What they said last year (which I think was the 1st year they dropped dance) was that they had never accepted or not accepted a student based on dance- and cutting it allowed them to see far more kids
I don’t know if this still happens, but I was behind the table at a professional audition once where girls were getting cut because their stage movement was “too dancery”. I do know, though, that there really is still a market for female singer/actors who move and also that many professional shows seeking female dancers look to ballet companies for talent rather than to MT grads.
It’s great to be as well-rounded as possible, but agree that by middle school non-dancing girls are generally 6 years behind their dancing peers, and even among those who start dancing by age 4 many body types “need not apply” for serious dance positions.
All of this said, I think the advice in this thread is spot on!
S is a hs senior who has gotten regional/professional roles for 3 summers in a row. If he hadn’t been able to dance I am sure he would not have been cast. He is a good singer, but theaters always need to fill out ensemble roles with guys who can dance. So I echo the advice given above - take dance classes early and often!
An example of this is apparent in today’s Tony nominees, where 3/9 of the contenders for best MT Actor/Actress studied at Ballet versus MT schools (Royal Ballet School, School of American Ballet and Ballet West Conservatory).
D and I just had a discussion about this thread today. We found her a summer dance intensive at a reputable studio. She’s planning on forgoing a summer community theater show to do the dance intensive instead. I guess we’ll know in 3 years if this is a good decision (D is just finishing freshman year of HS)
Thank you all for your input on this topic. Very helpful!
@Cornycollins18 - I think it sounds like a fine decision and hope she has a great summer. The ability to focus on skills versus doing shows is a great luxury, and one they may not always be able to enjoy!
Over the course of three summers (8th - 12th grade), S did ballet intensives rather than perform in shows. They are called “intensives” for a reason (but S also had a blast) and his work ethic comes more from his dance experience than from what he saw going on around him in various theater settings. The growth he attained in such a concentrated period was tremendous. His dance skills have allowed him to get ensemble and swing positions in main stage musicals as a freshman, and probably heavily contributed to him being hired to do ensemble work in summer stock after his freshman year. Yes, it’s different for boys, And not everyone “aspires” to be in the chorus(line), but it’s a foot in the door.
Double pirouettes in character shoes; if you can’t do them, that’s the initial cut.