We were in a similar situation to yours and DS had decided at age 9 he wanted to go to BS. So, I finally relented when he was 11 (I could tell he meant it) and during the summer (we are from too far away to attend open houses and the like) we would visit campuses informally and gather as much information as we could. Many schools he was able to cross of his list just by the location, environment, set up of campus, etc. Several schools were huge surprises (like the one he is attending… 
). DS is over 2500 miles away, and from the packed schedule he has, I don’t know if 200 vs 2000 miles really makes a difference. I think if you find the school that is the right fit-- your DD will do well! Deerfield had a great dance program, if my memory serves me right (DS does not dance…so I’m not too well-versed in that area). Good Luck on your research! It is definitely not too early to start! Just remember to keep an open mind throughout the process-- my son’s current BS was really not on the radar – we just happened to drive by one day and stopped…He loved the campus, which made him research the school…Now, he is absolutely thriving in a place we never even thought we would apply to! CC can be overwhelming- just remember to take everything with a grain of salt. There are several people with different experiences and opinions. Used correctly, this forum is a wealth of knowledge. I wish I had stumbled upon it as early in the process as you have!
Good luck!