Beginning in the Fall 2026 semester, historically Black Hampton University in Virginia will offer a bachelor’s degree in dance.
Housed within the School of Liberal Arts and Education’s department of visual and performing arts, the 87-credit undergraduate program offers rigorous training across multiple disciplines, including ballet, contemporary dance, African dance, jazz, hip-hop, and musical theatre. Students pursuing a degree in dance will participate in both coursework and performance studies.
“Launching Hampton University’s dance major marks a bold step forward in cultivating artistry, academic excellence, and community through movement,” said Iris Middleton, chair of the department of visual and performing arts. “Here, students don’t just learn to dance — they learn to think, collaborate, and inspire the world with every step.”
Alongside the new major, the dance program also introduces The Treasure Dance Company, a new concert and competitive dance ensemble that will produce mainstage performances and represent Hampton University in collegiate dance competition.
“This program represents the evolution of a tradition that has long existed at Hampton University,” said Linda Malone-Colon, dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Education. “Dance is both a language and a legacy within the Black experience, and this major creates space for our students to explore movement as scholarship, storytelling, innovation, and global artistic expression.”
