Utah Valley University’s (UVU) School of the Arts (SOA) has partnered with the Frederick Quinney Lawson Ballet West Academy (BWA) to provide students, who meet certain qualifications, the opportunity to earn UVU college credit for their training at the Academy.
Utah Valley University’s (UVU) School of the Arts (SOA) has partnered with the Frederick Quinney Lawson Ballet West Academy (BWA) to provide students, who meet certain qualifications, the opportunity to earn UVU college credit for their training at the Academy.
Pre-professional ballet students, who meet specific requirements and participate in a streamlined evaluation process, can earn college credit for their instruction and performance experience at the Academy, helping them fast-track their progress toward a college degree at UVU. They can apply their earned credits toward an associate degree in dance, paving the way to a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA).
“This partnership is a milestone in arts education and workforce development,” said Courtney Davis, dean of the School of the Arts at UVU. “By acknowledging the professional-level training students receive at Ballet West Academy, we’re not only supporting their academic and career goals — we’re creating a model for how institutions can honor the full spectrum of student achievement.”
The collaboration aligns with Utah’s statewide Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) and the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) workforce initiatives. CPL allows students to receive college credit for knowledge and skills acquired outside the traditional college setting.
This program, beginning in Fall 2025, is among the first of its kind in the region, exemplifying how collaboration between arts institutions and higher education can drive meaningful progress toward educational equity and workforce alignment. The program supports USHE’s mission to improve access, equity, and college completion by recognizing diverse forms of learning and reducing time to degree.
Ballet West, led by Artistic Director Adam Sklute since 2007, has been celebrated for innovation and excellence for over 60 years. Based in Salt Lake City, it presents classical masterpieces, historic works like America's longest-running Nutcracker, and groundbreaking creations with unparalleled artistic standards. The Company continues to build future ballet artists and audiences by providing classical ballet training through the Frederick Quinney Lawson Ballet West Academy and its four campuses with more than 1,000 students.
