine concern for my artistic and personal growth.” —Jamie Thompson ('10 BFA), Belize
Belhaven Dance alumni are employed as performers, choreographers, dance educators, administrators, and producers all over the world. Our alumni have been hired by companies including Texas Ballet Theater, Doug Varone and Dancers, Paul Taylor II, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Georgia Ballet, Bruce Wood Dance, Marigny Opera Ballet, and Dallas Black Dance Theatre.