Admissions

<p>My daughter wants to major in modern dance, but what are her chances of being accepted into a program that requires an audition? At a school like U Michigan or Wisconsin, how many dancers audition and how many are accepted? Wwhat about NYU Tisch or Marymount Manhattan? Do they focus mainly on technique or is body type a main issue as well?</p>

<p>The audition-based programs are, of course, quite competitive. NYU Tisch has one of the most selective dance departments there is. Still, your daughter's chances might be excellent if she's an extremely strong dancer. Has she auditioned successfully for summer intensives or professional schools? That might give you some idea of where she fits in the scheme of things.</p>

<p>With a school as competitive as Tisch, and many other BFA college dance programs, the auditioners can afford to consider body type as well as technique. The top schools reflect the standards your daughter can expect to encounter in the professional dance world.</p>

<p>Does your daughter hope to become a professional dancer, or is she thinking about a career in teaching, arts administration, or some other dance-related field? I believe that Point Park University in Pittsburgh offers both a BFA in their performing track and a BA in Dance Pedagogy. Based on the experiences of my daughter's friends, strong modern dancers who are not necessarily in the very top echelon might find a good fit at Goucher College or Boston Conservatory.</p>

<p>Most colleges that offer a dance major have modern-focused programs, so you should have many to choose from :).</p>

<p>thanks so much for the insight! My daughter is a strong dancer but she does not have the right body (she's thin but has her curves) so she knows that Tisch is probably out of the running, but do you know anything about Michigan, Wisconsin, or Texas? I am aware that those are BFA programs that require an audition, but what are her chances if she is pretty strong technically and has trained with excellent teachers but does not have the perfect body?</p>

<p>and you mentioned BOCO-how competitive is that?</p>

<p>I was watching a documentary on Julliard dance students the other day and frankly, none of those girls were sticks. They were all muscular. I think for modern the athletic body type is getting more and more desirable. When I watch my D (who is stick skinny and no curves, very delicate looking) do modern I notice it does not pack the visual punch like it does with the more muscular girls. JMO but you may be selling your D short.</p>

<p>Has your D every auditioned for Jacob's Pillow? Getting in there would be a huge indicator that she is more than ready for auditioning into the big schools. </p>

<p>Also, check out U of Arts. A couple of alumni of my D's ballet school are studying dance (modern there) and although one is a small girl the other is actually a tall, muscular girl.</p>

<p>My daughter is a tall, muscular and curvy dancer - we are in the audition process right now and she has already been accepted to Oklahoma City Univ as a dance major.</p>

<p>She is a strong dancer who was also concerned about body type - but it has not been an issue as of yet - as a matter of fact she has gotten wonderful feedback at her auditions.</p>

<p>My advice is to have your daughter audition - she might be mildly surprised :)</p>