From the early years of Duke University, dance has been an important part of the arts scholarship and research on campus. At first an academic PE credit for first-year students at the Woman’s College, dance later developed into a full department with its home in the iconic Ark building on East Campus, expanding to the Rubenstein Arts Center in 2018. A long connection with the American Dance Festival has created national and international summer dance opportunities and visibility on campus for nearly 50 years. Courses that include African Dance, ballet, modern, contemporary, hip-hop, tap, dance composition, dance for the camera and creative process are open to all Duke students.
