Any experiences or tips to get into the ballet programs here? Prefer one vs the other? Jobs for alums?
IU Jacobs School is an elite classical ballet program. Butler ballet program is somewhat less competitive admissions but still excellent. IU sends graduates to professional programs around the country, as does Butler. Have you looked at the forum for dance majors?
Yes- I’m concerned that based on D experience and the admission rates, we may need a less selective school than some on the “top ten” lists.
IU also likes to take their students, from trainee programs, like Pacific Northwest. They are a heavy Balanchine program. My DD sis an intensive with them a few years ago, and the biographies on their ballet dancers were super impressive.
Dancers graduating from Bachelor programs, can dance professionally, but ballet, especially, many only get accepted to trainee programs, where you still pay tuition. Teaching dance is also possibility, but unless you own your own dance school, it is hard to make a living wage. MFAs tend to teach, in college programs and above. Choreography is another option. To be completely honest. My DD dance for a prepro company and we have sent many many to college for ballet. All graduated, and taught or dance in trainee programs, leaving ballet behind for second degrees after a few years. The most successful alumni, went straight into trainee programs, and skipped college. We do have a college graduate working within a company, in an assistant role to an artistic director. My DD did not apply to Butler because of the experience of her friends who graduated there. She did not get into IU, since she is tall and not trained in Balanchine. We expected that. She does have many other opportunities, in both ballet and dance programs. Dance programs with better reputations are difficult to get into, you have have the same ballet students apply to Butler, Oklahoma, Utah and Indiana. Outside of those 4, there are other very good programs, easier to get into.
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My daughter was just accepted to the BFA at Butler but due to Covid we’re not able to see it yet. What were the experiences your daughter heard about? Thank you!