Dance or Theatre major?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Barnard College
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<p>Alright, so I know I haven’t even gotten into Barnard or anything, but I just can’t stop thinking about this. </p>

<p>I’ve been dancing since I was four years old, and it’s always been my passion, but I’m starting to realize that I probably won’t make it successfully as a professional dancer. I want to major in Dance, but I’ve always had a Theatre background and I’ve been very involved in choir and voice lessons as well, and I always had the dream to perform on Broadway, even though I wanted dance to be my main career. </p>

<p>But I know the performing arts industry is competitive, so I wanted to double major in Human Rights Studies at Barnard because I’ve always been very involved with social justice in high school, and I would love to be involved in that career wise if I didn’t make it, or even on the side if I did make it as a professional dancer or performer.</p>

<p>SO. Here’s my dilemma. I’ve always had the idea of majoring in Dance & Human Rights Studies at Barnard, and I know I can be in the choir even though I wouldn’t be a Music major, so I thought I would minor in Theatre, until I found out they don’t offer Theatre as a minor. BUT they offer Dance as a minor.</p>

<p>So… I’m not sure what to do. I know it’s way too early, but this might affect some stuff I will write about in my applications, so I want to figure it out now. Should I stick to my original plan, and just be involved with other drama extra curricular activities on campus, or major in Theatre and Human Rights Studies and minor in Dance? For me, the only problem is that it would feel extremely bizarre, because I’ve always been striving to major in dance, and while I know I want to dance for the rest of my life, I’m wondering if focusing in Theatre in college will make me more versatile later in life.</p>

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<p>Really declared double-majors and minors are not all that critical to the attainment of specific goals, in the long-run, except as indicators of what courses you elected to take at Barnard. </p>

<p>Using my D as an example (probably the only one I am “qualified” to use! ):</p>

<p>She came into Barnard wanting to be a musical theater performer, but knowing she wanted to have a challenging “academic” college experience during college and explore other areas of interest. In fact, the summer before she started Barnard she was cast in a professional show (a 6-week job; two cities) and was offered other opportunities that would have meant postponing college, which she chose not to do.</p>

<p>While she was at Barnrad, she took dance classes every semester, participated in the student dance group “Orchesis” as a dancer and as a choreographer, danced in auditioned pieces presented by guest choreographers, and also took several “academic” dance classes. I think she was one, or maybe two “academic” classes short of double majoring in dance. She also auditioned for Broadway shows including Wicked, The Producers, A Chorus Line, and the Rockettes, and she auditioned for a regional theatre company’s production of Crazy for You which resulted in a summer job after her first year. She took those auditions with the attitude of absolutely not caring about the outcome, but loving the experience of getting to dance with some incredible people. She also took class in the City at Broadway Dance Center and at STEPS when she had the time.</p>

<p>She had the notion of majoring in English with the idea of eventually teaching when she entered Barnard, thinking that would fit in well with a dance/musical theatre career. But Barnard has a way of exploding pre-conceived ideas! The major she fell in LOVE with during her very first semester there was Neuroscience! So her degree from Barnard is in Neuroscience with concentrations in BOTH cellular and behavioral areas. She is currently working on her PhD in neuroscience and still takes dance classes. </p>

<p>So my advice would be not so much to try to “figure it out now”, as you said, but to align yourself to be able to take full advantage of all the fabulous opportunities Barnard has to offer to young women such as yourself who have such diverse talents and interests. Study hard and do well in school and in your dance, and don’t worry so much about “declared” majors or minors. Figure out how best to present yourself to Barnard as someone who will be able to fully take advantage of all they have to offer, and who will add to the excitement and diversity of the student body.</p>

<p>Hope that helps some. Sorry it’s so long! Best to you!</p>

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<p>@churchmusicmom Thank you so much. :slight_smile: That response really means a lot, and calmed me down a bit.</p>