Dance at Mount Holyoke offers a comprehensive curriculum emphasizing technical training, creative experimentation, and critical/theoretical understanding. The department is renowned for its extensive studio offerings in ballet technique, contemporary/modern technique, and repertory/performance, as well as its rotating offerings in West African dance, hip hop, tap, jazz, Indian classical dance, Tango, contact improvisation and musical theatre. Theory courses range from Scientific Foundations in Dance to Studies in Dance History, Analysis of Rhythm and Choreography.

A dance major may choose one of three areas of concentration, pursue dance teacher licensure, or choose to create their own concentration supported by the Five College Curriculum.

The dance major offers the opportunity to investigate these and other questions through a curriculum of core courses and areas of concentration emphasizing technical training, creative practice and critical/theoretical understanding. The major is designed to prepare students for dance careers in choreography and performance; science, somatics and arts therapies; education and community engagement; and history, theory and criticism.