Georgia's contemporary dance ecosystem has matured considerably over the past decade. Once considered a market where aspiring dancers inevitably fled to New York or Los Angeles, the state now sustains programs that rival those on either coast—offering rigorous conservatory training, university degrees with professional company affiliations, and community-based intensives for adult learners. Whether you're a teenager preparing for a professional career, a college applicant weighing BFA programs, or a working dancer seeking continuing education, Georgia's landscape has become genuinely worth investigating.
This guide focuses on five established institutions that represent the breadth and depth of contemporary dance training available across the state. Each entry includes verified program details, distinguishing artistic philosophies, and practical information for prospective students.
1. Emory University Dance Program — Atlanta
Founded: 1983
Program type: BFA and BA in Dance; minor available
Age range: Undergraduate students (18–22, with some non-traditional students)
Notable distinction: Strong integration of somatic practice with concert-stage performance
Emory's dance program operates within a major research university while maintaining conservatory-level intensity. The curriculum grounds students in classical modern techniques—Graham, Horton, and Cunningham—before pushing them into contemporary improvisation, contact improvisation, and choreographic research. What separates Emory from pure pre-professional conservatories is its insistence on academic rigor: dance majors complete coursework in anatomy, dance history, and critical theory alongside their studio training.
The program maintains an active partnership with Core Dance, a professional contemporary company based in nearby Decatur. This collaboration yields regular masterclasses, rehearsal observations, and occasional casting opportunities for upperclassmen. Performances happen in the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts, a 450-seat proscenium theater that exposes students to professional production standards.
"Our graduates leave with two languages fluently: the language of the body and the language of critical inquiry. That's increasingly rare, and increasingly valuable."
— Lori Teague, Professor of Dance and former Program Director
Tuition: Approximately $59,000/year (2024–2025); need-based and merit scholarships available
Audition: Required for BFA applicants; held annually in January and February
2. Kennesaw State University Department of Dance — Kennesaw
Founded: 2005
Program type: BFA in Dance; BS in Dance with concentrations in Ballet or Modern/Contemporary
Age range: Undergraduate students
Notable distinction: The only public university in Georgia with a dedicated BFA in dance
For Georgia residents seeking affordable, high-caliber training, Kennesaw State represents perhaps the strongest value in the state. As part of the University System of Georgia, in-state tuition runs roughly $6,500/year before fees and housing—a fraction of private conservatory costs. The Department of Dance, housed in the College of the Arts, has grown rapidly since its founding and now enrolls approximately 120 dance majors.
The Modern/Contemporary concentration emphasizes performance and choreography, with required coursework in dance technology, world dance forms, and arts administration. Students perform regularly in the Stillwell Theater and occasionally tour regionally with the KSU Dance Company. Guest artist residencies are frequent; recent visitors have included choreographers from Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Batsheva Dance Company.
Tuition: ~$6,500/year in-state; ~$18,000/year out-of-state (2024–2025)
Audition: Required; held in November, January, and February
3. Staibdance — Atlanta
Founded: 2007
Program type: Pre-professional conservatory and summer intensive
Age range: Primarily 16–25 (summer intensive); adult open classes available year-round
Notable distinction: Deep specialization in Gaga technique and Israeli contemporary dance
Under the direction of George Staib, this Atlanta-based institution has carved out a singular identity in the southeastern United States. Staib, who trained extensively in Israel with Ohad Naharin's Batsheva Dance Company, built Staibdance around Gaga—the movement language that has reshaped contemporary dance training worldwide. For dancers who cannot afford summer intensives in Tel Aviv or New York, Staibdance offers the most concentrated Gaga exposure available in the region.
The summer intensive runs three weeks and limits enrollment to approximately 35 students, ensuring substantial one-on-one feedback. Daily classes include Gaga/people, Gaga/dancers, repertoire from Staib's own company works, and improvisation scores drawn from Israeli contemporary practice. The program culminates in an informal studio showing rather than a fully produced concert, reflecting Staib's belief that process should outweigh product during intensive training periods.
**"We're not trying to make mini-Georges. We're trying to give dancers tools to access their own range, their own weirdness, their
