History
Dance at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (The University of Texas-Pan American, UTPA, prior to the Fall of 2015) was originally housed in the Department of Health and Kinesiology in the early 1950’s. Two student dance organizations, Ballet Folklorico and eventually the Dance Ensemble, allowed students to engage in dance practice and performance prior to dance becoming a degree-granting program. In May 1998, an 18-hour dance specialization was approved as a content area with the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree. In May 2001, the U.T. Board of Regents approved the establishment of a Bachelor of Science in Dance degree in UTPA’s College of Education’s Department of Health and Kinesiology, offering two degree tracks and a minor in dance: the Dance Degree Plan (Teacher Certification), and the Dance Degree Plan (Performance). In 2004, the two degree tracks changed from Bachelor of Science degrees to Bachelor of Arts Degrees in Dance. In the fall of 2015, with the creation of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), the Dance Program became part of the UTRGV College of Fine Arts. In 2020, two new Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance degree programs were introduced: BFA in Dance and BFA in Dance (Mexican Dance). In addition to the new BFA programs, two revised Bachelor of Arts in Dance degrees are available: BA in Dance (Teacher Certification) and a liberal arts BA in Dance, which provides the flexibility for study in other areas while majoring in dance. In 2021, the Dance Program experienced a title change from Dance Program to Dance Department.
Facilities and More
Dance Studio 3 PAC B1.135
The facilities of the Dance Program include three spacious dance studios, an intimate 300-seat Jeffers Theatre, a Library Auditorium, and a newly constructed 1,000 seat Performing Arts Center.
Dance Studios

Dance Studio #1 EHPE II.133

Dance Studio #2 EHPE II.117

Dance Studio #3 PAC B1.135
Performing Arts Center
Jeffers Theatre
The Department supports four Dance companies specializing in Ballet Folklórico, Ballet, Flamenco and Modern Dance. These companies undertake numerous public concerts.
The Dance Department has A strong record of community engagement, especially with public school dance programs.
Students have the opportunity to present at regional American College Dance Association Conferences.
The UTRGV Ballet Folklórico Company have performed in four ACDA South-Central Regional Gala concerts and were also selected to perform at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in National Gala Concerts in 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018. In 2018, the company was honored with the distinction of being selected to perform at the historically famous Jacob's Pillow Summer Festival.
In 2013, UTRGV dance faculty, Min Kim's work Bitter Sorrow was selected for the ACDA South-Central Regional ACDA Gala concert. In 2015, BA dance major, Courtney Wantland's work Fin was selected for the ACDA South-Central Regional Gala concert.
Many UTRGV Dance graduates are employed as dance educators in several school districts and private dance studios throughout South Texas and beyond. Others have advanced to complete graduate studies earning MFA and MA degrees in Dance. Jessica Peña (BA, 2014) is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Performance as Public Practice in the University of Texas at Austin's Department of Theatre and Dance.
Former BA and BFA dancers Erick Perales (BA, 2019) and Lupe Garza (BFA, 2020) are dancers in the NYC based dance company, Ballet Nepantla. https://www.balletnepantla.com/
Raul Passamentt (BFA - Mexican Dance, 2022) and Jennifer Lozano (BA, 2017) are dancers with Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández based in México City. https://www.balletfolkloricodemexico.com.mx/
The Alumni Dance Company was established in 2018 by Assistant Professor, Miguel Peña and is showcased in the summer Ballet Folklórico production, Leyendas. Money generated through ticket sales goes towards the Francisco Muñoz Endowed Scholarship to benefit future dance majors that pursue a study of Méxican Ballet Folklórico dance.
In collaboration with the Director of the Center of Latin American Arts, Katherine McAllen, Dance faculty member, Sonia Chapa, was awarded the Alice Kieberg Reynolds grant in the amount of $20,000 in 2022 for the A La Música y Arte Project. The project includes productions and presentations of flamenco dance concerts, Latin American music workshops, and student art exhibitions in the Rio Grande Valley. Funds are also being used to cover expenses of UTRGV students and faculty travels to Madrid, Spain to study flamenco music and dance.