<p>I believe Montclair State University also offers a MT BFA with an emphasis on dance. Their dance department is also very strong.</p>
<p>MTaussie - It is always nice to hear from another parent of a young man who wants to pursue dance and MT. Since we are beginning to do our college visits this year, we will check to see if we can coordinate some of the shows along with the campus tours.</p>
<p>MTaussie - Thanks for the update on Otterbein's dance program. It sounds like it was a great choice for your S. It also sounds like dance may be the strongest of the 3 MT areas. How are the acting and voice parts of the program?</p>
<p>MTaussie - tried to PM you, but seems your box is full.</p>
<p>kardan - sorry about the full mail box. I've emptied it out if you want to try again.
CA-MOM I can only speak from my experience seeing the musicals (haven't seen any plays) but I have to say I've been very impressed by both the singing and acting at Otterbein. My S loves his voice teacher and she has really opened up his sound in the time he's been there. My husband actually teaches voice and he is extremely pleased with the training S is receiving at Otterbein. I wouldn't say that dance is the strongest of the 3 areas. Only 2 of the 10 sophomores are MTD's. In fact, I think that acting is their strongest area and the area that receives the most amount of class time per week. I really think that acting "drives" the program. From my observations of the freshman MT workshop there seems to be quite an emphasis on acting while singing, very similar to what I hear discussed in regard to other schools. The sophomores do an in-house acting showcase that I'll see later this year so it will be fun to see them "act" outside of the context of a musical. FYI there are a few MT's in Otterbein's current play "Caucasian Chalk Circle". Wish we could see it but child #2, a daughter, is in the middle of auditions - yes, she wants MT also, so we haven't a free week-end to see the show.</p>
<p>Yay for MTaussie! I knew you would jump in :D, we needed you last week too when there was quite an active conversation regarding what young men should wear to their auditions, and I kept insisting on something jazz pants or something fitting rather than sweats :). Having a D though I could not really speak out of "mom experience", although I pulled my dance company experience into the picture.</p>
<p>I do not know this for sure, but I have the impressions that UNH BA Musical Theatre has a good dance program. Might be worth looking at.</p>
<p>University of the Arts has a very strong and accomplished dance program. BFA's are offered in ballet, modern and jazz. In addition, there is a minor in musical theater that may be available to dance majors.</p>
<p>For musical theater majors, the dance program is very well rounded and complete, offering multiple levels of ballet, modern, jazz and tap as well as partnering and several dance styles outside of the more traditional ones. MT majors take 2 - 3 types of dance each semester.</p>
<p>In addition, Philadelphia is the home of many highly regarded professional dance companies ranging from the Pennsylvania Ballet to Philadanco (modern) to many smaller experimental and innovative companies.</p>
<p>Thanks for the nice "welcome back" MTgrlsmom. I'm here again. Been out of the picture for quite a while but we are doing this "MT" thing again with child #2 . Our D. is actually with her Dad in NC as I write. She has her audition at Elon tomorrow. I did eventually catch up with the discussion on what guys auditioning for MT should wear - thanks for stepping up and suggesting jazz pants or something similar. I believe that it can't hurt a person's chances of giving a good impression at an audition if they dress professionally.</p>
<p>Our program juries are held once each year, in May, for admission to the BFA/jr. level of performance coursework (you can read more about this on the Fullerton thread). The entire junior year of "musical theatre" class is focused on dance - we bring in professional choreographers to do mock auditions and give brutally honest feedback (they have offered our students work straight out of school); prestigious performers from Broadway or National Tours to teach the original choreography from the show; and students research video productions of dance to recreate independently. Students also work on a variety of partnering, including lifts. All these "lessons learned" are put together, then they add in various costumes and hair styles and full production values, and you have the junior Musical Theatre Showcase (one at the end of the fall, and one at the end of the spring). The Showcase is free, and it is really thrilling to see the work that these kids do.</p>
<p>So you may want to investigate Fullerton.</p>
<p>Best wishes :)</p>
<p>eve</p>
<p>Oooooh, I forgot that this year they received a grant to attend Hollywood Aerial Arts for a session in scarfs (or silks, or what DO they call them - like Circque du Soleil, hanging from fabric). They video taped their intensive, and edited together clips with a soundtrack backup, and they included that in their spring Showcase. Pretty remarkable.</p>
<p>I realize this comment is based on anecdotal evidence, but with regard to Florida State, when we saw the revival of A Chorus Line on Broadway recently, several of the dancers had attended FSU, including the girl who stole the show the night we saw it. I wasn't familiar with their program, but my daughter, an avid dancer, seemed to know they are renowned for the dance component of their MT program. Also, I concur with the comments on OCU. My D attended their summer program last year and they had dance faculty from their dance department teach. MT students take with dance majors---probably one of the many reasons so many OCU MT grads actually get work. The brand new $38 million Bass School of Music facility is pretty incredible as well!</p>
<p>I've heard from many people that Point Park ranks up there with Juilliard.</p>
<p>and from what I've seen, its true.</p>