UNLV DANCE

05/20/2026

Please join us in welcoming Thang Dao to the UNLV Department of Dance as our newest Assistant Professor of Dance!

We are incredibly fortunate to welcome an artist of Thang’s caliber to our faculty. An internationally recognized choreographer, educator, and artistic director, his work has been celebrated across the United States, Europe, and Asia. Thang earned his BFA from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee and trained at The Juilliard School, later earning both an MA in Dance and Digital Technology from New York University and an MFA in Dance from Hollins University.

As founder of the Thang Dao Dance Company, he has choreographed for leading companies including Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Ballet Austin, BalletX, Ailey II, Philadanco, and Sacramento Ballet. His choreography has been presented at renowned venues including Jacob’s Pillow and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.

Thang’s many honors include being named a Princess Grace Choreography Fellow, receiving the Princess Grace Special Project Grant, and being recognized as a Vilcek Prize Finalist for Creative Promise in Choreography. His work, deeply informed by his Vietnamese American heritage, brings together precision, emotional clarity, and cultural depth while expanding the visibility of Asian American voices in concert dance.

“We are honored to welcome an artist as imaginative and creative as Thang Dao into the UNLV Dance family. We look forward to this bold new era of motion.” — Louis Kavouras, Chair, UNLV Dance

Welcome to UNLV Dance, Thang. ❤️

Headshots courtesy of Joffrey Ballet School. Dance shots credit: Thomas Dang Vu.

05/13/2026

Check out this amazing student run organization led by our BFA Dance major, Vivian Montalvo Sanchez!

As BTS returns to Las Vegas for a new world tour, UNLV's K-pop Club turns a shared interest into a student community.

05/11/2026

We are officially preparing for our 50th Anniversary Season—the Golden Anniversary! 

A central part of this celebration is welcoming our alumni back to campus to share their artistry with our community.

Submit your choreographic proposal. Before applying, please review the following logistics and policies:

Where: Alta Ham Fine Arts Studio One
When: January 29–30, 2027
Deadline for Applications: September 18, 2026
Finalists Announced: October 16, 2026

Submission Requirements:
    • Submit a link to a video of the proposed work, a promotional reel, or a compilation of your choreography.
    • Professional recordings are not required, but submissions should be clear, well-framed, and unedited. A single, continuous camera angle is preferred.
    • Links must remain active until finalists are announced.
    • Please also have a headshot and bio ready for submission. Bio must be in a Word doc, PDF, or image file.
    • Works may be new or pre-existing.
    • Maximum length: 10 minutes.
    • No limit on cast size; however, current UNLV Dance majors and minors may not perform.
    • Rehearsal space will be provided for technical and dress rehearsals only.
    • Clearly indicate any props or set needs; fire, confetti, and glitter are not permitted.
    • Artists are responsible for their own travel, lodging, and related expenses.

Submit all applications through the link in our bio.

We are thrilled to see your work and celebrate 50 years of UNLV Dance together. Go Rebels!

Questions? Please contact Cathy Allen at [email protected]

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Choreography: Pulse Archive by Thang Dao

05/08/2026

A big congratulations to BFA Dance major Kailyn Brown on receiving the 2026 Lance & Elena Calvert Undergraduate Research: Creative Writing and Fine Arts Project Award for her milestone project, Fall into Place.

This award recognizes undergraduate students who demonstrate excellence and sophistication in original research and creative scholarship. We are incredibly proud of the work being created within our program, and this recognition highlights the depth of research, collaboration, and artistic investigation that goes into developing performance-based work.

Congratulations, Kailyn — this honor is so well deserved! 💜

05/01/2026

The UNLV Department of Dance is holding Level Placement and BFA Auditions!

Date: May 1st, 2026

Location: Alta Ham Fine Arts Building, rm 111

Time: 10 am—Level Placements; 12 pm—BFA Auditions. Please arrive on time!

What to Expect:
All dancers will participate in a placement class in ballet, modern, and jazz dance techniques. The UNLV Dance faculty will evaluate dancers based on various barre and center combinations in each discipline and place them in the appropriate technical levels.

Following Level Placements, dancers wishing to be considered for the BFA in Dance—Performance and Choreography track—will present a two-minute, self-choreographed solo that represents the dancer’s greatest technical abilities, versatility, and choreographic voice.

Attire:
Option 1: Solid-colored leotard with full-length tights of your choice.
Option 2: Full-length tights with a solid form-fitting shirt, preferably tucked in. Dance belts are required.

Shoes:
Ballet: Any color ballet shoe
Modern: Barefoot
Jazz: Jazz shoe or sock

Hair:
Hair should be neatly secured away from the face and off the neck—such as in a bun, twist, or comparable style.

Register today: Link in bio.
We can’t wait to see you move!

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04/24/2026

Opening night is here!

Join us for Elegant Universes, our BFA Dance Concert, and experience the incredible work our students have been building all semester. From choreography to production, this concert highlights the creativity, collaboration, and dedication of our majors.

Performances:
Friday at 7:30 PM
Saturday at 2:30 PM & 7:30 PM
Location: HFA 111 at University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Tickets are available through the UNLV PAC website or at the link in our bio.

We hope to see you there!

04/08/2026

UNLV Dance x Sheer Elite International presents the UNLV Dance Summer Intensive — coming to Las Vegas this June 24-28th, 2026!

Open to intermediate & advanced dancers (ages 10–21), this 5-day intensive offers a chance to train, grow, and work with experienced faculty across ballet, pointe, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, Pilates, and more!

Those wishing to be considered for a scholarship must attend the Scholarship Audition:

- April 18, 2026 | 12:00–2:00 PM
- UNLV Alta Ham Fine Arts Building, Studio 1 (HFA 111)
- 4505 S. Maryland Pkwy., Las Vegas, NV
- Registration Required! Link in bio.

Can’t attend in person?
Video auditions are accepted and should highlight ballet and/or contemporary technique.

For video submissions or questions, please contact: Dolly Kelepecz – [email protected]

01/21/2026

I’d say we had a pretty good first day back 🫶🏻

12/30/2025

UNLV Dance is thrilled to announce the return of Pointe Work for Ballet (DAN 224) to the course schedule!

This technique class, which has been missed, is an opportunity for students experienced in pointe work to refine their classical technique and achieve new levels of strength and artistry.

This semester, the course will be led by the highly accomplished Jordan Drew, Visiting Assistant Professor. 

This class requires departmental consent. Please email [email protected] to let us know of your interest.

We hope to hear from you!