The Current Status of Dance Education in US Schools

Across the United States, all 50 states have adopted arts standards that recognize dance as an essential part of a well-rounded education. Yet despite that universal acknowledgment, dance remains the least accessible and least implemented of the arts disciplines in K–12 schools.

While music and visual art are often staples of school curricula, dance continues to lag far behind, leaving millions of students without opportunities to move, create, and express themselves through this vital art form.

Where We Are Now

According to the 2023–24 National Arts Education Data Project, led by Bob Morrison, the numbers tell a clear story:

Approximately 17.1% of all U.S. students have access to dance classes in their schools, which means 82.9% do not have access.
Only 2.4% of all students participate in dance classes at school, meaning that 97.6% of students are not experiencing dance as part of their educational curriculum.

In schools that offer dance, participation rates are encouraging, with 14% of students choosing to enroll. At the elementary level, where dance is often a required class, participation rates are as high as 87%. That number drops to 16% in middle school and just 6% in high school, when dance typically becomes an elective.

This shows a simple truth: when dance is offered, students take it.

Understanding the Access Gap

The biggest barrier to dance education is a lack of opportunity. While arts standards exist in every state, the presence of certified dance teachers, adequate facilities, and program funding varies dramatically from district to district.

Data shows that most dance programs are concentrated in large, urban school districts. Rural and suburban areas, where resources and specialized instructors are limited, often have little or no access at all.

As Bob Morrison of the Arts Education Data Project explains, this “equity gap” means that where a student lives often determines whether they’ll ever experience dance in an educational setting.

Why It Matters

Dance education supports far more than artistic growth. Research compiled by the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO), the Arts Education Partnership (AEP), and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) highlights how movement-based learning strengthens physical health, creativity, emotional regulation, and even academic performance.

Dance helps students:

Build coordination, balance, and body awareness.
Develop collaboration and communication skills.
Explore cultural understanding and diversity through global dance traditions.
Gain confidence and self-expression that supports learning across all subjects.

In short, dance is a catalyst for holistic development.

Bridging the Divide

Closing the access gap requires collaboration between policymakers, educators, and communities at the local, state, and national levels.

Districts can:

Advocate for inclusion of certified dance educators in K–12 schools.
Integrate movement and creative expression into classrooms.
Partner with local studios, teaching artists, and community programs to expand opportunities.
Liaise with colleges in the state to ensure there are certification pathways for K-12 dance education

Teachers can:

Join the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO), Dance/USA, Americans for the Arts, or other professional organizations dedicated to advancing arts and dance education.
Advocate for the importance of dance in their community.

Students can:

Express interests to the school PTA and administration.

Parents and community members can:

Advocate for arts equity and support programs that make dance accessible to all children.

Bringing dance education to more students is a collective movement. By working together, schools and communities can ensure that dance isn’t a privilege for a few, but a fundamental part of every child’s education.

The Bottom Line

Dance education in the United States is still a privilege, not a guarantee. Despite nationwide arts standards and growing recognition of its benefits, the vast majority of students never experience a dance class in school.

But the data also gives reason for hope: where dance is offered, students participate enthusiastically. With greater investment, awareness, and advocacy, access to dance education can become the norm.

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