Woman wearing glasses and striped shirt, forearms on ledge in front of her
Dr. Karen Bond, Chair of Dance/Coordinator of Graduate Studies and Associate Professor

Welcome from the Chair 

The Dance Department at Temple University is committed to excellence in teaching, scholarship and artistic practice. Understanding that we experience life through our bodies, our programs encourage students to consider how minds in motion contribute to knowledge, transform the social world, and facilitate community engagement. A founding member of the National Association of Schools of Dance, Boyer's Dance Department has provided a multi-layered creative, reflective, and inclusive dance learning environment for over fifty years. We continue to honor traditions while exploring new ways of knowing dance.

The BFA, MFA, MA and PhD in Dance aim to develop outstanding performers, choreographers, teachers, and scholars, and to champion students’ individual career and life goals. An extraordinary range of curricular offerings supports a highly motivated, skilled, and collaborative body of students, within and across programs. In addition to intensive studio practice and a rigorous academic study, students have opportunities to work with guest professional dance artists, scholars, and teaching artists. BFA and master’s students may work towards membership in Temple’s chapter of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts™, a program of the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO).

Graduates of Boyer Dance programs have performed in companies such as Ballet X, Streb, Dance Theater X, Kariamu & Company: Traditions, Koresh Dance Company, Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers, Philadanco, Rennie Harris Puremovement, Urban Bush Women, and many others. They also become successful choreographers, artistic directors, dance educators, dance therapists, studio owners, dance administrators, dance writers, researchers and advocates.

Temple Dance faculty are pioneers and leaders. They have performed with Doris Humphrey Repertory Company, Martha Clarke, Martha Graham Dance Company, Metropolitan Opera Company, Reggie Wilson Fist and Heel Performance Group, Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, and others. They are writers and editors who represent the field through international research organizations. They have received National Endowment for the Arts, Pew Foundation, Guggenheim, and USA Artist Doris Duke fellowships; Fulbright scholarships; Dance Studies Association, National Dance Education Organization, and “Bessie” awards.

Warm regards,
Karen Bond