The Queensland University of Technology has released a broad-ranging review of its performing arts courses after pausing its undergraduate dance intake in 2024.
"Given the low numbers in dance, a different approach is required immediately," the review states.
It recommends cutting the dance major within QUT's Creative Arts degree and offering a minor (usually four subjects) focused on dance teaching with or through the School of Education instead.
The university previously cut a specialist course devoted to dance performance in 2021.
The review describes teaching as a "very attractive niche" for dance graduates.
It also calls for a shake-up of QUT's acting training to focus on screen and digital performance, with limited live acting development.
The university counts actors Deborah Mailman and Gyton Grantley among its alumni.
"Even with the philanthropic support that it receives, acting is still not viable in the current financial environment," the review states.
The document also points to job losses, stating the School of Creative Arts must "evaluate the best fit between unit offerings and teaching staff".
"QUT has a long history of commitment to the performing arts and as the university for the real world, we continue to work with industry to ensure our courses respond to current and future workforce needs," Vice-Chancellor Margaret Sheil said.
QUT Guild Education Officer Erin Milne, who has already seen her Technical Production degree cut back to a minor, said the changes would have wide-ranging effects.
"It's essentially privatising the ability to study dance in Queensland," she said.
"It means that students who want to study dance are going to be pushed more and more into the private sector, with extremely expensive private studio classes."
Queensland is home to some of the nation's leading companies such as Dancenorth in Townsville, The Farm on the Gold Coast, Queensland Ballet and the Australasian Dance Collective in Brisbane and dozens of First Nations dance companies.
University degrees, with fees paid through long-term government loans, are the most accessible training option for students wanting to study performance.
Dance has been taught at a $60 million facility at QUT's Kelvin Grove Campus, which has specialised dance and concert halls and recording studios, but it's understood parts of the facility have been repurposed into design studios.
The review was conducted by a four-person panel, with consultation held during the summer break, and is understood to have received almost 100 submissions from across Australia's dance industry.
The findings are expected to affect course offerings from 2026.
16°C