<p>In reading through the various threads (wow, what a wealth of info!) i think we have it right that the dance component of the auditions seems to vary with the school. Some schools don't even seem to have that piece at auditions, but do offer dance as part of the curriculum. Some schools have what sounds like very involved dance auditions! </p>
<p>Would folks say that ballet or jazz is emphasized more? Is tap necessary at all? I realize that there could be vastly different answers for different schools! We are happy to hear anything anyone would like to share!</p>
<p>From my D's experience auditioning last winter, I would say it's a combo of jazz and ballet. None of the schools at which my kid auditioned had a tap dance audition.</p>
<p>Tap is rare at the BFA MT auditions. None of my D's schools had that and none of my clients have had it yet. There could be a school out there that has it but it is in the minority. </p>
<p>That said, learning tap is a great thing to do to prepare for college and a career in MT, even if not at the admissions auditions. My own kid has been a lifelong tapper. </p>
<p>Most schools had jazz in their BFA auditions (if they had a dance audition). Some schools had both ballet and jazz. My D experienced it this way at 8 schools and I think this is a generality that could be stated. </p>
<p>That said, if you could only train in ONE discipline prior to college, ballet is likely the most important as it is the basic technique to most forms of dance. Ideally, however, the student has studied both ballet and jazz. Besides technique, it is good to be used to learning how to pick up a dance combination on the spot (at an audition) and this is common in a jazz dance class. </p>
<p>Taking it a step further (no pun intended), even more ideal is to study ballet, jazz, tap, and lyrical/modern and even a little hip hop (given contemporary theater today). </p>
<p>But as far as BFA auditions go, most have jazz and some have jazz and ballet. </p>
<p>You may want to read in the FAQ thread the page about dance programs within MT. It could offer additional thoughts for you.</p>
<p>I agree with the others that tap auditions were rare if they happened at all.</p>
<p>I think when my son auditioned, 3 years ago, he thought that Syracuse and Point Park had the most challenging dance auditions. He was admitted to both of those programs. At that time, Elon did not have a dance audition, but they started having one the very next year. I think Elon's dance audition is probably also pretty advanced and could be considered challenging.</p>
<p>My son is VERY happy with the dance training he is receiving within the MT program at Elon as well as with all areas of his MT training there.</p>
<p>Syracuse is known for having a big emphasis on dance. They will ask students who can tap for a demonstration, but don't have a tap combination. In this year's first audition, the dance was a ballet/jazz combo.</p>
<p>At UArts they have you present a 2 minute dance of your choice (at the Regional auditions, I don't know about the on campus auditions.) Tap wouldn't be recommended though since you dance on carpet.</p>
<p>At UArts, the on campus audition includes a group dance audition that is based on ballet and jazz. If you have dance experience, can move well and pick up combinations quickly, you should not have a problem. They are less interested in well developed classical ballet technique than they are in getting a sense that you can move and pick things up quickly, although based on the audition, a decision will be made of whether an accepted student is placed in more advanced dance classes or must take the first level classes in ballet and jazz. In the program, ballet is viewed as the core/base for all the other dance classes. Ballet and jazz are mandated classes each semester for the first 3 years with tap, partnering, ballroom thrown into the mix in various semesters. Students are also free to take additional dance classes that fit into their schedules.</p>
<p>mybroadwaybaby - Elon asked those who auditioned last year who knew how to tap and had them stay a little longer. </p>
<p>I would say that ballet and jazz are probably equally important, ballet for the technique, and jazz for the physical interpretation side of things, especially since the combinations that are taught tend to be from musicals (although last year at Elon they taught a Charleston piece!). </p>
<p>Before canceling the remainder of her auditions, D participated in dance auditions at Elon, Point Park, Marymount Manhattan, CMU and CCM. Since she has had quite a bit of training, she considered all these auditions to be very basic and even easy. I hope someone with less training will chime in to provide a more complete picture. </p>
<p>D did say that the combinations at most auditions were taught quickly (except for Marymount Manhattan's where apparently the steps were repeated again and again) and so it is important, especially for a beginning dancer, to take a deep breath, and focus on memorizing the steps (in other words, try to pick up most of not all the choreography relatively quickly). If you lack formal training, but are a comfortable 'mover', try to relax, do things to the best of your ability and, above all, have fun!</p>
<p>Thank you all for your responses! It sounds like keeping on in ballet and jazz is the way to go.........with perhaps some tap and a little hip hop thrown in too!</p>
<p>From what i am understanding, it sounds like the singing and acting portions of the auditions of most MT programs are emphasized the most. </p>
<p>It can really depend on the school. For example, in years past, Syracuse advised that to be accepted to the MT program a student had to score a 1 or 2 out of 5 in each of the acting, singing and dance portions of the audition and the dance portion could be challenging even for an experienced dancer. According to students currently at Syracuse, the department has now announced that they are toughening up the dance audition even more. It's best not to assume anything and ask each school specific questions about what they emphasize in their auditions.</p>
<p>I haven't heard anything about the audition at Hartt. I called today and asked about it, this is what they said " since we arent having a dance audition when we go on the road, the audition is really more for placement. BUT if there are two auditionees, and they are both equally talented in voice and acting, we will take the better dancer"</p>
<p>so that said, obviously it does matter, anyone know the difficulty of the audition? Ballet, musical theater combo??</p>
<p>As a general comment - for schools with dance auditions, I would recommend to bring both ballet and jazz (or character) shoes (the latter only if you have them), because at times the dance audition portion will consist of a ballet barre warm up, followed by a jazz combination. </p>
<p>Especially for those who are advanced dancers, this may be your "time to shine". I am not saying to go and invest in shoes you don't have, and my own D brought her tap shoes to every audition and hardly ever needed them, but it is better to be prepared, than not.</p>
<p>In regard to attire, she typically wore convertible tights (the kind that have prefab holes in the bottom), a leotard and fitted jazz shorts underneath a zip-up jacket, and long jazz pants, which she wore for warm ups. </p>
<p>A neat detail can be to match the color of your leotard to the color of your dress/top that you are wearing for your vocal & acting audition, not a must, but she liked it :D.</p>
<p>The color matching is an excellent tip. Another idea -- if you are a strong dancer and want to be noticed, wear a brightly colored leotard. It will stand out in the sea of black ones. My D went with both a red leotard and red dress, and received a number of favorable comments on her choice of colors.</p>
<p>One more tip- color coordinate your tights to match your shoes- it makes your line longer and less broken visually. If you have them pedinis work well instead of jazz shoes.</p>