The program focuses on choreography and cultivation of cultural and historical perspectives on dance. Courses on movement practices, dance composition, performance, pedagogies, cultural and historical studies, and digital and screen studies are required. Movement practice courses are offered in modern dance, ballet, tap, and other dance/movement forms as they are practiced in various cultures of the world.

Students must participate in at least one production of “UCR is Dancing,” the annual concert series featuring original choreography and performance projects by students. This concert series also includes historical dance reconstructions by department faculty as well as original repertory created by visiting guest artists.

Visiting guest dancers, choreographers, and scholars come to UC Riverside frequently to give special workshops, master classes, and lectures. Past visiting guest artists include Bill T. Jones, Ann Carlson, Sara Shelton Mann, Joe Goode, Jacques Haim, Lula Washington, and Serge Benathan.

Opportunities to perform include “UCR is Dancing,” the Faculty Dance Concert, the Graduate Dance Concert, M.F.A. Dance Concerts, and the Contemporary Dance Ensemble, the Tap Troupe, and the Ballet Folklorico touring ensembles for the Gluck Fellows Program of the Arts.