Ailey/Fordham BFA Program Curriculum
Ailey/Fordham BFA Program students complete a diverse curriculum that includes a carefully designed sequence of dance and liberal arts courses, encouraging students to achieve their artistic and academic potential. BFA candidates are full-time students at both institutions.
Coursework
At The Ailey School, BFA students are part of the Professional Division, where they train to be versatile dancers of the highest caliber.
Students take a rigorous core curriculum of daily classes in classical ballet, Horton, and Graham-based modern. In addition, students also take a variety of other dance technique and creative courses that are specific to the BFA in Dance Program including jazz, West African, partnering, and improvisation, among others. At the start of their freshmen year, students take placement classes to determine their appropriate levels in the core dance technique courses. This enables each student in the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program to pursue an individualized dance schedule consistent with their training level.
As part of the undergraduate community at Fordham College at Lincoln Center, BFA students take a core-curriculum of liberal arts courses taught by Fordham’s esteemed arts and sciences faculty, 93% of whom hold a Ph.D. or other terminal degree. Course work ranges across the fine and liberal arts including music, the social sciences, philosophy, theology, history, and foreign languages.
Evaluation & Advisement
Each Ailey/Fordham BFA student is assigned a dance advisor at The Ailey School and an academic advisor at Fordham University. Both advisors aid the students in making the most of the curriculum and are available for advice and support throughout the program.
At the close of each semester, students at The Ailey School receive detailed written evaluations on their technical and artistic progress in each dance class. Students also receive written feedback from repertory choreographers, artists-in-residence, and The Ailey School directors through jury evaluations.
Performance Opportunities
Throughout the four-year program, BFA students are provided many opportunities to learn from and perform varied repertory with renowned choreographers and guest artists.
Performances are held at the Ailey Citigroup Theater at The Ailey School. In their senior year, students also perform in venues in the greater New York City area as part of a touring repertory ensemble, the Ailey Fordham Student Dancers (ASFD). Guest choreographers include:
- Brice Mousset
- Pedro Ruiz
- Christopher Huggins
- Stefanie Batten Bland
- Carolyn Dorfman
- Maria Bauman
Professional Experience for Advanced Students
The Ailey/Fordham BFA Program offers its most advanced students the unique opportunity to dance professionally while earning credit toward their BFA degree.
Seniors and occasionally juniors with outstanding dance and academic records may dance with professional companies as apprentices or members with the approval of the BFA director.
Special Programs
The Ailey School offers several innovative programs and unique opportunities for our students to further develop their artistry and prepare them for a professional career.
Ailey Students/Ailey Professionals (ASAP) Mentoring Program
The mission of ASAP is to give students the opportunity to build a mentor/mentee relationship with members of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater over the course of an academic year. Overseen by the Interim Artistic Director, Matthew Rushing, the program provides a rare opportunity for students to engage with their mentors through a multitude of activities including masterclasses/workshops, professional development sessions, and access to private rehearsals.
Memoria performances
Every December, The Ailey School students are offered the unparalleled opportunity to perform in Alvin Ailey’s ballet Memoria, a touching and powerful tribute to Mr. Ailey's mentor Joyce Trisler. Twenty-six students are chosen by audition to perform a section of the ballet that was choreographed by Mr. Ailey for a cast including Company members and students. Over the course of several weeks, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Rehearsal Director Ronni Favors rehearses with the students, culminating in several performances with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater during their annual season at New York City Center. Students experience the thrill of performing to sold out houses in a legendary theater located in the heart of the theater district.
