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Dance Partners is a group of supporters dedicated to supporting the students, faculty, and programs of the OU School of Dance through scholarships, increased visibility, audience development and special projects. By joining Dance Partners, you not only help the OU School of Dance, but will also receive invitations to exclusive “Dance Partners” events, special acknowledgement University Theatre performance programs, and updates on our talented students and faculty.

Dance Partners has been a cornerstone in promoting, supporting, and preserving the OU School of Dance, allowing it to rise as one of the preeminent university dance programs in the nation.

Since Dance Partners was formed in 2003, supporters have contributed over $1.6 million in scholarship support for our dance majors.

Today, our current students and alumni come from across the United States as well as several countries and have gone on to establish professional careers with Pacific Northwest Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Louisville Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Houston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, Texas Ballet Theatre, Nashville Ballet, Ballet Austin, Alvin Ailey Ensemble, The Martha Graham Dance Ensemble, Pearl Lang Dance Theatre, Dance Kaleidoscope, Ballet Hispanico, the Rioult Dance Company, Oberlin Dance Collective, and Ballet West as well as in Broadway musicals and national touring companies. In addition to performance opportunities, the program has prepared graduates for careers in professional schools and colleges, choreographers, management, and arts administration.

Each year, the School of Dance spends approximately $8,500 in subsidizing the cost of pointe shoes and dance wear for our dancers. Pointe shoes can cost as much as $200 per pair and will last as little as a single performance. It is not uncommon for a pre-professional dancer to go through 30 pairs in 1 academic year – That’s an average of $6,000 per dancer, per year! Having a reliable pair of pointe shoes is critical to dancer health, as well as proper training. Every $200 donated will allow a dancer the ability to have pointe shoes for performances or dance wear for classes, without growing their financial burden.