Dance & Choreography Course: Admission 2024, Fees, Syllabus, Entrance Exam, Top Colleges, Career Scope

Dance is something beyond movements and expressions, it is seen as an expression of self and majorly a means to communicate one’s emotions. In India, different dance forms relate to different cultures, and hence the significance of Dance is tied to India’s cultural heritage. There are various forms of dance based on the regions and styles, the three major forms being folk dance, classical dance, and contemporary dance. To become a dancer and appear as a Choreographer, or performer on TV shows like Jhalak Dikhla Jaa and Dance India Dance, one must complete their bachelor, and masters in performing arts or any Dance-related specialization like a BA in Dance. 

Students can pursue Dancing courses at various levels, i.e. undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, and certificate. To pursue these courses from renowned colleges, one must have completed their 10+2 in a relevant field with an aggregate of 50% or more. However, the diploma and certifications can be pursued online as well. The duration of the course varies from 3 months to 3 years, depending on the level of the course. Some of the well-known Dance colleges include Banaras Hindu University and Lovely Professional University. The average fee ranges from INR 6,250 - INR 4.8 lakh. Careers after dancing are promising, because entertainment and media are a massive and profitable industry. The demand for skilled Dancers and Choreographers in that industry is very high, be it a movie, an entertainment show, or a theatre event. 

Some of the top careers candidates can pursue include a Choreographer, Dance Teacher, Dance Studio Owner, and Production Designer. The salary ranges from INR 3.6 lakh - INR 10.5 lakh. Some of the top recruiters include the biggest film houses, theatre houses, and dance studios. Candidates can get placed at production houses like UTV Motion Pictures and Balaji Telefilms. 

Dance and Choreography Course Highlights

Before someone decides to pursue Dance Choreography as a career, one should be well aware of the basic details of the course, and further the career opportunities it offers. The below table highlights some of the important details about the course. Hope one finds them helpful while making a decision. 

Particulars	Details
Course Name	Dance and Choreography
Dance and Choreography Course Level	UG, PG, Diploma, Certification
Dance and Choreography Course Eligibility	UG, Certification: 10+2 in relevant field with an aggregate of 50%, or more. PG: Graduation from a recognized university/ college with an aggregate of 50% or more. Diploma: bachelor's or masters from a recognized university with an aggregate of 50% or more.
Dance and Choreography Course Entrance Exams	LPUNEST, CUET, SET, PUBDET, JMI Entrance Exam
Dance and Choreography Course Duration	UG: 3 years PG: 2 years Diploma: 6 months - 1 year Certification: 3 months - 6 months
Dance and Choreography Course Top Colleges	Banaras Hindu University, T-Series stage Works Academy, Lovely Professional University
Dance and Choreography Course Top Career Profiles	Choreographers, Dance Teachers, Dance Studio Owners
Dance and Choreography Course Average Salary	INR 3.6 lakh - INR 10.5 lakh
Dance and Choreography Course Top Recruiters	Film Houses, Dance Studios, Theatre Studios

All About Dance and Choreography 

For ages, Dance has been seen as an expression of self. The relevance of Dance is too much, especially in a country like India where Dance is concerned with the deep-rooted culture and traditions. Based on origination, all the dance forms have been classified into three types- classical, contemporary, and folk dance. 

Different Forms of Dance 

Based on different regions and the way they are performed, there are various dance forms. Some of the famous Dance forms include Bollywood-style funky Hip Hop and Jazz. The below table mentions some of those dance forms.

• Bharatanatyam: It is a popular dance form of South India commonly performed by women to convey different Hindu religious stories and devotions through their dance moves and expressions. 
• Kathakali: It is a popular classical Indian Dance form and is majorly practiced in Kerela. This dance form relates to storytelling as the kathak dancers are not merely dancers but storytellers, who tell different stories of Ramayana and Mahabharata.
• Bhangra: It is a traditional folk dance majorly practiced in the state of Punjab. This form involves various kicks, leaps, and body movements aligned together and performed in a way to makes the dance engaging and energetic altogether. 
• Garba: It is a folk dance majorly practiced in Gujarat at the time of Navaratri. Both men and women wear colorful clothes while performing Garba. This dance is performed in concentric circles, where all the people are doing one step at a time in sync. 
• Hip-Hop: It is a type of street-style dance performed on hip-hop music. This dance form originated from Western culture back in the late 1960s and later came to India. It includes uprock, breaking, and funk styles. 
• Salsa: It is a social dance that typically originated in Eastern Columbia. This dance is a mix of Cuban Dances and Rumba. It can be performed individually as well as with a partner, though it's majorly performed with a partner. One partner takes a lead and the other gradually follows to make it align with the tunes of the music. 
• Contemporary: This dance focuses on freedom of movement. It combines various elements of different dance forms including ballet, jazz, and modern dance to name a few. There are unpredictable changes in the rhythm, beat, and direction while performing. 
• Jazz: It started back then in the 17th century in Africa. This dance form involves various dramatic body movements and improvisation techniques. 
• Ballet Dance: It is a type of performance dance, belonging to the category of some of the most popular dance forms across the world. Ballet has different variations as per different regions and styles, known as Classical Ballet, Romantic Ballet, Neoclassical Ballet, and Contemporary Ballet. 
• Bollywood Dance: This dance form is majorly used in Indian cinema and Hindi movies. It is a mixture of different dance styles Belly, Indian Folk, Indian Classical, Jazz, and even Hip-Hop. But with time, this dance form is not only limited to India but spreading across different parts of the world. 

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Different Types of Choreography

 Skilled Dancers can become choreographers after consistent practice and a relevant certification, or diploma. There are different types of Choreographies and choreographers. Some of the popular kinds of Choreographies include:

• Dance Choreography: There are tons of Dance forms and a Choreographer can choose to specialize in some or even any one of those dance forms. The common dance forms Choreographers choose include Contemporary, Classical Ballet, Ballroom Dancing, Jazz, Hip-Hop, and Street Dance. 
• Fight and Stunt Choreography: It is another famous type of Choreography Choreographers choose to have a promising career. These Choreographers are responsible for designing, planning, and finally executing combat scenes on the stage with no injuries. To become a skilled Stunt Choreographer, one should understand martial arts and self-defense and further how they can be used to create realistic scenes. 
• Sports Choreography: These Choreographers work closely with the athletics people and guide them through their routines. This helps them to demonstrate their unique skills and abilities and allows them to act to their full potential. 
• Choreographer in theatre: This is a very creative and challenging job for Choreographers. A lot of Dance and Theatre Studios hire full-time as well as Freelance Choreographers who coordinate with different designers, directors, and producers of the play. Their main job is to ensure that all the dance performances happen smoothly.
• Freelance Choreography: One can choose to pursue this option after years of experience because it gradually depends on one’s reputation in the market. An individual can choose to work with various people on a short-term basis and charge accordingly. They can take different projects from Dance Studios, Movies, or TV Advertisement teams at the same time.  

Dance and Choreography Entrance Exams 

To become a Dancer or Choreographer, one needs theoretical knowledge of different dance forms as well as practice. To get the theoretical knowledge, one needs to study BPA, MPA, or any other similar performing arts course from a recognized university. Admission to those universities happens through merit, or entrance exams depending on the college/university. 

There are no separate exams for dance and choreography, but one can get into their dream college by appearing for entrance exams meant for Performing Arts Courses. The below table highlights some of the commonly accepted entrance exams.

Dance Choreography Courses Entrance Exams	Dance Choreography Courses Exam Dates	Dance Choreography Courses Exam Schedule
CUET	21 May '24	CUET Exam Schedule
SET	5 May '24 and 11 May '24	SET Exam Schedule
PUBDET	27 Jul '24 - 28 Jul '24	PUBDET Exam Schedule
JMI Entrance Exam	Apr '25 (tentative)	JMI Entrance Exam Schedule
LPUNEST	15 Apr '24 - 30 Apr '24 (ongoing)	LPUNEST Exam Schedule
KCET	Apr '25 (tentative)	KCET Exam Schedule
CPGET	Jun '25 - Jul '25 (tentative)	CPGET Exam Schedule

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Dance and Choreography Syllabus

There is no specific course for Dance and Choreography, but if someone wants to make their career as a Dancer or a Choreographer one can pursue Performing Arts courses, diplomas, and certifications in Dance. The Performing Arts course can be pursued at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The basic syllabus includes topics like the History of Dance and the Movement of Performance.  

BPA Syllabus 

It is a 3-4 year undergraduate degree program that spans over 6-8 semesters depending on the specialization of the course. To know more about the syllabus of the BPA course, refer to the table below:

BPA Syllabus Semester 1
Introduction to Performing Arts	History and Dance and Choreography in India
Movement in Performance	Dance Technique I
BPA Syllabus Semester 2
Dance Aesthetics	Dance Technique II
Principles & Elements of Dance Choreography	Dance Beyond the Studio
BPA Syllabus Semester 3
Developing Skills and Techniques for Live Performance	Independent Study in Dance
Dance Technique IV	Repertory, Collaborations, Performance II
BPA Syllabus Semester 4
Dance Choreography Process and Devices	Dance Technique VI
Final Live Performance to an Audience	Work Integrated Learning Opportunity

BPA Syllabus Semester 5
Preparing for a Performing Arts Production	Choreography for Live Performance
Folk Dances of India	Professional Development
BPA Syllabus Semester 6
Performing Arts Production	Dance Health & Fitness
Usage of Technology in Dance	Performance Project

MPA Dance Syllabus

Master of Performing Arts is a 2-year postgraduate degree program. This course is an extension of the BPA Dance Course. It is usually pursued by candidates who wish to take their dance knowledge one step ahead and move forward in their careers. The below table highlights the majors of the entire MPA syllabus, to understand the syllabus better refer to the table below:

MPA Dance Syllabus Semester 1
Movement in Performance	Studio Studies I - Yoga, Exercise and Body fitness
Theoretical Aspects of Indian Classical Dance Techniques	Studio Studies II - Dance Technique
MPA Dance Syllabus Semester 2
Contemporary Indian Dance Framework	Studio Studies III - Music
Principles & Elements of Dance Choreography	Studio Studies IV - Dance Technique
MPA Dance Syllabus Semester 3
Dance Choreography Process and Devices	Studio Studies V - Dance Technique
Developing Skills and Techniques for Live Performance	Independent Project Report
MPA Dance Syllabus Semester 4
Trends and Overview of the Dance Sector (Indian and Global)	Usage of Technology in Dance
Choreography for Live Performance	Performance Project

Note: This syllabus is taken from the official website of Mumbai University and may vary according to universities.

Diploma Dance Courses

Diploma Dance Courses provide one with advanced level knowledge of Dance. It is an extension of one’s knowledge after graduation or postgraduation in performing arts. The duration of such courses usually ranges from 6 months to 3 years. These courses can be pursued online, offline, or in distance mode. A few of the popular Diploma Dance Courses are mentioned in the table below, for a better understanding refer to the below table. 

Top Diploma Course Colleges/Websites	Online/Classroom	Name of Diploma/Certification	Average Fees (in INR)
Actor Prepares	Classroom: Part-time	Certificate in Acting and Dancing	60,000
CSJM	Classroom: Full time	Diploma in Folk Dance	10,200
Parul University	Classroom: Full time	DPA in Dance (after 10th)	80,000
Udemy	Online	Bharatanatyam for Beginners	499
Udemy	Online	Hip Hop Dance for Beginners	499

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Dance Top Institutes

Dance as a career has been growing, as skilled and passionate dancers have tremendous opportunities. Though, dance is a skill and art that comes with practice, and gets better with practice. Yet, to get some basic theoretical knowledge students do pursue dance courses. Here is a list of a few top dance institutes where students can learn theoretical and practical aspects of Dance.

Top Dance Institutes	Courses Offered	Average Fees (In INR)
Banaras Hindu University	BPA in Kathak, MPA in Kathak + 3 more	6,250 - 9,530
CSJM	BPA in Kathak, MPA in Kathak + 6 more	10,200 - 45,600
DDU GKP	Diploma in Kathak	10,000
SVSU	BPA, MPA	71,000 - 1.41 lakh
Asian Academy of Film and Television	BA in Dance, MA in Dance	-
ICE Balaji Telefilms	Certificate in Dance Junior	-
Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar University	BA in Performing Arts (Kathak/ Odissi Dance)	-
IGNOU	Certificate in Performing Arts - Bharatnatyam	4,000
Department of Music, CSJM University	Diploma in Folk Dance + 4 more	5,100 - 24,600
Glocal University	B.Voc in Dance/ Fine Arts	1.5 lakh

 Choreography Top Institutes

There are a lot of Institutes, where students can learn dance but no specific institutes or courses for choreography. Here are some top institutes where you can learn specialized dance courses and become a choreographer soon.

Choreography Top Institutes	Courses Offered	Average Fees (in INR)
World University of Design	BPA, MPA	2.7 lakh - 4.8 lakh
T-Series Stageworks Academy	Basics of dance	7,000
Tecnia Institute of Dance, Music & Fine Art	BA in Dance, Diploma in Fine Arts	-
RBU Kolkata	BA in Dance, MA in Dance	-
Unipune	BPA	-
MSU	BPA, MPA	19,440 - 27,180
Jiwaji University	MA in Dance	-

Dance and Choreography Famous Choreographer Academies

Since childhood, everyone has been a fan of Bollywood movies and the dance songs in them. There are also a few Choreographers who are known for their excellent dance moves and amazing choreographies. Some of them even run their own dance academies and institutes. Here is a list of some popular Choreographer academies:

Top Choreographer Academies	Name of the Owner
Terence Lewis Pvt. Ltd.	Terence Lewis
Ganesh Acharya Dance Academy	Ganesh Acharya
Shiamak Davar Institute for the Performing Arts	Shiamak Davar
Udayan Kalakendra	Mamata Shankar
Martis and Caesar Gonsalves	Bosco Caeser Dance Company
Remo Dance Studio	Remo D'Souza
Saroj Khan Dance Academy	Saroj Khan
The Fire Dance Academy	Mudassar Khan

Dance and Choreography Career Prospects: Job Profile, Salary, and Top Recruiters 

Careers after Dance and Choreography are promising, offering tremendous opportunities to candidates in terms of learning as well as financial aspects.  A candidate gets the opportunity to work with some of the best film studios, production houses, and theatre houses. They further get the opportunity to work with some of the best dancers like Farah Khan and Remo D'Souza. The below table mentions some of the top job profiles one can pursue, along with their salaries. 

Dance and Choreography Top Job Profiles

There are various profiles available to one after pursuing their dancing studies, though the choice to pursue a specific role depends on one’s professional pursuits and career objectives. The below table highlights some of the top job profiles along with their average salaries in India, to get a better understanding of the same refer to the table below:

Dance Choreography Top Job Profiles	Average Salary (in INR)
Dance Teacher	4 lakh
Dance Instructor	3.6 lakh
Choreographer	3.5 lakh
Stage Performers	10.5 lakh
Theater Manager	4 lakh
Program Coordinator	5.8 lakh
Production Designer	5.7 lakh

Note: This information is taken from various sources and the data may vary.

Dance and Choreography Top Recruiters 

After pursuing their studies and corresponding certifications in Performing Arts and Dance, one gets tremendous opportunities in popular film studios and dance studios. It acts as a gateway to a candidate’s entry into the world of media and Bollywood. The below table mentions some of the top recruiters for Dance Choreography, to understand them better refer to the table below. 

Dance Choreography Top Recruiters
UTV Motion Pictures	Ganesh Acharya Dance Academy
Balaji Telefilms	T-Series
Eros International	Rajashri Productions
Nritya Shakti	Shiamak Davar Institute for the Performing Arts

Following are the most popular Dance & Choreography Colleges in India. Learn more about these Dance & Choreography colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.

Following are the most popular Dance & Choreography UG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these UG Courses by clicking the links below.

Following are the most popular Dance & Choreography PG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these PG Courses by clicking the links below.

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