Elon University

About the Location

The rich history of Jerusalem spans several millennia, and the city is a holy site in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.  The compact Old City itself contains significant sites such as the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Dome of the Rock.  Other historic and religious sites can be found throughout the city.  Jerusalem is also a modern city and boasts a vibrant cultural life including art, music, and theater.  

NOTE: A Travel Warning is in effect for Israel.  Elon has assessed the safety of the program and will allow students to participate.  See conditions below under Applications.

Academics

The Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance (JAMD) is the premier performing arts institution in Israel.  JAMD faculty and graduates are among the leading conductors, performers, dancers, choreographers and music educators throughout Israel, Europe, and North America.  The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is a world-class university, enrolling nearly 24,000 students, including 2,000 international students from more than 65 different countries.  In addition to Hebrew language courses, the Rothberg International School (RIS) offers a variety of courses across the disciplines and taught in English.

The DanceJerusalem program combines a rigorous dance curriculum at JAMD with Hebrew language and elective courses at RIS.  DanceJerusalem offers university-level artistic and technical training in the disciplines of Classical Ballet, Contemporary Dance (including Ohad Naharin's GaGa), Choreography, Repertoire, and Improvisation.

• Grades count toward an Elon GPA.
• Study abroad courses may not be taken on an audit or pass/fail basis, regardless of the host institution's policy.
• Additional information about course equivalents for this program is available on the Course Planning Registration for Study Abroad and Study USA page.
• View elective courses at RIS.

General Program Date

Fall semester – early September to early January

Spring semester – mid-January to mid-June

*The first weeks of the program include the intensive Hebrew Ulpan.

Cost

Costs for study abroad vary program to program and will not be exactly the same as on-campus costs of attendance at Elon.

For cost information for this program, please see the budget sheets:

• Fall Budget Sheet
• Spring Budget Sheet

Scholarships/Travel Grants

Need-based scholarships are available for Elon semester programs through the GEC.  For additional information on scholarships or other funding for study abroad, see the Funding for Study Abroad page.

There are several additional scholarship and financial aid opportunities for students planning to study in Israel.  Information about other scholarships can be found on these sponsoring organizations' websites:

MASA Israel Journey

University Scholarship Fund of the American Jewish League for Israel

If you qualify for a travel grant through any of the fellows or scholars programs, see the appropriate program director for more information on how to apply the grant to your study abroad program.  Visit the Deadlines and Events Calendar for travel grant deadlines.

Housing

DanceJerusalem students live in the Scopus Student Village, adjacent to the Hebrew University campus on Mount Scopus.  Each student is allotted a private air-conditioned bedroom in a suite with four other bedrooms as well as a living room, a kitchen, and bathroom facilities.  A high-speed internet connection and telephone landline are available for an additional fee.  Students must supply their own linens, blankets, pillows, dinnerware and cooking utensils, which can be purchased locally.  A supermarket and self-service laundry can be found in the Student Village.  Reasonably priced meals and snacks may be purchased on campus as well as in the nearby French Hill shopping center.

Additional Eligibility Notes

Open to dance majors and declared minors who have taken DAN 202 Somatic Theories II, DAN 214 Modern IV, DAN 216 Ballet IV, and DAN 231 Choreography I. 

A recorded audition of both solo and group dance performances on video or DVD will be required.  Details will be provided at the time of application. 

Applications

Students must complete the online Elon University study abroad application by the published deadline.  See the Deadline and Events Calendar for the most up-to-date deadline information.  Applications are generally accepted one semester in advance.

Initial approval is granted by Elon, and final acceptance is granted by JAMD and RIS.

All applicants for this program are required to review the US Department of State Travel Warning for Israel and sign a Travel Warning Acknowledgment.

Orientations

A successful semester abroad is dependent upon adequate preparation.  Students will participate in a series of mandatory orientations during the semester prior to studying abroad.  These orientations will address issues of academic, cultural, logistical, financial, and personal preparation, as well as health and safety.  Failure to participate in the required orientations will result in dismissal from the program.  Any financial losses incurred by this dismissal, including program fees and international airfare, are the student's full responsibility.

Click here for the semester programs pre-departure orientation schedule.

Additional Links and Information

Like the Global Education Center Facebook page.  You can connect with other prospective students and chat with alumni about the program!

Study Abroad Student Ambassadors (SASAs) are GEC student representatives who have participated in one or more study abroad programs, and have been trained to speak about their experiences. You can be in touch with current SASAs via email, or contact past study abroad participants who have attended your program. They are looking forward to hearing from you!