Accreditation is a type of certification that is often determined by a private group based on specific criteria. The benefit of an accredited college program is the credits you receive for your studies, which can later be used toward a bachelor degree. In terms of dance, however, a studio or institute that offers dance instruction but not traditional degree programs gains credibility based on performance, industry regard and the expertise of its instructors or choreographers. The benefit of a studio is access to industry professionals, performance exposure and apprenticeships.
Most vocational dance programs include ballet, jazz, tap or contemporary dance classes, but might also offer athletic, therapeutic or history courses that augment the program. Hinds Community College in Mississippi offers a two-year program covering ballet and tap but also features dance in culture and improvisation studies. The Community College of Baltimore County in Maryland offers an A.F.A. in ballet and modern dance, but requires students to take courses in humanities and English. The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in California has a two-year conservatory program that is specifically designed to prepare students for a professional career in commercial dance and includes acting and musical theater.
Institutes featuring industry-renowned choreographers or instructors, such as the Dance New Amsterdam school in New York, are of note because of their specialized and proprietary offerings that might give you an edge in the professional world. Courses such as Gyrokenisis, Klein Technique and Hula Hoop are rare among traditional colleges. The Harkness Dance Studio, also in New York, is the only top school where you can learn Shabbat and Jewish dance styles. Other unique programs, such as the Middle Eastern and Indian dance offered by Arya Dance Academy, can provide you with niche skills that are being used more and more in the commercial and film industries.
The average cost of vocational or two-year dance programs at colleges or accredited schools averages between $5,000 and $10,000 and provides the added benefit of financial aid and housing. Dance studios and private institutions use a yearly membership fee and per-class or per-hour pay structure. You can expect to pay between $10 to $50 per class or instructional hour at most studios, and there are usually no financial aid or housing options.