<p>I was not a dancer by any means when I auditioned for college programs. I had some technical training, but it was never what I excelled at, despite the 4 or even 5 years of classes I did take. And, to face the facts, I’m 5’1- when I stand up extremely straight. As an actress/singer first, is it important that I can kick my face and turn for days? No. But is it important that in my 4 years of training I develop the ability to pick up choreography quickly, know what my strengths are, perfect the technique that I do possess, AND shock some people behind the table with what abilities I DO have beyond being a “mover”? Yes! </p>
<p>I’ll probably never attend a dance call unless asked to (I’m CERTAINLY doing ECC’s for Singers, not dancers), but when I do go into that dance call, I won’t freak out. You may be right that your D will never ‘catch up’, but what dance classes in an intense musical theatre program will teach you is how to own what you do have. Whether that’s 18 years of ballet or 4, people should look for a program that will challenge her to improve upon who she is- as an actress, singer, and even dancer. Get into the actor who moves call and nail it. She’s an actress, so she should just go into college auditions thinking that she can even shine more than someone with years and years of technique because she can dance from the inside out!</p>