Elementary In-School Arts Experiences

Dance

Media Arts

Music

Theater

Visual Art

Elementary Arts Field Trip Opportunities

Opportunities for Secondary Students

Utah High School Dance Festival

The Utah High School Dance Festival boasts attendance of approximately 800 students annually. Supported by the Utah School Board of Education, the festival offers a multitude of opportunities for high school students including

  • Auditions for scholarships from university and professional dance programs
  • Adjudications and feedback sessions with dance professionals from universities and professional dance companies from throughout the state
  • Introduction to recruiters from colleges and universities in Utah and surrounding states
  • Classes with a wide range of professionals from various genres and cultural dance forms
  • Recognition of members of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts
  • Performing in the gala performance
  • Awards for student choreography and performance excellence

Free Professional Performances

Local professional dance companies offer students free tickets to their student matinees that are abbreviated versions of their full-length evening performances performed during the school day. All you need to do is provide the transportation to the performance space. Check local university dance departments for opportunities to view college-level performances.

Ballet West: education@balletwest.org
Ririe-Woodbury: education@ririewoodbury.com
Repertory Dance Theatre: lynne@rdtutah.org
Children’s Dance Theatre: tannerdance@utah.edu

University Days of Dance

Many university dance programs will host high school students on campus for a full day of workshops, campus tours, and audition experience. Brigham Young University, the University of Utah, and Utah Valley University each provide their own day of dance, as may others. Check your local universities dance program websites for more information.

Choreographic Residencies

Professional dance companies in Utah (such as Repertory Dance Theatre, Ririe-Woodbury, Wasatch Contemporary Dance Company, SALT, and others) send their dancers to choreograph for junior high and high school dance companies. This experience provides students with the opportunity to work closely with professional dancers and choreographers. Contact local dance companies in your area for more information on providing a professional guest artist for your students.

National Honor Society of Dance Arts

UDEO as a state affiliate of the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO), proudly supports the National Honor Society for Dance Arts (NHSDA) for middle and high school age students in K–12 schools. Inducted students are encouraged to include their membership in scholarship packets and/or résumés for college or dance employment. All students inducted receive:

  • A certificate of membership in the NHSDA
  • An NHSDA honor cord and gold pin for graduation ceremonies
  • Invitations to participate in resume-building and college preparation events
  • Mailings generated by the state chapters

Other opportunities:

  • Summer Dance Workshops
  • Sterling Scholar
  • Reflections Contests