Bellarmine University and Louisville Ballet create arts administration bachelor’s pathway for dancers starting August 2026
A degree option built around professional rehearsal and performance schedules
Bellarmine University and Louisville Ballet have announced a new academic partnership designed for dancers and staff whose training and performance demands often make traditional college attendance difficult. Beginning in August 2026, eligible participants will be able to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Arts Administration while continuing full-time involvement with the organization’s productions, rehearsals and community programs.
The initiative is structured for members of Louisville Ballet’s Studio Company, its professional company and select staff roles. Coursework will be delivered in an asynchronous online format intended to fit around the seasonal rhythm of professional dance, including performance weeks and touring or outreach obligations.
What students will study
The credential attached to the partnership is a Bellarmine Bachelor of Arts in Arts Administration, a field that combines arts-focused study with management and leadership preparation aimed at careers inside cultural organizations. Bellarmine’s arts administration curriculum is designed as an interdisciplinary program anchored in both arts and business training and includes required internship experiences as part of the degree pathway.
Louisville Ballet’s Studio Company materials describe the collaboration as a “degree-track” option that includes a dance concentration within the arts administration framework, alongside a traditional non-degree track for dancers who prefer to focus exclusively on training.
- Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Arts Administration (with a dance-focused option described in Louisville Ballet program materials)
- Format: Asynchronous online coursework aligned with professional training demands
- Eligibility: Louisville Ballet Studio Company members, professional company members and staff
Costs and access considerations
Tuition and living arrangements vary by a dancer’s Studio Company level and whether they elect the degree track. Louisville Ballet’s published Studio Company information outlines annual program costs for certain levels and notes that dancers are responsible for housing and living expenses. For those admitted to the university through the degree track, Bellarmine student housing may be available. The same Studio Company information also lists discounted Bellarmine tuition rates for Louisville Ballet affiliates for the 2026–2027 academic year and identifies potential financial-aid pathways for eligible Kentucky residents.
Part of a broader local partnership footprint
The new degree pathway adds to an expanding set of collaborations between Bellarmine and Louisville Ballet. In 2025, the organizations also aligned on a movement-focused class initiative tied to Bellarmine’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program research efforts, reflecting ongoing intersections among performance training, health and higher education in Louisville.
The partners have framed the program as a way to reduce barriers between professional dance training and completing a college degree, with an emphasis on career preparation beyond the stage.
The launch comes as Louisville Ballet continues its 2025–2026 season programming and community engagement schedule, positioning the academic track as an additional pathway for dancers planning for long-term careers in arts organizations, education, administration or related fields.