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California College of the Arts California College of the Arts Staff Directory

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Attending a performing arts college is a large determination—you lot're committing to focusing exclusively on your art for four years. In one case you lot've made this choice, you demand to find a schoolhouse that'll allow you to accomplish your career goals.

In order to assist you lot detect the right school for you, I've compiled a list of the all-time performing arts colleges in the United states of america. Go along reading to see what these are!

How Is "Performing Arts Higher" Defined for This List?

This list includes schools that exclusively offer drama and trip the light fantastic degrees. Since music schools tend to differ dramatically (I'm so punny) from drama and dance schools, I've left them out of this commodity; if you want to read more about the best music schools in the United states of america, here is the place to observe that information.

Furthermore, I've focused on schools where drama and/or dance is a priority. These schools only offer performing arts degrees or have specialized performing arts schools at the larger university.

Going to a performing arts college has many advantages for students. You will be surrounded by like-minded artists who will inspire you lot, help you with your artistic pursuits, and likewise probable be your colleagues when you graduate. Additionally, you'll be at a school that doesn't view your fine art equally a mere extracurricular action.

Although it'due south possible to get a performing arts degr ee f rom other colleges, this list of best performing arts colleges is designed for students who know 100% they exclusively want to study interim or trip the light fantastic toe and are looking for an environment that fully supports them in their ambitions.

How Did I Determine on These Top Performing Arts Colleges?

Don't ever take rankings of the top performing arts colleges as absolute fact—not even those from Backstage or The Hollywood Reporter. Instead, you should use these articles as a starting point for your own inquiry. Whenever you look at a list of the best performing arts colleges, effort to encounter how the rankings were determined.

Hither, I'll explicate how I came up with this unscientific list of schools. I started past limiting my search to schools that prioritize dance and drama by only offer performing arts degrees or past having a specialized program within the larger university.

I and then took the post-obit iii criteria into consideration:

  • Ranking: I used a variety of ranking lists from respected manufacture sources such as Backstage and The Hollywood Reporter as a starting point for my enquiry.
  • On-Campus & Off-Campus Extracurricular Opportunities: It'southward important as a performer to take the run a risk to really perform. Does the school provide opportunities? Do you have the option to intern off-campus with a local theatre or dance group? Can y'all study away at premier programs? Do y'all get to perform in an industry showcase?
  • Notable Alumni: How many alumni have risen to the summit of their fields? If in that location are a lot of notable alumni, the program they attended likely contributed to their success, either by providing them with superior skills or superior resources (such as internships, industry connections, etc.).

I separate this list into tiers instead of rankings since rankings are normally not that meaningful. Tier 1 schools are the foam-of-the-crop performing arts colleges; they provide students with the most extracurricular opportunities and have the longest lists of notable alumni. Tier ii schools are even so first-class but don't have the same opportunities or as many notable alumni as the Tier 1 schools do.

Notation that not all of these schools are excellent for both dance and drama. Actually, some of these schools simply offer a trip the light fantastic or a drama program. Within each school description, I've noted whether it'south a top school for trip the light fantastic, drama, or both.

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At Tier 1 schools, you can perform in first-charge per unit productions.

Best Performing Arts Colleges: Tier 1

We'll start our list with the Tier ane schools, or the all-time performing arts colleges in the land.

The Juilliard School—Drama and Dance

Always listed near the top of both drama and dance rankings, Juilliard boasts an unbelievably long list of notable alumni who have won more than than 105 Grammy Awards, 62 Tony Awards, 47 Emmy Awards, 26 Bessie Awards, 24 Academy Awards, 16 Pulitzer Prizes, and 12 National Medals for the Arts. That's quite a pedigree!

The schoolhouse is extremely sectional, selecting just eight to ten students for the BFA Acting Plan, eight to 10 students for the MFA Interim Program, and virtually 24 students for the BFA Dance Program.

Outside the classroom, the trip the light fantastic programme holds 15 public performances each year, and the drama program puts on many plays and senior showcases in both New York and Los Angeles for manufacture professionals such every bit casting directors, agents, and managers. If you're looking for a program that tin put yous on the fast track to an amazing career, Julliard is an excellent choice.

NYU Tisch School of the Arts—Drama and Trip the light fantastic toe

Like Juilliard, NYU Tisch is also always near the top of the rankings for both drama and dance. And for good reason: the schoolhouse has a long list of notable alumni, many of whom have performed on Broadway, at Radio City Music Hall, and in movies and on Television set. While the listing of notable alums is long, some names you may recognize include Lady Gaga, Elizabeth Olsen, James Franco, Fasten Lee, and Kristen Bell.

Tisch offers many different degrees in different artistic fields, including drama, performance studies, film & television, dramatic writing, and cinema studies. The school is also branching into different performance media, including music product and video game production/design. The school likewise takes advantage of its NYC environment past partnering drama students with professional acting studios where they can perform in a wide array of productions led past world-famous theatre artists and kinesthesia.

Carnegie Mellon University—Drama

Carnegie Mellon has a long history of top-notch drama education: in fact, it was the first caste-granting drama institution in the United states of america. More than chiefly, Carnegie Mellon is a drama powerhouse with a faculty of working theater professionals and well-known alumni, including Holly Hunter, Billy Porter, Judith Light, Ted Danson, and Zachary Quinto. This school offers dissever acting and musical theatre degrees too, giving students the pick to specialize in different types of performances.

The drama department offers a unique, hands-on education that gives students plenty of on-stage opportunities. The department puts on 20 shows per year, allowing for many performance opportunities. Additionally, the school cancels classes for a calendar week each yr to let students engage in performances of whatever kind (such as original works or adaptations of movies). Seniors get to perform in showcases in New York, Los Angeles, and Pittsburgh in front of industry professionals.

Additionally, Carnegie Mellon offers students a take chances to engage in interdisciplinary studies through The Studio for Creative Inquiry and The Centre for Arts in Order. If y'all're interested in seeing how drama tin can bear upon the world both on stage and beyond, then Carnegie Mellon would be a great fit for you.

body_medieval-1.jpg Theatre schoolhouse has fun costumes!

Boston Conservatory—Dance

One of the superlative trip the light fantastic programs in the US, the Boston Conservatory boasts a kinesthesia of world-class artists who have worked with notable choreographers such as Antony Tudor, Robert Joffrey, José Limón, Martha Graham, Alvin Ailey, and Agnes de Mille, and with dance companies such as Boston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet of New York, and Limón Dance Company.

There are many functioning opportunities throughout the twelvemonth, the most prestigious being the ability to perform as a fellow member of the Boston Conservatory Dance Theater. Alumni perform with dance companies around the globe besides every bit on Broadway. Proceed in heed, however, that the Boston Conservatory specializes in contemporary dance...so if you're looking for classical training, yous should consider a different program.

Yale University—Drama (MFA)

No best performing arts colleges listing would exist complete without the Yale Schoolhouse of Drama. This schoolhouse is world renowned for its MFA Acting program; however, I'd suggest against doing the more than general BA program, which doesn't give y'all access to the aforementioned kinesthesia or functioning opportunities.

The MFA program offers programs in every attribute of operation, from on-stage acting all the way to technical design and stage management. The School of Drama also boasts a long list of famous alumni, including Meryl Streep, Angela Bassett, Sigourney Weaver, Paul Giamatti, and Lupita Nyong'o. The school also invests heavily in students' networking opportunities; students in their final yr act in showcases in both New York and Los Angeles in front of industry professionals.

In the past x years, 100% of graduates accept landed agents or managers inside the first month out of school. So if you're serious about having a career in the performing arts, y'all should definitely consider Yale's MFA programme.

Northwestern Academy—Drama

Northwestern is one of the few drama schools that doesn't require an audition for admission. However, getting accepted is tough because drama students are held to high bookish standards, and the current university credence rate is around 8%. Information technology's not surprising that many of the programme'southward alumni become on to have illustrious careers. Some of the school's most notable alums include David Schwimmer, Stephen Colbert, Anna Gunn, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Zach Braff.

Undergraduate students at Northwestern have many opportunities to perform in both school-sponsored and student-run shows. Equally many as twoscore shows a year are staged at the Wirtz Middle for the Performing arts, and another xl student-led shows happen across campus. Additionally, seniors are invited to participate in showcases in New York and Chicago in front of industry professionals.

body_dancenative.jpg Express yourself.

All-time Performing Arts Colleges: Tier 2

In this department, nosotros accept a look at other great performing arts colleges that we've classified every bit Tier 2. These schools are still excellent, simply they aren't quite every bit prestigious as those listed in Tier one. Having said that: y'all're withal setting yourself up for a great career if you earn a degree from any of these universities!

UNC School of the Arts—Drama and Dance

UNCSA is home to infrequent drama and dance programs. Alumni of the dance program take gone on to perform with the American Ballet Theatre, the New York Urban center Ballet, the Pacific Northwest Ballet, the Joffrey Ballet, the Paul Taylor Trip the light fantastic toe Company, Alvin Ailey American Trip the light fantastic Theater, and the Martha Graham Ensemble. Others have danced with performers such as Lady Gaga, Janet Jackson, and Beyoncé. UNCSA'due south notable alumni include include Mary-Louise Parker, Lucas Hedges, Anthony Mackie, and Dane DeHaan.

Drama and dance students at UNCSA take many performance opportunities including a senior showcase for industry professionals in New York. Drama students besides perform their showcase in Los Angeles.

California Constitute of the Arts (CalArts)—Drama and Trip the light fantastic toe

CalArts is considered the best dance school on the West Coast and one of the meridian drama schools in the country. The School of Dance boasts distinguished kinesthesia and brings in guest artists to give students industry and expert perspective. Some recent visiting artists include Gerard & Kelly (mixed media performers) and Benjamin Millepied (quondam primary dancer with the New York Metropolis ballet and Natalie Portman's husband).

The schoolhouse also offers several performance opportunities, such as in American College Dance Festivals; information technology besides has an International Exchange program with the London Contemporary Dance Heart which allows students to gain international trip the light fantastic feel.

CalArts also boasts a tiptop-notch drama program likewise. The drama school is a great choice for actors who know they want to pursue film or television acting since, during the final year, students enroll in Acting Studio for the Camera. This course specifically trains students for acting and auditioning for film and Television receiver. Additionally, at the stop of the terminal semester, students get to perform in an industry showcase in Los Angeles. The drama school has a agglomeration of famous alumni including Don Cheadle, Ed Harris, and Alison Brie.

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Accept the leap and apply to a performing arts school!

Rutgers University—Drama and Dance

Rutgers' Mason Gross School of the Arts has world-class drama and trip the light fantastic toe programs. Cheers to its proximity to New York City, the dance plan offers students opportunities for principal classes and workshops in earth trip the light fantastic toe forms with international artists. It also has two tremendous programs abroad, DanceJerusalem in Israel and the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London.

Rutgers' drama program is unique and well rounded. Classes run the gamut from Shakespeare to mod TV. Students spend their third yr at the Rutgers Conservatory at Shakespeare'south Earth in London, which culminates with a performance on the World stage. The final semester is focused on an effective transition into the professional interim world with classes in On-Camera Technique, Auditioning, and Introduction to the Life of a Working Actor. The drama program has some famous alumni, including Kristen Davis and Calista Flockhart.

Fordham University—Dance

Fordham is located in the Bronx, which ways students will exist steeped in trip the light fantastic culture and history from the moment they step on campus. Known primarily for its partnership with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Fordham offers students a liberal arts education and collaboration with a world-famous modern dance company. Additionally, the programme and visitor call Lincoln Center habitation, which is pretty astonishing!

Many alumni go on to perform with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater afterward graduation, while others have gone on to dance for prestigious companies and on Broadway. Some of Fordham's incredible dance alumni include Ephraim Sykes (who performed in Hamilton on Broadway), Anne Souder (Martha Graham), and Victoria Guajardo (Momix).

Syracuse University—Drama

Syracuse offers separate degrees in interim or musical theatre, allowing students to specialize in a item field. Students besides accept the opportunity to written report "abroad" in New York, Los Angeles, and London, which are some of the all-time cities for the dramatic arts in the world. The programme has developed a number of famous talents, including Taye Diggs, Jerry Stiller, and Vera Farmiga.

Students can besides perform with the Syracuse Phase, an outstanding Disinterestedness theater company, and gain Equity points while even so in schoolhouse. Equity points are 1 way performers tin can earn membership into the Actors' Equity Association, which is the union for professional stage actors and managers. In other words, graduating with a degree in drama from Syracuse gives y'all a leg up in the theatre world.

University of Southern California—Drama

The Academy of Southern California is known for its film program, only it has a fantastic drama program also. It'south probably not a huge surprise given that the school is located in Los Angeles, the heart of the moving picture industry. Because of that, the schoolhouse invites many visiting artists to piece of work with students to develop their arts and crafts. Onetime visiting artists include Lisa Kudrow, Bryan Cranston, and Tony Shalhoub.

The program prides itself on tailoring programs to fit each student's individual needs and goals. While all students get a solid foundation in the dramatic arts, they likewise get to take highly specialized classes like Stand up Comedy and Medical Clowning. That allows students to focus their studies to fit their futurity careers. Famous alumni from the USC School of Dramatic Arts include Forest Whitaker, Troian Bellisario, Deborah Ann Woll, and Beck Bennett.

Oklahoma City University—Dance

Oklahoma City University is well-known as an arts school, only its dance program stands out from the crowd because of its focus on American dance forms. The school teaches tap, jazz, and musical theater dance at the highest levels. Students can also major in arts management, a unique caste that teaches students how to be professional managers that assistance direct performers' careers. Famous grads performing on Broadway include Sara Edwards (trip the light fantastic helm, Foilles) and Marie Danvers (Christine in Phantom of the Opera). If you specialize in American trip the light fantastic, Oklahoma Metropolis academy would be a great fit for you.

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And so many schools, only where should Y'all apply?

Which of the Top Performing Arts Colleges Is Best for Yous?

Just because Juilliard is an incredible school doesn't hateful you should want to become there. It'south a tiny school with a very intense programme which might not exist the best fit for all students. Here are some questions to ask yourself when trying to pick one of these best performing arts colleges.

What Do You lot Desire to Specialize In?

If you're interested in dance, do you want to do ballet or contemporary? If you're interested in acting, practice you lot want to perform in plays, musicals, television set, or pic?

Look into the programs and see what courses are offered. Try to avoid picking a school specializing in ballet if yous want to practice contemporary trip the light fantastic toe. Similarly, avoid picking a musical theatre program if you desire to human action in TV (and vice versa).

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Hip-hop is awesome.

What Opportunities Are At that place Exterior the Classroom?

I touched on this above, but be sure to get to a performing arts schoolhouse where the opportunities marshal with your interests. For case, if you desire to exercise Shakespeare, then Rutgers—which offers a year abroad in London working at the World Theatre—might be a better fit for you than CalArts or Northwestern would be.

Extracurriculars are where you get your feel, so make sure you lot'll exist getting feel in your chosen specialty.

What's the School Like?

Is it a big school or a small school? Is it a conservatory or is information technology at a larger university? If you hate large schools, simply don't choose i. Y'all don't want to dread being surrounded by tons of students or existence forced into cheering for the basketball game team.

If y'all get overwhelmed by intensity, a conservatory (such equally Juilliard or the Boston Conservatory) might not exist a great option for y'all since they're both modest programs where competition is violent. On the other hand, at a schoolhouse similar Syracuse, you could take breaks from your theatre customs by hanging out with other students who are majoring in journalism, engineering, pre-med, etc.

In short, pick a school where you lot will be well-nigh comfortable so that y'all can thrive.

What's Next?

Are you interested in pursuing a performing arts degree in a specific region? Cheque out our lists of performing arts colleges in New York and performing arts colleges in California.

Most of the schools above require Deed or SAT scores with your awarding. Get assist studying for these tests with our ultimate SAT/ACT report guides.

Taking the ACT or Saturday really before long? Then take a await at our guide to cramming for the SAT or our guide to cramming for the Human activity.

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Virtually the Author

As an Sat/ACT tutor, Dora has guided many students to test prep success. She loves watching students succeed and is committed to helping you go there. Dora received a full-tuition merit based scholarship to Academy of Southern California. She graduated magna cum laude and scored in the 99th percentile on the Human activity. She is as well passionate nigh acting, writing, and photography.

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