The book every dance family needed before the first audition.
Choosing a College Dance Program: The Realest Guide to Decision-Making, Program Evaluation, and Financial Reality for Parents, Guardians, and Students
Preorder on Amazon
Advance praise
“Choosing a College Dance Program is an invaluable resource for students and families navigating one of the most important decisions in a young artist’s life. Drawing on decades of experience in dance and higher education, Michael Medcalf provides practical guidance, honest insights, and a clear roadmap through the complexities of college admissions, financial planning, artistic training, wellness, and career preparation. This is a thoughtful and much-needed guide that empowers students to make informed decisions about their future with confidence and clarity.”
Lawrence M. Jackson, MFA
Professor of Dance · Assistant Dean of Faculty Affairs
College of Visual and Performing Arts, George Mason University
“Choosing a College Dance Program is a refreshingly honest insight into the world of college dance programs. Beginning with the dancer and their aspirations, great care is taken to assure the reader that this experienced professor is committed to supporting not only student wellness but also the broad opportunities to be found in the college landscape and career field. Mr. Medcalf deconstructs the complexities of gathering necessary information, asking the right questions, and putting one’s best foot forward. He demystifies the application and selection process, and empowers the dancer to assess programs best suited for their goals…all with the balanced, non-judgmental step-by-step clarity of a trusted mentor. This guide should be required text for high school dance students and their families across the nation.”
Kelly H. Berick, Ed.M.
Ohio Public School Dance Educator
Most families making college dance decisions are on their own.
Nobody explains what a BFA actually costs over four years. Nobody tells you the real difference between a BFA and a BA and what that means for your dancer’s life after graduation. Nobody asks whether the program has real mental health support, or whether the faculty actually perform and choreograph, or what the school’s job placement numbers look like.
This book does.
Table of Contents
Part 1 — For Parents and Guardians
Part 2 — For Dance Students
Appendices
Not just reading. Working tools.
Appendix A
The College Dance Decision Timeline — a semester-by-semester action plan from Junior Year Fall through the summer before matriculation.
Appendix B
The Program Comparison Matrix — score up to ten programs across eight criteria and compare them side by side.
Appendix C
HBCU Dance Programs Directory — a verified list of every HBCU currently offering a bachelor’s degree in dance, compiled June 2026.
Appendix D
The Program Offer Comparison Worksheet — for when the acceptance letters arrive and the real decision begins.
The right program can launch a career.
The wrong one can cost years and thousands of dollars you cannot get back.
Preorder on Amazon — $9.99 Release date: July 20, 2026