a few general questions about majoring in dance.

coleyXlove · 06-10-2009, 05:11 PM

okay, so...
I'm 16, a junior in high school, & I've been dancing since I was 5 years old.
However, I was never really serious about dancing until 3 or 4 years ago. Up until then I danced at a pretty bad dance studio, for only an hour each week.
Now I dance much more, 6 times a week, and I really love it.
I would LOVE to major in dance in college, probably more on the end of dance education, but I honestly don't think that, with so many amazing dancers out there, I would get into a dance program that required an audition. I'm not a bad dancer, but I'm definitely not the most amazing dancer & with such stiff competition...I don't know.

So basically, I was wondering if anyone knows of any schools that don't require an audition for admission into their dance major?
I know Columbia College, Barnard, Goucher (i think?), Skidmore (again, i think?), don't...but does anyone know of any others? Preferably in the NYC/Long Island/New Jersey area?

And also, does anyone know if the dance programs at these schools are actually decent? It seems like they are, but then again...if they don't require an audition they may not be...

Haha, this was really long & probably confusing but I'd really appreciate any feedback!

compmom · 06-11-2009, 07:00 AM

I don't know if Sarah Lawrence (just outside NYC in Bronxville) has auditions, but it would be worth checking into. Ditto with Bennington (Vt.).

lmaty · 06-12-2009, 10:28 AM

Try Hofstra or C.W.Post. I believe they have dance education classes and they are located on L.I.
Good luck.

PlattsburghLoser · 06-12-2009, 11:45 AM

I don't know if Fordham (NYC, Manhattan campus) requires auditions, but they're with Alvin Ailey company and have a good reputation. I don't know how hard it is to get accepted, as that girl from Taking the Stage was rejected.

keepingcalm · 06-12-2009, 02:17 PM

Ailey/Fordham program is difficult to get into. They do not take a large number of BFA students each year, although Ailey has other options. Jasmine from Taking the Stage was accepted into the Ailey portion but not acadmically accepted into Fordham. However I am guessing that if
Columbia College, Barnard, Goucher (i think?), Skidmore are in your academic range, then Fordham would be also.

dancerinpa · 06-23-2009, 08:05 PM

Try Muhlenberg in Allentown. I think you only have to audition if you want scholarships. I would not rule out auditioning. Try university of the arts in Philly. They have a dance education major. So does Drexel. I know they are trying to really ramp up their dance program. I think education is more their slant. Good Luck.

tucker92 · 06-25-2009, 02:55 PM

There are only two schools in New Jersey with B.F.A./B.A. programs in dance, Rutgers and Montclair State. Both stress modern dance, both require auditions. However, at Montclair you can switch to dance education after two years in the B.F.A. program, and I believe Rutgers is going to start offering a 5 year program by which, after you get your B.F.A., you stay another year and get your master's degree in dance education.

*KatMT* · 07-19-2009, 08:27 PM

I teach in the musical theatre and theatre area of the school of Theatre & Dance at James Madison University. We are located in Harrisonburg, VA.... but have a number of students from the NY/ NJ/ CT area, and are only about 5.5 - 6 hours from NYC.

The Dance concentration at JMU offers a BA with an option of pursuing a teacher licensure in k-12 dance education: 2009-2010 Undergraduate Catalog

An audition is required to declare the dance major: Dance Admission - James Madison University School of Theatre and Dance, Harrisonburg, Virginia

Hasmom99 · 08-10-2009, 10:02 PM

KatMT,
We are taking my DD to see James Madision in a few weeks, when it is back in session. She wants to take dance as a secondary major or a minor. Is there a way to arrange for her to meet a teacher and/or a student in the dance department and possibly even observe a class? TIA.

irvinemom · 08-19-2009, 12:21 PM

Columbia, Barnard, Goucher, Skidmore and Sarah Lawrence all offer very good dance/ballet/modern classes. BUT...these are highly selective schools, academic-wise, so be sure your academic profile is within the range published on the schools' website. Your dance background might give you an edge, but you have to back it up with very good test scores (esp. at Barnard and Columbia; SL is test-optional), very well-written essays and a rigorous academic load all 4 years.

(We noticed this past year that Goucher has gotten alot more popular with record applications rec'ved according to their admission office. Also, Goucher now requires an audition to enter their performance-based degree program, but all students are welcome to take their ballet & modern classes, after taking a placement class.)

Good luck!

c-otwa · 09-30-2009, 07:16 AM

what do people do in dance major?? dancing all day long and go to night club for some more at night??

compmom · 09-30-2009, 02:00 PM

I think the original reference is to Columbia College in Chicago, which has virtually open admissions, and a BFA dance program.

To the last poster, studying dance techniques, choreography, dance anatomy, music for dancers, dance history, are all a lot of serious hard work, not to mention learning repertory for performance. It requires a lot of commitment and dedication.