<p>how hard is it to be selected into the dance program at uci?</p>
<p>uh, who dances here? lol btw, what Dance team are you coming from at high school? Because that would affect your chances.</p>
<p>I would characterize it as competitive but not insane. Historically, Dance majors have an acceptance rate 5-10% lower than the general rate for freshmen. But an audition is required (held at UCI during their Winter quarter for admission the following Fall)… so the challenge is to be academically qualified for a mid-tier UC AND be talented enough to pass a conservatory-type audition.</p>
<p>Any dance majors available to chime in?</p>
<p>I’m not a dance major, I’m drama. But I know that the dance major is competitive because they have a very great conservatory style program here. However, if you get in academically and not for the dance major, you might be able to transfer in the next year, but obviously there are not guarantees. And most of the dance classes are open to non-majors, but obviously the dance majors have different requirements and priorities.</p>
<p>As you know, it’s one of the best dance programs in the country, so it’s definitely competitive. Prospective dance majors audition for acceptance into the dance program at the end of January, before they are admitted to the university. (You need to meet all the academic requirements and apply to UCI in November.) </p>
<p>You audition in all three major disciplines: ballet (pointe is included, but not required), modern, and jazz, and you have to demonstrate technical accomplishment at least at intermediate level in one or more of these. You must also demonstrate creative promise to succeed in the major. The auditions are professional, fast-paced and challenging. Improv. is included. The floors are Marley type. </p>
<p>I think most entering freshmen do a summer intensive, because all new students audition again for placement during Welcome Week. It’s a separate audition for each major discipline, and as far as I know, they’re always on Tuesday.</p>
<p>Theaterluver’s right that you don’t have to be a dance major to take introductory technique classes , and you can take Level II (intermediate) classes with permission. (There’s even a Level II Jazz class for non-majors which isn’t as intense, i.e. you don’t necessarily need years of ballet.) Non-majors can also audition for the ensembles and productions. Advanced technique and partnering classes are majors only.</p>
<p>just a short question… Is there like a dance team at UCI?</p>
<p>yea, is there?</p>
<p>There are many different dance teams. Two of the biggest i would say is Kabba Modern (they were on America’s Best Dance crew) and MCIA.</p>
<p>I’m a dancer and I want to audition for UCI’s dance program. My academics aren’t the best, they aren’t awful, but just not as great as they could be. I have a 3.2GPA but I’m a really good dancer, not saying this to brag but I’ve been accepted to Juilliard, Ailey and Joffrey’s summer intensive and I dance with Billy Bell. Do you think if I was accepted into the dance program it would help me get into the school if my academics aren’t enough?</p>
<p>Wow, I accidentally ended up here and thought I should respond to this question because I wish I had known more a year ago.</p>
<p>If you are a really good dancer (accepted for a top SI is a good sign) applying as a dance major can often help you get into UCI (also UCSB, UCLA, or any school with an audition that fits your skills ). As a dance major, the hours spent training are seen as preparation for the major rather than just extracurricular. UCI has a good dance program and you can double major or change majors after you get in. My daughter is a highly trained ballerina (summers at ABT, SAB) with little exposure to other types of dance and academics a little below average for UCI. She auditioned for UCs this year and dance helped her get in universities school friends with better academics/SATs couldnt. About 270 dancers from all different backgrounds (prepro, hip hop, HS team, competition ) audition for UCI; they take about 90 and expect about 45 to come. Dancers must impress the faculty in at least one of 3 combinations (jazz, ballet, modern), and also be UCI eligible - standards somewhat tougher than just the UC minimum for grades and test scores, but they refused to be more clear. However, one dancer we know got in with a 2.98 UC GPA, probably an exception because she is amazing at all 3 types of dance. You might also dance your way right in. However, that dancer didnt get into UCSB, where the admissions folks told me that almost everyone who passes the audition is accepted, as long as they are UC eligible (about 50 out of 150 pass the audition). </p>
<p>If you are not amazing, but a pretty good dancer, auditions are still a good way to check out the campus. If you come out in the top half, it can still put you in ahead of other people with similar grades/test scores for UCI admission and you don’t know how you’ll be compared to the rest of the dancers - some with weak academics may not get in. It may help if you can do 2 or 3 types of dance. Remember that the UCI audition draws some of the top dancers in the state, but also people with little experience. They only see you for about 3 minutes total, so results are bound to be a little random. The whole college application process tends to be a little unpredictable. Auditions add extra cost, stress and difficulty to the admission process, but if you have the time and money to go, UCI lets you be considered for 2 majors. If you dont get in for dance, you will be considered for the other major. </p>
<p>For dancers without much dance training, it might be still worth going if you are in the area you might impress the jazz teacher with your energy, and you can find out about the school. As a backup, the admissions people recommend applying as an undeclared arts major (less popular, so more space), taking classes on campus for a year or two, and then auditioning as part of a petition to change majors. Most UCI dancers are pretty good, so youd want to get as much training as you can in the meantime. If you are hard worker, you might try a university dance program summer intensive or classes your junior year, so the faculty who conduct the audition get to know and hopefully like you. I’m not sure what UCI offers but many other schools (UCLA, Cal Arts, U of U, Indiana) have summer programs. Good luck!</p>
<p>Unless you are an amazing dancer – a likely pro with years of ballet training – don’t plan to just be a dance major at UCI. Even if your main interest is in modern or jazz, you have to audition in all three: ballet, modern and jazz for every performance. The top dancers get chosen, and in practical terms, that means you need advanced ballet, and the right body type to be selected. The department-sponsored performance ensembles are also audition only.</p>
<p>All the technique classes are excellent at UCI, and you don’t need to be a dance major to take technique classes up to Level II (high intermediate level). Although dance studios are time-consuming and can be hard to schedule around, there are so many options in classical ballet, modern, jazz, Spanish dance, social dance, tap, world dance forms, hip-hop, etc. that non-majors can take classes all through college. Dance majors are also required to take a dozen lecture/theory courses related to dance, so my advice is to major in something else if you just want to dance. Or plan to double major, if you love dance, but aren’t sure about being a pro.</p>