

Learn how to teach, create, and perform dance and build community – through the lens of another culture. You’ll collaborate with professional dancers, musicians, educators, and students from local Universities in Kampala. Take classes in traditional Ugandan dance and drumming, collaboratively learn and create lessons based on best practices of culturally relevant pedagogy, and then implement your group lessons with children from local centers, schools, and community-based organizations. You will take field trips to community centers, important cultural and natural sites, and perform at the National Theatre.
Kampala, Uganda
January 4-20, 2024
Deborah Damast, Clinical Associate Professor and Director, Dance Education Program.
Find the application link and instructions on the "How to Apply" page.
NYU graduate students
This is not a complete list. We value diverse perspectives in our programs and encourage students from other majors and professions.
The application link and instructions, as well as the deadlines and notification timelines, can be found on the "How to Apply" page.
Students register for a total of 3 credits and take the following course:
MPADE-GE 2520, Section 095 (Class # TBA) - Community Building Through Teaching, Creating, Performing: Dance Education in Uganda (3 credits)
Important Note: All program applicants are encouraged to meet with their academic adviser to determine if and how this course may be applied toward their program requirements and degree completion.
Offered through the Department of Music and Performing Arts
Participants will be billed for the cost of the graduate course following the standard per-credit rate for NYU Steinhardt Graduate Study Tuition and Fees. In addition, study abroad courses have a supplemental Housing & Activity Fee that covers the cost of housing abroad, program activities and visits, group transportation in-country, and international health insurance. Students can expect to be billed:
Estimated Direct Cost Total - $8,003
Tuition, Registration, and Housing & Activity fees will be due based on Bursar's Payment Schedule for the Spring term.
Students are responsible for purchasing transportation and airfare to/from the program location. Students will be notified when to book flights. We recommend comparing tickets on multiple sites to ensure the best fare. Past participants have used the following flight search engines: Kayak, Google Flights, and Student Universe for student rates.
In addition to airfare, participants should budget for: daily meals (except for included welcome and farewell meals); transportation to and from the airport; passport and/or visa fees (if applicable); vaccination costs (if applicable); and other personal incidentals.
Students are encouraged to budget for study abroad programs based on individual needs. You may use online budgeting tools such as Numbeo, Expatistan, and Budget Your Trip to budget for your ideal study abroad experience.
NYU Steinhardt offers several graduate study abroad scholarships and maintains a list of additional external funding opportunities.
Download and use this Study Abroad Budget Worksheet to estimate the cost of your study abroad experience.
PLEASE NOTE: This spreadsheet lists possible expenses and may not be all-inclusive of program costs. In addition, your costs may fluctuate based on changes in currency exchange rates, airfare, varying personal lifestyles, etc. While this is a good tool for reviewing study abroad expenses, the results should be considered to be an estimate of the total cost of participation.
Students stay in shared-occupancy housing arranged by the Office of Global Affairs. Your accommodation arrangements are included in your Housing and Activity Fees. Group accommodation dates correspond with the program dates listed above.
Flight: Students purchase their own international travel to coincide with program dates. All participants are strongly encouraged to purchase refundable flights.
Passport: All program participants are required to have a valid passport, which must be valid at least six months beyond the program end date.
Visa: A valid visa to enter Uganda is required. To apply, you must have: a valid passport with at least 6 months remaining until it expires, 2 fully completed application forms (which can be found at the Ugandan Embassy website), 2 passport-type photos, an International Certificate of Vaccination for Yellow Fever, a copy of round-trip airline tickets (or itinerary/letter of confirmation from your travel agent) and a $50 money order for the single-entry visitor visa fee (you may purchase a money order from any US Post Office).
For more information, please visit the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Uganda. When applying for a visa, make sure to apply for the Tourist Visa – not a student visa. (Student visas are a designation for those going abroad for a university semester program.) You should obtain your visa in advance of your departure. To be on the safe side, please submit your application at least 1-2 months before departure. Please be aware that it takes approximately 2 days to receive your visa once you have applied. To download a visa application form, click here.
All other passport holders should check their visa requirements on the embassy/consulate website respective of their nationality. For further guidance on visas and other non-immigration matters, contact OGS Outbound Student Services at ogs.outbound@nyu.edu.
Vaccinations: In order to enter Uganda, visitors are required to show evidence of yellow fever vaccination for this mosquito-borne disease endemic to the tropical belt. Students should visit a healthcare provider to determine the medications for vaccine-preventable diseases and other diseases. Make a visit at least 4–6 weeks before your trip to allow time for your vaccines to take effect and, if necessary, to start taking medicine to prevent any illness. The NYU Health Center recommends vaccinations specifically for: Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Polio Booster, Tetanus (make sure your shot is up-to-date), and Malaria.
In order to best protect yourself from contracting Malaria, it is most important to take anti-malaria medications and to use a strong insect DEET-based repellent. Malarone is a popular anti-malaria medication and must be taken for 2 days before traveling to Uganda. Some individuals have difficulty with Malarone, so be sure to discuss this medication with your doctor prior to usage. We also recommend that you travel with nets and anti-mosquito sprays and wear clothing that covers your entire body at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most abundant. On a separate note, it is important to know that Uganda is referred to as a global leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS. For more information about any and all of the above details, please visit the NYU Student Health Center to get more information.
Helpful links: US State Department, Center for Disease Control, Lonely Planet Guide (Uganda).
Weather: In January, temperatures in Kampala typically range from 64° to 84°F, although it is cooler in the mountains. It is also the dry season. Visit BBC Weather to learn more about local weather conditions in Uganda.
Visit the Steinhardt Study Abroad Resources website and get a head start on preparing for your study abroad program experience.
All applicants should review the Office of Global Affairs Short-Term Graduate Courses Policies page prior to applying to study abroad.
Take the next step! Learn about application requirements, upcoming info sessions, and more.
Apply Now