BA Dance or Bachelor of Arts in Dance is a full-time undergraduate Acting, Dance & Drama course of 3 years which is divided into six semesters of study. This course focuses on developing the student's dance technique and knowledge of dance history, gaining embodied and theoretical experience of cultural forms, developing creative skills, and increasing their knowledge of anatomy.
Some of the subjects involved in this BA Dance are Bharatanatyam theory and practicality, music, iconography, ahaar abhiyan, original scripts, etc. On completion of this degree program, the graduates are entitled to receive various job opportunities in both the organized companies and freelance companies with an option to also venture into entrepreneurship. BA Dance graduates can also opt for MBA courses or MA courses to enhance their academic career.
The basic eligibility criterion for this course is an aspiring student should have completed 12th class/HSC/10+2 or equivalent level of examination from any recognized school board. Admission will be based on marks the student scored in the 10+2 exam and prescribed cut-off of each college. A counseling session may be conducted by the institution to assess students, additionally; some of the institutions conduct their own entrance test on the basis of which admission will be provided.
B. A. Dance course fees may vary based on the university or college the student is willing to enroll in. Often, the course fee varies upon the materials and lecture timings provided by the university/ college towards course completion. The average course fee charged by various public and private universities ranges from INR 5,000 to 26 Lakhs per Annum.
There are a plethora of career opportunities available after the completion of BA in Dance course at. Some popular job profiles include Dance Teacher, Sales Executive, Dance Expert and many others. The graduates who wish to go for the higher studies in this field can pursue the course such as M.A. (Dance), Ph.D. (Dance), and D.Litt. (Dance).
After finishing BA in Dance course, you can find jobs in the Music & Dance Firms, Film Industry, Educational Institutes, Dance Academies, Theatres, Stage Show Bands, Cultural Activity Offices etc. and the graduates can get job positions like Dance Teacher, Sales Executive, Dance Expert, Freelance Dance Performance Artist, Music, Dance & Theatre Team Member etc.
Checkout: Top Colleges offering BA Dance course in India
BA in Dance: Course Highlights
The course highlights for BA Dance have been put in a table below. All the important information regarding this degree program has been mentioned below.
Course | BA in Dance |
Full Form | Bachelor of Arts in Dance |
Level | Under graduate |
Duration | 3 years |
Eligibility | 10+2 in any stream |
Admission Process | Merit-based/ Entrance-based |
Average tuition fee | INR 5,000 to 2.6 Lakhs |
Job Positions | Dance Teacher, Sales Executive, Dance Expert, Freelance Dance Performance Artist, Music, Dance & Theatre Team Member etc. |
Top recruiting areas | Music & Dance Firms, Film Industry, Educational Institutes, Dance Academies, Theatres, Stage Show Bands, Cultural Activity Offices etc. |
Average salary | INR 2 to 10 Lakhs |
BA in Dance: What is it about?
- BA in Dance degree program focuses upon developing the dance technique, knowledge of dance history, gaining embodied and theoretical experience of cultural forms, developing creative skills and increasing the knowledge of the anatomy of the students.
- The Bachelor of Arts in Dance course offers a very well rounded education in dance technique, theory, choreography, and performance.
- In the third year of this course, students will get the chance to work with a professional choreographer to create and perform new work and will also work with a supervisor to create a piece of research (this might be practice-led).
- A variety of exciting option modules allows the students to focus on areas of interest like choreography, dance on screen, intensive technique, popular dance techniques, contemporary techniques, cultural dances, teaching, and professional career development.
- This coursework is designed to help students become skillful, articulate, and expressive movers, find their own voice as creative artists and develop the ability to work effectively in a collaborative environment.
- The students who pursue this degree program select an area of emphasis in performance and choreography, in production or in dance education.
There are many benefits of pursuing a BA degree in Dance. Some of them are:
- This course provides students with the best opportunities for gaining and sustaining employment in the commercial dance/entertainment sector.
- Graduates can find employment in the musical theatre and current West End and touring productions, commercial film, television and music videos, as well as they can also work with established reputable dance companies.
- This degree enables the students to develop their own dance identity as well as learning new dance techniques and forms.
- The course is suitable to provide you with the technique, creativity, understanding, and professional awareness to sustain a career in commercial dance.
- This course explores further options of secondary careers in areas such as choreography and artistic direction.
- It helps students to develop technical skills, artistry, and a broader scope of life as citizens-artists-athletes in a global community.
What is the Admission Process of BA in Dance?
Students get admission to the Bachelor of Arts in Dance course on the basis of their performance in the Class 12 examination. Most of the colleges and universities release a cut off percentage for the admission process. Students who are able to fulfill the cut off percentage in their 10+2 score are most likely to get admission.
Merit based Admission
A large number of colleges and universities offer admission to this course based on their marks scored in the qualifying examination. The stepwise admission process in BA Dance course is discussed below:
- Step 1: Candidates have to fill the application form through an online process according to their eligibility.
- Step 2: Cut-off list will be released on the official website of the college or university.
- Step 3: The students will be called for a counseling round in which they have to select the college/ university they wish to pursue the course.
- Step 4: Shortlisted candidates will be offered admission to the BA Dance course.
Entrance Exam Based Admission
Most of the colleges and universities offer admission to this course based on the candidate's performance in the National or State level entrance exams.
- Step 1: Candidates have to register on the official website of the college or university.
- Step 2: After the examination, a cut-off list will be provided on the website of the institute and the seats will be allotted to candidates on the basis of their score in the entrance exam.
- Step 3: After the declaration of the result subsequent counseling sessions will be conducted by the institute.
- Step 4: After a student is found eligible, admission will be offered to that student.
Readmore: BA Admission Process
What are the Eligibility Criteria for BA in Dance?
The eligibility criteria for pursuing BA Dance are as follows:
- Candidates must have passed 10+2 in any stream or equivalent from a recognized board of education.
- The candidates should have a minimum aggregate score of 50%% (45% for SC/ST/OBC candidates) at the 10+2 level.
- Students must have Dance as their elective subject in Class 12.
What are the Entrance Exams For BA in Dance?
There are some college-specific entrance exams for admission to the BA Dance program. Some entrance exams are national level. Students can get the details of those entrance exams from the respective college/ university websites. Some of the entrance exams are:
- UGC NET- The full form of UGC NET is University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test. It is a national-level entrance exam which is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) biannually, on behalf of the University Grants Commission (UGC).
- BHU UET- This is an entrance exam conducted by BHU, which the students need to give in order to get admission to BHU.
- Bangalore University Entrance Exam- This is an entrance test which is conducted by Bangalore University, which the students need to give in order to get admission to an arts degree course.
Exam Name | Application Period | Exam Date |
---|---|---|
IPU CET | March 2023 – April 2023 | April 2023 |
NPAT | December 01, 2022 – May 21, 2023 | January 04, 2023 – May 31, 2023 |
CUET | February 2023 – 4th week of March 2023 |
May 21 – 31, 2023 Reserved date: June 1 –7, 2023 |
Checkout: UGC NET Dates has been released.
How to Prepare for BA in Dance Entrance Exams?
To help the students to prepare better and efficiently for the entrance test, these given pointers can be referred to.
- Students must have a clear idea about the syllabus and the pattern of the entrance test.
- Students can prepare well for these exams if they follow a timetable and will give at least 2-3 hours a day for the preparation.
- Before the exam, try to solve as many mock tests and previous year question papers as you can, this will help you to boost the confidence level before the exam.
- Since the exams are time-based, the more the students will practice by giving mock tests based on time, the faster they will get before the exam.
- Some exams have negative markings too, so the students must be careful while attending the questions and they must attend only those questions which they are sure about.
How to get Admission in a Good College Offering BA in Dance?
Check the mentioned below points to get help in getting admission to a good BA Dance college:
- You can get your seat confirmed in a good college or university if you have a good academic record in your class 12 and also on the basis of your performance in various national or state level entrance exams. A better score will get you the chances of getting admission to the top BA Dance colleges in India.
- Keep on checking the eligibility criteria, cut-offs selection criteria, admission process, application procedure, placement records, and other updates to get a proper idea.
- Candidates should start their preparation for BA Dance entrance exams as early as possible so they have enough time for their preparation.
- Have good preparations for entrance examinations.
- Take a look at the daily newspapers and current affairs of the world regularly to keeping yourself up-to-date with the news, it will help you in preparation for the entrance exam and counseling round and it also acts as a break from studying.
What is the Syllabus OF BA in Dance?
The BA in Dance course consists of six semesters of study and the subjects taught are divided into these six semesters. The year-wise syllabus of BA Dance course is provided in the table given below:
SEMESTER 1 | SEMESTER 2 |
---|---|
Language (English) | Language (English) |
Language (Marathi) | Language (Marathi) |
Theory (Dance) (Notation System) | Theory (Music) & (Dance) (Introduction to Indian Performing Arts) |
Viva (Dance) (Bharatnatyam) | Viva (Dance) (Bharatnatyam) |
Practical (Dance) (Bharatnatyam) | Viva (Dance) (Kathak) |
Practical (Dance) (Kathak) | Practical (Dance) (Bharatnatyam) |
Practical (Dance) (Kathak) | |
SEMESTER 3 | SEMESTER 4 |
Language (Hindi) | Language (Hindi) |
Theory (Dance) (History of Dance – Tribal, Folk, Classical, Modern) | Language (Sanskrit) |
Viva (Dance) (Bharatnatyam) | Theory (Dance) (Dance & Allied arts, Physioligo of Dance) |
Viva (Dance) (Kathak) | Viva (Dance) (Bharatnatyam) |
Practical (Dance) (Bharatnatyam) | Viva (Dance) (Kathak) |
Practical (Dance) (Kathak) | Practical (Dance) (Bharatnatyam) |
- | Practical (Dance) (Kathak) |
SEMESTER 5 | SEMESTER 6 |
Theory (Dance) (‘Rangabhoosha’, Study of Indian Classical Dance Forms) | Theory (Dance) |
Viva (Dance) (Bharatnatyam) | Viva (Dance) (Bharatnatyam) |
Viva (Dance) (Kathak) | Viva (Dance) (Kathak) |
Practical (Dance) (Bharatnatyam) | Practical (Dance) (Bharatnatyam) |
Practical (Dance) (Kathak) | Practical (Dance) (Kathak) |
What are the Books for BA in Dance?
In the Bachelor of Arts Dance course, books carry crucial and comprehensive knowledge about every aspects of Dance. Some popular books on Dance and BA Dance are:
Name of the Book | Author |
---|---|
Bharatnatyam Theory and Practical | Saroja Vaidyanathan |
The Everything Music Theory Book | Marc Schonbrun |
Indian Iconology | A.L. Srivastava |
Bharatnatyam: How to….. | Jayalakshmi Eshwar |
What are the Top Colleges of BA in Dance?
Below are mentioned the top ranking colleges in India for Dance Bachelors courses:
College | Fee Structure | Admission Process | Average Salary Package |
---|---|---|---|
Savitribai Phule Pune University | INR 26,090 | Entrance cum performance test | INR 6.5 Lakhs |
Bharati Vidyapith Deemed University | INR 18,000 | Merit based | INR 3 Lakh |
Banasthali Vidyapith | INR 74,500 | Merit based | INR 3.6 Lakhs |
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University | INR 20,000 | Merit based | INR 2.8 Lakhs |
Yashwantrao Mohito College | INR 15,000 | Merit based | INR 1.7 Lakh |
St Bede’s College | INR 25,300 | Merit based | INR 4 Lakhs |
Shivaji University | INR 3,760 | Merit based | INR 6 Lakhs |
Bangalore University | INR 1,857 | Merit based | INR 5-6 Lakhs |
Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit | INR 1,950 | Aptitude test | INR 4.5 Lakhs |
Government Degree College, Shimla | INR 2,388 | Merit based | INR 3.3 Lakhs |
BA in Dance: Distance Education
Distance Education for Bachelor of Arts for Dance is not available in India. The students have to spend time in the college or university to attend the lectures, to learn technical skills, and to get a good quality education.
BA in Dance: College Comparison
The table given below gives a comparison among the top 3 colleges for Bachelor of Arts in Dance course:
Parameter | Banasthali Vidyapith | Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University | Bharati Vidyapith Deemed University |
---|---|---|---|
Overview | Banasthali Vidyapith, Jaipur, Rajasthan is a private university which was established in 1935. The University is a fully residential women's University. Banasthali University has turned into the centre for quality education for women. | Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, [BAMU] Aurangabad is approved by the University Grants Commission [UGC], Association of Indian Universities [AIU] & National Assessment and Accreditation Council [NAAC] and it was established in the year 1958 formerly known as Marathwada University. | Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Pune was established in 1964 under section 3 of the UGC act and this university is accredited with NAAC 'A' grade in 2017 and it is recognized as Category-I Deemed to be University by UGC. |
NIRF Ranking | 79 | 101 | 98 |
Location | Jaipur, Rajasthan | Aurangabad, Maharashtra | Pune, Maharashtra |
Admission process | Merit based | Merit based | Merit based |
Average annual fees | INR 74,500 | INR 20,000 | INR 18,000 |
Average annual package | INR 3.6 Lakhs | INR 2.8 Lakhs | INR 1 Lakh |
Top recruiters | Accenture, AMUL, Birla Global Finance Limited, Hindustan Unilever, Genpact, CMC, IDBI, Microwave Communications Limited, Mahindra & Mahindra Limited etc. | TCS, HCL, IBM, Infosys etc. | HDFC Bank, Vodafone, India bulls, Syntel, ICIC Bank, ICIC Prudential, Aviva, Yes Bank, WNS Group, MetLife, Bajaj Allianz, IPCA Laboratories etc. |
Below is given a comparison between BA in Dance and BA in Music Vocal:
Course | BA in Dance | BA in Music Vocal |
---|---|---|
Full form | Undergraduate | Undergraduate |
Level | Bachelor of Arts in Dance | Bachelor of Arts in Music Vocal |
Overview | This course focuses on developing the student's dance technique and knowledge of dance history, gaining embodied and theoretical experience of cultural forms, developing creative skills and increasing their knowledge of anatomy. | Bachelor of Arts Music (Vocal) course prepares students with the music notation, scales, notes, chords, and all other tools which are involved in vocal music. |
Duration | 3-year | 3-year |
Eligibility | Passed Class 12 from a recognized board | Passed Class 12 from a recognized board |
Admission Process | Merit-based/ Entrance-based | Merit-Based/ Entrance-based |
Average tuition fee | INR 5,000 to 2.6 Lakhs | INR 2,000 to INR 1 Lakhs per annum |
Job Positions | Dance Teacher, Sales Executive, Dance Expert, Freelance Dance Performance Artist, Music, Dance & Theatre Team Member etc. | Bandleader, Composer, Music critic, Singer, Recording Technician etc. |
Top recruiting areas | Music & Dance Firms, Film Industry, Educational Institutes, Dance Academies, Theatres, Stage Show Bands, Cultural Activity Offices etc. | Music and Film studios, Music Industry Associations, Music companies , Performing Arts Centres and many others. |
Average salary | INR 2 to 10 Lakhs | INR 3 to 10 Lakhs |
What are the Job Prospects after BA in Dance?
Although BA Dance is a basic undergraduate degree, it has excellent job opportunities and wonderful scope in India. But if the candidates wish to pursue advanced studies in this field after completing BA Dance, they can carry out a more flourishing future in this creative field of Dance.
Some of the popular job profiles that candidates can pursue after completing their BA in Dance course are listed below:
Job Position | Description | Average Salary |
---|---|---|
Dance Teacher | A dance teacher's responsibilities are to monitor student´s performance, planning activities, instructing students at home, making suggestions to students, adapting teaching methods to meet students needs. | INR 2.44 Lakhs |
Production Manager | The responsibilities of the production manager include liaising with other managers to formulate objectives and understand requirements, estimating costs and preparing budgets, and organizing workflow to meet specifications and deadlines. | INR 7.85 Lakhs |
Dance & Theatre Team Member | Dance & theatre team members hold auditions to select acting cast members, collaborate with the technical crew, such as sound, lighting, set, and costume designers. | INR 9.60 Lakhs |
Dance Performance Artist | The duty of dance performance artists is to perform before live audiences or recorded settings, to collaborate closely with other artists. | INR 6 Lakhs |
Dance Expert | The dance experts might direct university dance programs, ballet performance, regional dance troupes and they may also direct the dance segments in operas, videos, musical theatre, movies, commercials, television shows, and many others. | INR 5 Lakhs |
What is the Future Scope after BA in Dance?
The graduates of BA Dance courses can prefer to do jobs after completion of BA Dance or can go for higher studies as well and the most popular choices of education post completing this course are as follows.
- Presently, to obtain an excellent salary package, popularity, and prestige, the youth population of India is getting attracted to this field.
- The candidates after passing BA Dance can apply for various companies, music & dance firms, the film industry, educational institutes, dance academies, theatres, stage show Bands, cultural activity offices, and at different related places where there is more than sufficient practices.
- BA Dance is an undergraduate level program. So if candidates wish to pursue higher studies in Dance, it will be more beneficial. The graduates will get to promote themselves in different famous national and international organizations or companies.
- In higher studies, the candidates pull of mastery in Dance. There are some higher courses that a student can push themselves such as M.A. (Dance), Ph.D. (Dance), D.Litt. (Dance) etc.
- After completing graduation, students have a choice to work as an art teacher, artist in government offices, or dancer.
BA in Dance: FAQs
Ques. What is the minimum mark required to pursue a BA Dance course?
Ans.Generally, a BA Dance aspiring candidate should secure a minimum of 50% marks in his/her 10+2 standard.
Ques. What is the average salary as a freelancer after BA Dance?
Ans. After passing out BA. Dance, a candidate can expect INR 10, 000 – INR 60,000 salaries as a freelancer.
Ques. What is the average fee in the Public and Private colleges in India for BA Dance?
Ans. The average fee in the Private and the Public colleges in India is INR 4,000 and 2.6 Lakhs respectively.
Ques. Can I pursue a BA Dance course without passing 10+2 Standard?
Ans. No, it is the minimum eligibility for BA Dance in various colleges and universities in India. But you can try private courses for Dance without passing 10+2 or 12th Standard.
Ques. Which city has the best BA Dance colleges/universities?
Ans. Mumbai, Pune, and Chennai are considered some of the cities having the best BA Dance colleges or universities.
Ques. Can a BA Dance program be pursued online?
Ans. No, as this course is a practical based course, so you can’t pursue this course in online mode.
Ques. In which job sector will the graduates of BA Dance get recruited after completion of this course?
Ans. The most likely job sectors are Music & Dance Firms, Film Industry, Educational Institutes, Dance Academies, Theatres, Stage Show Bands, and Cultural Activity Offices etc.
Ques. Are exams conducted annually while pursuing this degree program?
Ans. Generally, this course has semester type exams.
Ques. What are some common subjects that are taught in this course?
Ans. Bharatanatyam theory and practical, music, iconography, ahaaryabhinya, original scripts etc. are some of the subjects that the students will get to study while pursuing this course.
Ques. What is the duration of the BA Dance degree program?
Ans. The duration of this degree program is 3 years.