Exploring Dance Scholarships and Opportunities at UGA
The University of Georgia (UGA) Department of Dance offers a vibrant and comprehensive program for aspiring dancers. Whether you're interested in a Bachelor of Arts in Dance, a double major, a minor, or a DoubleDawg Degree, UGA provides a pathway to explore your passion. This article will guide you through the opportunities available, with a special focus on dance scholarships for the academic year beginning Fall 2026.
A.B. in Dance: A Foundation for Diverse Careers
The Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) in Dance at UGA is a liberal arts degree firmly rooted in dance technique. The curriculum requires courses in ballet and contemporary dance, alongside a diverse selection of courses which utilize dance as a means to study the human body, the creative process, musical form, the history of world cultures, psychology, educational theory and practice, and technical design for the stage and for multimedia formats. This approach allows students to investigate the scientific, philosophical, and historical underpinnings of dance, examine its relationship to other art forms, and experience its potential as an educational instrument.
Furthermore, students will cultivate a wide array of skills, enhance their technical proficiency and choreographic skills, and gain practical experience in performance and production. An audition is a prerequisite for acceptance into the dance major program. A detailed description of the program can be obtained from the department. The liberal arts curriculum aims to provide students with a well-rounded and integrated educational experience.
The A.B. program in dance prepares its graduates for a multitude of dance and arts-related careers. These can include arts administration and advocacy, dance therapy, outreach programming, graduate study in specialized areas related to dance or other liberal arts fields, and careers as choreographers and/or performers for the concert and theater stage, film, video, and other media. Graduates may also pursue careers as dance educators in schools (P-12), dance teachers in and owners of private studios, and dance therapists.
Teacher Certification Program
Students who wish to teach dance in Georgia's public and other accredited schools (grades P-12) can participate in the Teacher Certification program. This program requires an additional 24 credit hours, consisting of 9 credits in education, 3 in kinesiology, and 12 in student teaching. The A.B. degree program, along with these 24 semester hours, fulfills all requirements for teacher certification by the Department of Education for the State of Georgia.
Read also: Carthage Dance Curriculum
Transfer Student Information
All transfer students must audition for admission to the dance major program. Applying to the University of Georgia is a separate process from the audition for the Department of Dance. Transfer students entering UGA with 30-59 transferable hours must have a college GPA of 3.3. Those entering with 60 or more transferable hours need a GPA of 2.8. The University’s guidelines on transfer admissions are based upon available space and are subject to change at any time by the Faculty Admissions Committee. Any student intending to transfer at the junior level must attend an audition during the previous year. Students admitted as transfer dance majors are expected to be proficient dancers. Due to the demands of the curriculum and the rotation of required course work, some transfers may need three years to complete the dance major program.
Scholarship Opportunities
The UGA Department of Dance recognizes and supports talented dancers through various scholarship opportunities. Several scholarships are available to help students finance their education.
Lucy Lampkin Dance Scholarship
Incoming first-year students are eligible for the Lucy Lampkin Dance Scholarship and other scholarships that may become available. Returning dance majors can also audition for Lucy Lampkin Dance Scholarships and for the FRIENDS OF DANCE Scholarships to help with tuition and other school expenses. Unless a student requests otherwise, each student auditioning for entrance into the dance major program will be considered for a Lucy Lampkin Dance Scholarship. For the 2026-2027 year, one $1,000-$2,000 scholarship may be available for the freshman class, and several scholarships will be available for each of the sophomore, junior, and senior classes through Lucy Lampkin and THE FRIENDS OF DANCE. Other scholarship opportunities may be possible for incoming freshman through the Department of Dance in years that funds are available as well as the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences.
FRIENDS OF DANCE Scholarships
Returning dance majors may audition for FRIENDS OF DANCE Scholarships to assist with tuition and other school expenses.
Other Scholarships
All scholarships are for undergraduate students only EXCEPT for the Chelsea Montgomery Machemehl Scholarship and the Jo Ann Terry Walker Scholarship. Scholarships will be awarded in the upcoming academic year, beginning Fall 2026.
Read also: Comprehensive Guide to UCLA Dance
Donor Support
Gifts from donors have enabled students to attend classes and perform at events such as the American College Dance Festival Conference, the Tennessee and Alabama Dance Festivals, the National Salsa Congress, and presentations at the National Dance Education Organization Conference, Rex Nettleford Arts Conference, as well as other regional and national performance events.
Application and Audition Process for 2026-2027
To join the UGA Department of Dance, you must apply to both the University of Georgia (UGA) and the Department of Dance. Admission to UGA does not guarantee acceptance into the Department of Dance.
Application to UGA
The UGA application deadline is January 1, 2026. Recent increases in applications to UGA have led to higher entrance requirements, making your high school GPA and SAT score as important as your aptitude in dance for admission.
Application to the Department of Dance
All dancers seeking entrance to the UGA Department of Dance as freshmen or as transfer students during the 2026-2027 academic year must submit an application form through Acceptd by October 21, 2025, for the October 24 audition or January 27, 2026, for the January 30 audition. No applications will be accepted after this date.
A one-time non-refundable application fee of $35.00 is required to cover the cost of using the Acceptd platform. Financial assistance waivers may be available for those experiencing financial hardship. The application requires a full-length picture of the applicant in dance attire in a position of your choice.
Read also: Your First UCLA Dance Class
Audition Requirements
All dancers seeking entrance to the UGA Department of Dance as freshmen or as transfer students during the 2026-2027 academic year must also complete an audition, either in person or virtually. While attending one of the in-person auditions is highly encouraged, a virtual audition for those unable to travel will be planned for Friday, February 13, 2026.
Dancers wishing to major in dance but entering UGA prior to auditioning for the major program are given "provisional dance major" status if they pass a placement audition on the first day of classes of the semester. Provisional majors are placed in dance major courses at the appropriate level and should complete the next scheduled formal audition. Dancers are accorded full recognition as dance majors by the University only after completing all University Core requirements.
Dance Minor
The minor in dance consists of eighteen semester hours of dance course work, nine credit hours of which must be at the 3000-5000 level. Typically, a student declares the minor in the freshman or sophomore year and takes required coursework during the sophomore, junior, and senior years. Faculty evaluation of the student's technical ability, as evidenced in a dance technique class audition, is required for the student to declare a dance minor.
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