Study Abroad for College Dancers and Dance Majors!

Creative, self-disciplined and the ability to manage time well are all qualities of college dance majors! Dance majors are constantly challenging their bodies and minds in this demanding art form. To further develop the skills critical to a liberal arts education, studying abroad will help, regardless of future career choice. The unique chance to immerse oneself in a different culture and environment will not only provide for intellectual growth, but a personal one as well. Increased self-confidence and independence, and improved critical thinking skills, will better prepare students for graduate school or a career in an internationally competitive world. Dance is a discipline with a multifaceted and multicultural nature and college dance majors should take advantage of the numerous study abroad program options that exist!

Especially important for dancers, studying abroad can generate opportunities from companies and jobs in other parts of the world. Often dancers look to perform with a specific well-known company in their country but by looking to jobs and companies around the world, dancers can get a broader view of just how possible their dreams are! By studying abroad dancers can learn new styles of dance and improve their technique or refine their artistry, even delve into other dance related topics that maybe aren't offered at their current institution such as labanotation, dance therapy, rhythmic training, dance musicality, capoeira, Gyrokinesis, choreography, Pilates, dance history, dance critique, dance science, anatomy, physiology, theatre, drama and more. Having the opportunity to take classes in these different aspects of dance can lead a college dance major to a whole new career in dance that they had never considered before!

Many college students do not realize the myriad of programs available to enable college kids to study abroad - whether through student exchange, internships, guided group trips, discounted rates, free accommodations or travel, semester or year long study abroad, scholarships, financial aid and more! Below are some of the dance program study abroad options worth investigating:

France:
-Sarah Lawrence College
-Hamilton College, Junior Year in France program
-Wells College, Program for the Arts in Paris

Indonesia (Bali):
-School for International Training

Senegal:
-School for International Training

United Kingdom:
-Middlesex University, London
-Butler University program at the Laban Centre for Movement and Dance, London

Australia:
-University of Wollongong
-Monash University
-University of Western Sydney
-The Victorian College of the Arts

Brazil:
-Universidade Federal da Bahia

New Zealand:
-Whitireia Polytechnic (under consideration)

Spain:
-Academic Programs International (API) in Madrid, Spain
-The Center for Cross-Cultural Study offers CC-CS Semester or Academic Year in Córdoba, Argentina, an Intensive Intermediate Program in Spanish Language and Culture in Seville, Spain and an Upper Division Spanish Studies Program in Seville, Spain

South Africa:
-University of Pretoria
-University of Cape Town

Jamaica:
-State University of New York College at Brockport, Jamaica Program

England:
-Bath Spa University

The School for International Training also offers Arts and Culture programs in Nepal, Czech Republic, Ghana, and India. Visit their website at http://www.sit.edu/studyabroad/index.html and select 'The Arts' to search for a list of dance study abroad programs offered.

The Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), which can be found at http://www.ciee.org/, offers the following programs in dance:
-CIEE Study Center at Ashesi University, Accra, Ghana
-CIEE Study Center at Goldsmiths College, London, England-London Universities Program
-CIEE Study Center at the University of Cape Town, South Africa-Arts and Sciences Program
-CIEE Study Center at the University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
-CIEE Study Center at the University of Hyderabad, India

One option worth really considering is the one year study abroad program at Laban in London. The course is 10 months long and offered to overseas students enrolled at an American or other University who would like to spend their Study Year Abroad at Laban - the world's leading dance training institution. Matthew Bourne, former student and Artistic Director of New Adventures says, 'The unique thing about Laban is its strength in teaching both performance and choreography, and its focus on developing the individual.' Visit their website at http://www.laban.org/index.phtml for more information.

This list is hardly a comprehensive one and a dance major in college should first stop at their university's study abroad department or advisor . They will be best able to impart information to the dance major about the study abroad opportunities for dance and the specifics of how credits will be transferred to count towards their degree. Speaking with dance teachers, faculty and fellow dance students who have studied abroad is also a great way to learn more opportunities.

While on-campus sources are critical to investigate, external sources and research are also key. The internet provides a wealth of information on study abroad programs, travel agents, financing, and scholarships. Below are some of the major sites to visit when searching for a study abroad in dance:

Study Abroad Dance Programs:

1) http://www.studyabroaddirectory.com/listings.cfm/degprogID/99 - A comprehensively organized directory of Theater, Drama, Dance study programs abroad for international education.

2) http://www.spainexchange.com/study_abroad/subjects-en-066.htm - Choose from a list of countries where you want to study dance and the details are provided.

3) http://www.petersons.com/stdyabrd/select/f108se.asp?sponsor=1 - A small list of featured study abroad programs in dance

General Study Abroad Information (including how to pay for your trip!):

1) http://www.studyabroad.com/ - StudyAbroad.com is the Internet's leading source of information on educational opportunities for students to study in other countries. It is a comprehensive directory of study abroad programs, including summer study abroad, internship, service learning and volunteer abroad programs, intensive language programs and more, all organized by subject or country or city. International education support through our study abroad handbook provides a guide to education abroad, health and safety and study abroad scholarship/financial aid information.

2) http://www.goabroad.com/ - GoAbroad.com is the leading international education and experiential travel resource. Their directories contain over 25,000 opportunities abroad updated daily including study abroad, internships, volunteer opportunities; teach abroad, language schools and much more.

3) http://www.studyabroadfunding.org/ - This valuable funding resource allows you to search by country or subject to find the study abroad funding information that you need. Their comprehensive database of study abroad scholarships, fellowships, and grants can help make your dream of studying abroad a financial possibility and a profound reality.

4) http://www.studentsabroad.com/ - The Student Study Abroad Handbook provides resources and preparation tips for students considering study abroad. The General and Country-Specific Handbooks should help you ask the right questions and find helpful resources for international study and travel.

To survive in the dance industry, the more multi-talented and the more strengths, knowledge and experience a dancer has, the better off they are. A truly memorable dancer is the most versatile one. With the experiences gained from studying abroad, the college dance major can become more well-rounded and perhaps find new avenues in which to express their love of dance!