<p>I want to pursue a degree in musical theatre but also want to one day become a choreographer. I started show choir this year and I really love to dance! Next semester I'm planning to take dance lessons, probably will be taking a ballet class to start off with. I'm an ohio resident and I was wondering if anyone knows of any colleges where I could major in musical theatre and possibly double major or minor in dance or possibly a major in choreography? I'm a junior this year, (I know I'm starting really late on dancing and musical theatre) it's just dancing and musical theatre have changed my life over this past year and I really want to pursue a career in both</p>
<p>I believe Otterbein has an MT program with a dance concentration.</p>
<p>What year are you now? How much dance experience do you have? To be a dance major at most schools you will need to have a pretty heavy dance background. Start ballet ASAP if dance is something you want to pursue at a higher level. You might check out Northern Kentucky University (in-state tuition for some parts of Ohio). They have both dance and MT - with some flexibility to do both, I believe. Also Wright State in Dayton, OH. Their dance majors can be in musical theatre productions and also take acting and voice classes for dancers. S is MT BFA at WSU and has significant past dance experience. It would take extra time to get double major (true at most BFA programs) if you are BFA MT or Acting, but if you get some of the lower level Gen Ed requirements out of the way as AP, PSEOP, or in summer school, your junior/senior college years might have some flexibility for additional dance and choreography. Otterbein, Oberlin and Kent State might be some other Ohio options that MAY have flexibility (Otterbein definitely offers MT BFA with dance concentration. @MTMajorCook’s S is a freshman there now). Indiana University encourages double majors and minors/certificates - but again, you would have to be highly motivated and focused to get it all done in a reasonable timeframe. Don’t know much about Eastern Michigan’s program, but they offer in-state tuition to Ohio residents. Be aware that choreography can be something you do as a masters degree as well.</p>
<p>I am a junior and the only dance experience I have is from 3 years of marching band and just this year from show choir. Thanks for all the schools listed above!!!</p>
<p>Take a look at Muhlenberg! It’s in Pennsylvania, so not too far of an out of state college for you, I’d think. They have a dance choreography major and LOTS of flexibility in their theatre and dance program, so double majoring or double minoring wouldn’t be hard at all. They don’t have a defined musical theatre major, but the way the program is set up allows you to piece together a combination of majors and minors to get the same training.
Here are some links:
<a href=“http://www.muhlenberg.edu/main/academics/theatre-dance/curriculum/musicaltheatre.html”>http://www.muhlenberg.edu/main/academics/theatre-dance/curriculum/musicaltheatre.html</a>
<a href=“http://muhlenberg.edu/main/academics/theatre-dance/curriculum/choreography.html”>http://muhlenberg.edu/main/academics/theatre-dance/curriculum/choreography.html</a></p>
<p>In Ohio, you might consider Ohio Northern. I think they have a good MT program and you may be able to minor in dance. Otterbein has an MT degree with a dance concentration but its highly selective (only taking a few students each year). Baldwin Wallace, another difficult school to get in for MT, has ballet boot camp for its MTs where I think they take dance early every morning at least their first year. CCM is great too but also very difficult to get in. I don’t know about dance at Wright State but they also have a good MT program. So you have lots of options just in Ohio. Other schools in Ohio with great theatre but not sure about MT or dance are Kenyon and Wooster.
You might look at the Ann Lacy School of Dance at Oklahoma City University. I think it offers the training you want. However, I think you probably need more dance training than what youve mentioned to be admitted. But you can look into it and see what you think. They do learn to choreograph. And they have a variety of dance specific degrees you can pursue. Dance majors do take voice and acting also.
Another option might be Muhlenberg. You can get great MT training there including dance in a liberal art setting.</p>
<p>@AlwaysTheStage - if you happen to live in Cincinnati area, PM me and I can address specific dance/acting training you might find here. THE Ohio State has dance with a modern focus, perhaps choreography. They do not have a specific MT program, but they have theater BA which might get you what you want. Ohio Wesleyan offers Dance Theatre degree. If none of the colleges suggested on this thread work out for you, do not give up hope. There are also many schools that offer student-led dance and theatre opportunities. And many universities open up their main stage auditions to ALL students, no matter what their major (IU is one such school). Many professionals in both dance and theatre got their first taste (bite of the bug?) for the stage under just such circumstances. There are many paths to the limelight.</p>
<p>So glad you mentioned Ohio Wesleyan @mom4bwayboy. We have a friend whose daughter is a freshman there and loves it. </p>
<p>I know you said that you wanted to be an MT, but at Otterbein you can also pursue a BA and minor in MT. I know kids at Otterbein working towards a BA in Theatre that are minoring in dance. I believe one could have any major, and still be a dance minor (excluding the BFA track unless admitted via audition). An audition is required for dance minors. Maybe this will help: <a href=“http://www.otterbein.edu/public/Academics/Departments/TheatreDance/MajorsMinor/danceminor.aspx”>http://www.otterbein.edu/public/Academics/Departments/TheatreDance/MajorsMinor/danceminor.aspx</a></p>
<p>CCPA/Roosevelt in Chicago has a BFA Musical Theatre Dance emphasis degree.</p>
<p>You might want to look at Dancemagazine dot com and order the College Guide, which has overviews of 615 college and university dance programs. If you find schools that look interesting to you, you can go to their websites and see if they offer MT degrees (or alternatively you can just look at the websites for the list of MT schools at the top of the MT board and see what their dance programs look like). Either way I think you will want to do a lot of research into schools to see who offers what. As mom4bwayboy states above, though, you need to realize that many of the college dance programs are just as competitive to get into as the college MT programs. Most of the girls my S knows who are interested in majoring in dance in college have been dancing since they were 3 and already have a very high level of proficiency. You might want to focus more on non-audition dance programs where starting from the beginning will be possible. Or you can look for MT schools that place a strong emphasis on dance but don’t require years of previous training. Good luck!</p>
<p>@AlwaysTheStage - Wayne State in Michigan has a very good acting program, dance program and tech program(you mentioned in another thread you were interested in that as well) They don’t have a MT degree but there has been a lot of talk that this is going to happen in the next year. They do have a very good vocal department as well so you definitely could put together a lot of your interests-regardless of actually doing the MT degree.</p>
<p>Double majoring with BFA MT has to be darn near impossible schedule wise, (somebody will jump in here and prove me wrong LOL) add a production on top of it and I can’t even imagine how anyone could pull it off. My S is a MT major at Otterbein with a dance concentration. They take 2 MTDs per year, 2 male 2 female (although this year there is only 1 female I’m unsure why). The dance training he is receiving is stellar, he’s thrilled with it and very challenged. S was a fairly advanced dancer on his way in and he said the audition was the hardest of any others he had. I don’t know much of the other Ohio schools but you’ve received good advice here. Get your butt to ballet! :)) If you can attend a summer program this year, there are many good ones in Ohio. My S attended PPU dance intensive one summer and CCMs MT intensive the summer after that. Good luck!!!</p>
<p>If your interest in choreography would be primarily musical theatre, I would say many (most) theatrical choreographers I know came up through the ranks of being in shows. Some schools’ MT programs are friendlier with their dance departments than others - I think if you look for an MT school with a strong dance program, look at whether there is a choreography class offered to MT majors, or to dance majors that you may be allowed into, and look at opportunities for doing student-choreographed pieces in dance recitals or other performance opportunities, it may be easier to get the background than attempting a double major.</p>
<p>Wait, slow down, ATS. You have never taken a dance class and want to be a choreographer? I understand that you love show choir, but I would take this one step at a time. If you want to do dance/MT you are already getting a late start. Right now research your butt off to find out what you need to do to get accepted into an MT program. And yes, start taking ballet. But once you get into an MT program (if you are lucky enough to), you will be dancing! Work hard, get good. Are you a boy? All the better. But if you’ve never danced, you will still be playing catch up. Not that it’s not possible, but it will require lots of classes and lots of practice to be a competitive dancer. Choreograph pieces if you get the chance, volunteer to choreograph student productions, and if you still feel that this is where your talents/interests lie, then up the number of dance classes you take as much as you can. But know that you are getting a late start to compete with experienced dancers for any dance major/minor that requires an audition. The good news is that in most cities, dance classes are plentiful and it is not hard to continue your training even after college. Good luck!</p>
<p>I second what Calliene said. Choreography/Dance - especially if you are a female - is a skill that takes YEARS to hone. </p>
<p>Most choreographers I work with have HUGE backgrounds in dance. If you major in MT try and serve as an Asst. Choreographer or Dance Captain. </p>
<p>Thanks everyone for the suggestions and comments, and yes I am a boy.</p>
Adding to the advice here. Take lots of dance and rack up some experience. If you choose to audition for BFA Dance programs, you will need to be very competitive against very talented dancers, some of whom have been dancing since they were toddlers. But you may still be able to study dance in a variety of settings, from community colleges to your local State Univeristy campus, and still earn a degree in dance. There is no reason to give up on your dream of being a choreographer now – just put in the hard work and build your skills. Best of luck!