UNLV Dance recently was ranked eighth in the nation by College Magazine in its 2019 list of the 10 Best Schools of Dance. This distinction puts the program in the same league as other powerhouse dance programs, including New York University and Juilliard.

"It is an incredible honor to be listed, and a humbling experience to be listed alongside institutions like Juilliard, New York University, North Carolina School of the Arts, Point Park, and Florida State University," said Louis Kavouras, chair of the department of dance. "The UNLV department of dance began as a program in 1976 with a progressive dance curriculum and an aesthetic vision for what was possible in the vibrant city of Las Vegas, what was possible in the great state of Nevada, and what was possible at UNLV, a forward reaching university of infinite possibility. Fundamental to our philosophy is the core belief that we all possess the human expressive instrument that accomplishes all the beautiful and various forms of dance in the world," he continued.

"Our goal at UNLV Dance is to empower students with the necessary training and empower them with the tools to dance across this beautiful garden of motion as they choose, to not be limited, and to boldly create new movement ideas for the world," Kavouras said. "At UNLV our mascot is the Rebel, and we have been Rebels with this progressive training philosophy since our program began. This recognition is a testament to all the work and passion of a dedicated group of faculty, students, alumni, staff, patrons, and all the community that is UNLV Dance. At UNLV we are Different, we are Daring, we are Diverse, and we are Dance."

Nancy Uscher, dean of the College of Fine Arts, said the college is extremely proud of the designation. "The artist and research faculty provide a stellar education for our students," Uscher said. "The student work, performed both locally and internationally, is inspiring and at the highest level!"

The department of dance strives to train world-class dancers who meet the growing needs of the entertainment capital of the world. The scope of the training exceeds the Las Vegas commercial dance form. The international exchanges, world-renowned guest artists, and high-caliber artistic training give UNLV’s students a global understanding of the art of dance. As a cultural center, the department of dance brings the residents of Las Vegas the highest caliber of artistic concert dance.