Founded in 1943 by Jan Veen, the Dance Division is highly selective and since 1950 has been offering individualized instruction in ballet and modern. Courses such as choreography, improvisation, pedagogy, music, voice, acting, pointe, Pilates, Alexander, jazz, tap, musical theater, and ethnic styles classes create a versatile and educated dancer. We offer physical therapy and host a "Wellness Week" each year, supporting a student’s journey to becoming a complete dancer and a whole artist.

Students perform as part of The Boston Conservatory Dance Theater, renowned for presenting masterpieces of the past in both ballet (Bournonville, Fokine, Petipa, Tudor) and modern dance (Graham, Limón, Louis, Sokolow, Taylor), as well as premieres by today's exciting choreographers (Laszlo Berdo, Jacqulyn Buglisi, Donald Byrd, Seán Curran, Luis Fuente, Daniel Pelzig). In addition, students may also participate in a yearly workshop and showcase of original student works, choreographed and performed by Dance Division students, as well as have the opportunity to perform in musical theater and opera productions.

As an integral part of the curriculum of each of the performing arts divisions, the Conservatory offers a solid array of liberal arts courses. To further round out their education, students may enroll in related classes at several neighboring humanities-oriented institutions, which make up the Pro Arts Consortium.

Our faculty and guest artists consist of world-class artists from major dance companies. Our alumni have gone on to dance with Atlanta Ballet, Boston Ballet, Ballet Hispanico, Les Grands Ballet Canadiens, Smuin Ballet, Richard Alston, Alvin Ailey, Martha Graham, José Limón, Paul Taylor, Hubbard Street, Bill T. Jones, Stephen Petronio, Pilobolus, and Momix, as well as many Broadway productions including 42nd Street, Chicago, Movin' Out, Ragtime, Cats, and A Chorus Line.

"…what a gift the Conservatory has given its dance students, not only by commissioning this new work [Sleepers, Awake], but by providing music in performance by the Conservatory's talented orchestra and chorale…" (The Boston Globe, 2002)

"….each dancer knew exactly why he or she was on that stage….
More, the way the dancers met the music was not predictable….
The result was thrilling—an experience equally attuned to the
concerns of dance and the concerns of music….It would be a restorative gift to the memory of Martha Graham if they could dance Boston's ‘Appalachian Spring' again in several cities, including New York." (The New Republic, 2000)