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Contemporary Dance (BFA)

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Degree
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
Department
Faculty
Program type
Major
Primary campus
Sir George Williams (SGW)
Duration
3 to 4 years
Start term
Fall

Why study Contemporary Dance?

Contemporary dance reflects the present. It redefines existing forms of dance and evolves new ways of moving. Our program affords you the time, space and opportunities to advance your creative and technical capacities as a choreographer and performer.

Our program is unique in offering core choreography and creative process courses over the full span of your degree, with technical training that supports choreographic research and versatility in performance.

Our faculty members are dance professionals, actively connected to the contemporary dance community. From the moment you arrive, you will be treated as an emerging artist, developing your vision with the faculty’s skill and guidance. You will stage your own choreographies, collaborate across disciplines, and perform in new works created by your peers.

Montreal is a city with no shortage of role models. Our alumni have a strong tradition of innovation and initiative. There is room for you to make your mark here. It is the perfect place to take risks, push your limits and feel confident launching a professional career in contemporary dance.

Program structure

A Bachelor of Fine Arts degree takes a minimum of three or four years (90 – 120 credits) of full-time study, depending on your academic background.

Program option

  • Major in Contemporary Dance (60 credits)

Courses

Given the program’s focus on creative process and choreography, the dance training we provide is a synthesis of technique principles and new approaches in dance training, beyond style specific techniques. Teachers bring to class a diversity of perspectives, fed by their sustained practice as performers and artistic collaborators.

Technical training is in contemporary dance. The teachers draw from a diversity of current movement practices, offering synthesized approaches to training that are adapted to the needs of choreographic research and versatility in performance. Classes may include notions from existing dance forms and movement principles, barre, floor work, somatics, new hybrid styles, depending on the teachers. However, there are no specific techniques taught such as ballet, jazz or modern styles such as Graham, Limon, or lyrical dance. Students gain proficiency in movement coordination, flexibility and stability, musicality and dynamic versatility. Classes are usually accompanied by a live musician.

There are regular opportunities for students to experience other dance approaches outside the regular course offering through workshops and extra technique classes organized by the Dance Students Association.

Study opportunities for exchange students

There are different forms of exchange: bilateral agreements between Concordia University and certain institutions, international exchanges that do not have financial agreements and visiting student status.

United States students: A U.S. Federal Student Aid-eligible version of this program is offered. This version meets all U.S. regulations (such as no co-operative education or e-courses) for eligible programs.

Admission criteria

This program is available for Fall admission only.

Minimum cut-off averages and course requirements

Additional requirements for admission

Applicants must submit additional requirements for admission directly to the department.

  • Pre-audition questionnaire
  • Interview
  • Audition

Live auditions are held in Montreal in the Spring. Candidates who cannot attend for geographical or financial reasons, may submit their audition by video as per the guidelines and deadlines posted in the Admissions page.

Pre-Audition Questionnaire Deadline: March 1

Minimum cut-off averages should be used as indicators. The cut-off data may change depending on the applicant pool. Applicants who meet the stated minimum requirements are not guaranteed admission to these programs.

Application deadlines

Fall term

FALL TERM

March 1 is the deadline to apply for fall term entry. International students are encouraged to apply by February 1 to allow sufficient time for CAQ and study permit application processing.

Winter term

WINTER

Admission to this program is available for the Fall Term only.

We reserve the right to close admission to a program at any time after the official deadline without prior notice.

After your degree

Our program helps you situate yourself in the professional dance world. You’ll notice how the creative work you do in the program will give you a huge advantage when you leave the Department. Our alumni are full-fledged artists in the contemporary dance community, whose work resonates on local, national and international levels.

A degree in Contemporary Dance can lead you to many creative careers, including:

  • Professional dance
  • Choreography
  • Launching your own dance company
  • Teaching
  • Artistic mentoring
  • Curating performance events

Other programs of interest

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Actors who can contribute to theatrical productions on many levels become sought-after artists. Our strong and challenging program trains you to be an adaptable performer, understanding the full range of performance in contemporary theatre.

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Performance Creation (BFA)

A growing number of theatre professionals no longer see themselves solely as directors, playwrights or dramaturges, but rather as performance creators.

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