<p>I want a BFA in MT but at a college with little emphsis on dance ( thats my weak point) and also requring a liberal arts curriculm. I think University of Michigan Ann Arbor does the liberal arts thing along with their BFA curriclm . Any others? Also I want to get out of NY for college so Im not intersted in NYU or SUNY Syracuse.</p>
<p>in Indianapolis IN</p>
<p>DefGrav,</p>
<p>UMich does allow some liberal arts but it also has a very strong dance component, with tap, ballet and broadway "styles" dance classes a significant and important part of the MT curriculum.</p>
<p>May I respectfully suggest that instead of avoiding your self described "weak point" that you look for ways to strengthen your dance, starting now, before you go to college (preferably beginning with ballet)? It is said that the mark of a true professional is that they work hardest on what they CAN'T do, not on what they can. I can also tell you that of the UM MT students who were hired to do stock last summer, the VAST majority were singer/dancer/actors as opposed to just singer/actors. While there are definitely MT programs that do not emphsize or even have a dance component as part of their audition, I think there is a dance component in every reputable college MT program.</p>
<p>DG:
You already got good advice from Theatermom and I will chime in just cause sometimes it helps if you get the same "message" from a few people. </p>
<p>First, the amount/dose of liberal arts in a BFA program differs from school to school. You really should investigate each school's curriculum and see which one has enough of a liberal arts component for your taste. For instance, NYU, UMich, Syracuse, Penn State, Emerson have more than maybe CMU or BOCO. By the way, Syracuse is not a SUNY school and while it is in NY STATE, it is not near NYC so it is still "away" for you. Penn State has a significant liberal arts and Gen Ed requirement. </p>
<p>Second, every BFA in MT program will have dance as a component of the training so you won't be avoiding it anywhere. I agree with Theatermom that you should not think in terms of selecting a program around your strengths and de-emphasizes your weaker areas. If anything, it is good to build on your strengths but to go to school to enhance where you are weaker. An example.....my D had to sing for her new voice teacher the first day of voice class and she decided to sing Brother Can You Spare a Dime (this was NOT one of the songs she sang on the first day of CAP for their "audition"....did an upbeat belty song and a legit ballad for that, nor one of the songs she had sung at admissions auditions, but simply a song she had performed before and this was not an audition but the teacher just wanted to hear something). So, he compliments her but adds, "that will be the last time you belt this year" which was not surprising because she heard that they don't want you to belt in freshman year and they just work on legit this year. Now, she sings legit too but her forte is the belt voice and rather than be sad that they don't work on her strongest suit, she thinks it is good that she'll be working on the area she wants to strengthen (her soprano), rather than stick with what she is best at (her belt). So, same with dance....if this is your weaker area, the training will be best if it addresses that area because to do MT, you really need all three skills....acting, voice, and dance. I also agree, as an aside, with Theatermom that ideally you need to start to take some ballet classes at the least now prior to auditioning so you have some basic technique. </p>
<p>I think one way to frame this is rather than say you want a program that is not heavy in dance (as they ALL have dance) is to perhaps lean toward programs that do not require dance as part of the AUDITION. That I could see. For instance, Ithaca and Tisch do not require you to dance at the audition. Last year, BOCO did not either (though I believe that changed this year). So, there are a couple that are like that. It is ok to be weak in one of the three areas as long as they see potential in the weaker area (like if you are comfortable moving with your body and can perform, it'll be advantageous). You have to sing well, that can't be weak. But sometimes if you are a terrific singer and actor, but a bit weak in dance, you might still get in. But why not hedge your bets and help yourself (let alone help prepare for a musical theater life) by starting some dance now. </p>
<p>Some schools might have less dance than others...like Ithaca and CMU are a bit like that but they all have it. At Tisch, even as a freshmen, they have tap, ballet AND jazz. Many programs do. Take a look at Ithaca and Penn State (though the latter is not weak in dance). They might be good options for you though I don't know enough about you. I also think Emerson is worth a look by you. Their dance audition was the easiest and most basic of any my D did. She said that ANYONE could do it and have no dance training, that was how easy it was. But be aware that at many schools, you'd have been in much better shape to have at least had a year of dance and comfort in order to do the dance audition which often included both ballet and jazz. For instance, besides the technique, they also teach a combination and if you are not used to having to pick that sort of thing up quickly, you'd be at a loss. </p>
<p>Those are my thoughts.
Susan</p>
<p>Several thoughts - </p>
<p>Butler is mentioned above. We have not checked into it, but a girl we know from here graduated in dance performance from Butler. She told us that their theatre department does no musicals, only straight theatre. You would want to double check whether MT is offered there, based on hazmat's posting.</p>
<p>Ideas for you besides what is mentioned by our two best advisors above - consider doing BA theatre at IU and adding courses you like (they are more liberal arts focused); consider Texas Chirstian University BFA theatre with an emphasis in MT which also seems more liberal arts focused; look at OCU for MT - even though the college has a separate very excellent dance program and the MT's take dance with them, I'm not sure the MT's take quite as much dance as in some programs, and it is a liberal arts education.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone! Im actually very intersted in OCU. The only thing I would not consider is the Christian University as im jewish.</p>
<p>I wouldn't necessarily let the fact that a college says "Christian" in its name scare you off. I don't know about TCU, but there are MANY schools that once were closely connected with various denominations, where religion no longer has any real significance.</p>
<p>From having graduated from TCU myself, I can tell you that they are very diverse and accepting of everyone. I asked this very question to a current student last school year who told me that the previous year's student body president at TCU was Jewish.</p>
<p>Also, Oklahoma City University is affiliated with my denomination, the United Methodist Church. I can assure you that this church and the Disciples of Christ (Christian) Church, with which TCU is affiliated, are similar in opening their arms to everyone. You would not find the religion at either place to be a problem. One of our favorite Jewish friends loves OCU.</p>
<p>One of the reasons I'm not applying to OCU is that they don't have a hillel and the nearest temple is a half hour away. Which kills me because I love the program there, I also don't think I could spend four years in oklahoma lol. It's even hard for me to leave new york.</p>
<p>See I need to get out of ny haha. Im considering Michigan,OCU,Otterbin,oberlin,elon, my brain is blanking. my mother thinks its stupid of me to go into musical theater becuase she says its not a good job and wont make lots of money and I will be working at Olive Garden my whole life. She basiclly against it and she just doesn't support me. I dont think she would be to happy to travel to auditions. Thankfully I can prolly attend the unifieds right here in nyc.</p>
<p>Butler is one of the schools my S is considering (theater, not MT). According to their website they offer only a BA (no BFA) and the four plays in their line-up are from one playwrite (no musicals). It looks to be a program grounding in a liberal arts perspective.</p>
<p>DefyingGravity--Obtaining a liberal arts education is always a good move, but I think most of the schools offer this. It's only the real conservatories (BoCo comes to mind) that don't require GE courses which result in a liberal arts education. Some schools require more credits than others, and I believe the actual number of units required has been published on this forum before. Surprisingly, it is Cal State Fullerton that requires more than most of the other schools. A lot of MT students are able to waive these courses, though, because of AP courses they took in high school. Personally, I do not think this is a substitute because studying Oedipus Rex at 16 is different from studying it at 20. (Before anyone gets upset at this, let me add that I totally understand not wanting to take academic courses when studying for an MT degree, but I believe people are being misled that AP = college course). Nevertheless, YOU are asking for liberal arts courses, so you must see the value of the academics or are trying to compromise with parents. The bottom line is that I think you will find a ton of MT programs that also offer a liberal arts education.</p>
<p>The request for a program without much dance, though, is something I want to respond to as a mom. If you were my daughter, I would counsel you that to present the best possible package to the colleges, you want to be versatile and as "able" as possible in every aspect of MT. Rather than shying away from dance, it would be a good idea to really start to focus on dance. That doesn't mean just take a class once a week (but that class must be ballet, unless you can afford to take jazz also--tap comes in 3rd because it can learned as an adult). It means PRACTICING every day at home. Find something that can function as a barre and clear a little space for yourself and do some ballet barre work every day before school or after school. It means taking an interest in dance--watch dance performances, try to involve yourself at school with dance in some way (larger high schools often have several groups that perform choreography, whether with poms, flags, stompers, whatever). </p>
<p>I have known quite a few kids over the years who are super enthused over MT and generally talented at one or more aspects of MT. The ones I see who are succeeding or coming close to succeeding are the ones that go after the training and learning experiences like pit bulls with raw meat. The majority of them do not do this, though, because they start to focus on their strength and the accolades they get from it, ignoring their weaknesses. I'm NOT saying that you are doing this, just that I've seen this many times and it's so sad to see the talent slip away from these individuals because they did not go after their goals with enough dogged determination and capacity for hard work.</p>
<p>Columbia College Chicago doesn't require a large amount of dance.</p>
<p>I just want to give props tp Theatermom - she's right - you have to embrace what is challanging to you. Mich, OCU, Otterbin, Elon are all good schools - but part of the reason they are good is that they will not allow you to slack on dance. MT is a triple threat world.</p>