About Dance
Our Mission
The mission of the Department of Dance is to seek committed and promising students of dance, to
develop in them a foundation of a broadly-based dance training with a central but non-exclusive
focus on classical ballet, and to integrate this training with a liberal arts education, in order
to prepare students for future professions in dance and to contribute to their wider communities.
Additionally, it is our mission to provide excellent quality dance to Butler University, to
Indianapolis, and to the region. View our full mission statement.
Since 1992, the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD) is the accrediting agent of
the department of dance. The organization is composed of schools and individuals representing
the highest traditions and aims in the education of dance students. The association is established
to develop a closer relationship among schools and programs of dance for the purpose of examining
and improving practices and professional standards in dance education and training. The department
of dance of Butler University, Jordan College of Fine Arts highly values its membership to NASD.
Facilities
Lilly Hall houses the dazzling new dance studio, a space designed as much for the teaching
and learning experience as it is for performance.
Features of the new studio:
- Theatre rigging
- First-class sound system
- Informal seating for audience
- Double-sprung dance floor
Butler Ballet performs three to four major productions each year in Clowes Memorial Hall to a
total audience of more than 20,000. Clowes Hall also presents an extensive array of local, national
and international companies each season. Clowes Hall offers many opportunities for Butler students
to serve as arts administration interns in public relations, marketing, development, house management,
promotions, box office and distance learning.
Affiliates
The Jordan College of Fine Arts is proud to contribute to a thriving dance community in
Indianapolis. Our faculty frequently choreograph for professional companies and many of our
graduates can be seen on stage in Indianapolis. Visit these company Web sites to see what
Indianapolis has to offer!
Job Placement
Butler graduates can be found on stage with some of the most prestigious companies in
the world. Recent graduates have joined:
- Boston Ballet
- Dance Theatre of Harlem
- Philadanco
- Ballet Internationale
- Ballet Austin
- Richmond Ballet
- Louisville Ballet
- Dayton Ballet
- Dance Kaleidoscope
