The partnership between Utah Valley University (UVU) Department of Dance and the Fredrick Quinney Lawson Ballet West Academy offers a unique opportunity for your dancer to earn a college degree while pursuing their pre-professional training.
Here’s 4 reason why this is the best pathway for your Ballet West Academy dancer:
Students who are interested in the UVU Dance – Ballet West Pathway program will need to apply for an exception from the UVU admissions office.
Step 1: Contact Assistant Dean for Student Engagement and Community Outreach, Danielle Shipley for an initial consultation
Step 2: Apply to Utah Valley University based on your unique situation (residency status, high school graduation status, students under 18, etc.) on the UVU Admission website. Students interested in this pathway must apply to the Associate of Science in Dance degree.
Step 3: Once you have been admitted, email Danielle Shipley. This will ensure the Ballet West Academy Pathway is noted on your account. This will signal to academic advisors that you are a pathway student and will help with advising.
Financial Aid: The Financial Aid & Scholarship Office at UVU is available by phone or face-to-face appointment to guide you through the process. Visit their website to access their resources. Students and families that are interested in utilizing FAFSA, please be aware that an application must be submitted each year to obtain federal funding. Our Financial Aid & Scholarship Office at UVU can help determine the best options for you and your family.
Scholarships: Most scholarships require students to be enrolled in 12 or more credit hours. Credit for Pre-Professional Learning (CPL) does not count towards scholarship eligibility. Complete information about our various scholarships can be found on the UVU Scholarship website.
Department of Dance Scholarships: Students can be eligible for Exceptional Performance Scholarships from the Department of Dance, if they decide to pursue the BFA in Dance with an emphasis in Ballet. At this time, there are no scholarships for CPL examinations.
Western Undergraduate Exchange Scholarship: Residents of the following states and territories, who are registered for 12 or more credits, are eligible to apply for WUE Scholarship: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawai’i, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, as well as American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam. For more information, visit the UVU Financial Aid Graduate website.
Students will earn their Associate of Science in Dance through online, hybrid, and in-person courses as well as through Credit for Pre-Professional Learning examinations.
All General Education courses can be completed online to accommodate your dancers’ busy schedule. The entire catalog of courses can be found on the UVU Catalog.
Students must meet a minimum of 20 residency hours at Utah Valley University to meet graduation requirements. Credit for Prior Learning does not meet these residency requirements. It is important that your student plans which courses they will take at UVU to meet these requirements early on to avoid delay in completion.
Please note: General Education Requirements can change without notice; therefore, it is important that students remain in contact with a UVU academic advisor during this process to avoid delays in graduation.
English Requirement (6 Credits) – Complete all the following:
Math Requirement (3 Credits)
American Institutions Requirement (3 Credits)
Biology Requirement (3 Credits)
Physical Science Course Distribution Requirement (3 Credits)
Humanities Course Distribution Requirement (3 Credits)
Social/Behavior Science Course Distribution Requirement (3 Credits)
Personal, Professional, and Civil Growth Distribution Requirement (3 Credits)
Students pursuing pre-professional training at Fredrick Quinney Lawson Ballet West Academy may be eligible for Credit for Pre-Professional learning after completing technique challenge examinations. To earn full credit towards the program, students must:
Please note that Fredrick Quinney Lawson Ballet West Academy will not be responsible for paying course fees or tuition.
Please note: Students must meet various contact hours for each course ranging from 45 contact hours per course to 115 per course. Ballet West Academy will verify hours prior to the credit for prior learning examination.
Dance Core
The Department of Dance has made adjustments to the specific dance class modality to ensure that students receive the highest quality education while also maintaining accessibility when participating in this program. The following courses must be completed:
Some students may need to complete an additional course to reach residency requirements at UVU. 20 credit hours are required to be taken at UVU to reach residency requirements.
Preparing for college is an exciting journey, and understanding the cost of attendance is part of that process. Utah Valley University (UVU) offers many resources to help families plan confidently. Here are a few key points to help you get started.
We encourage students and families to connect with financial aid counselors, academic advisors, and School of the Arts staff to get personalized guidance and explore all available resources.
Utah Resident: You have established residency in Utah and have resident student status, meaning that you will pay resident tuition.
Non-Resident: You do not have established residency in Utah or have established resident in another state or country, meaning that you will pay non-resident tuition.
Full-Time Student: UVU considers students registered for 12 credits or more per semester or summer to be full-time students. Students who are registered for 12-18 credit hours are eligible for block tuition.
Part-Time Student: UVU considers students registered in 11 or less credits per semester to be part-time students. Students who are part-time pay on a per credit hour basis or scaling tuition rate.
Block Tuition: Students will be charged a flat rate for tuition.
Scaling Tuition: Students will be charged per number of course credits in which they are enrolled.
Online Program Tuition: Please note that on the official UVU website you may see different tuition rates for Online Programs. The Fredrick Quinney Lawson Ballet West Academy/UVU program is not considered a 100% online program, therefore this program does not qualify for this tuition rate.
Students who complete the pathway-specific, Associate of Science in Dance degree will have the opportunity to seamlessly transition into the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ballet program for potential completion in two years' time. The BFA in Ballet offers coursework in Dance Kinesiology, Ballet Pedagogy, Dance Production and Lighting, alongside continued development in dance technique and performance.
Contact Danielle Shipley by email at [email protected] or [email protected]
