<p>D is torn between applying to major in dance or theatre. She wants to double major in either/or both dance and theatre, or dance and business, or theatre in business. She wants a BA and not a BFA unless the BFA is at school that allows double majors/minors. She knows she may need to take 5 years instead of 4 to do this and that is ok. She wants a full University experience and not a LAC or conservatory situation. It seems most of the schools even the non audition ones require her to pick either dance or theatre and not both to apply. She is good at both though maybe slightly better at acting and not exceptional at either (though I'm not the best judge).She needs more training and because she does both as well as some pretty extensive leadership ECs on top of very rigerous academics she progresses in small steps, though she progresses. She came to dance late but loves it and has atteneded some major summer intensives. She would like to do some performance work when she graduates but in the long run. would like to direct, choereograph and produce. She has a real gift for directing and amazing organizational managment schools. So, back to my original question, how does she decide which to apply for and how do I help her make the decision?
Thank you.</p>
<p>Not sure where you are located but have you looked at Hope College in Michigan? Many schools you can major in theatre and minor in dance so if adding an extra year is not a problem for you and a BA is also an option, I don’t see why you wouldn’t be able to find a school to major in both. Have you checked Ball State?</p>
<p>If she truly wants to do both, research the BA theatre schools and email the schools with your specific questions. I think you could find programs out there that you can accomplish both. Best of luck</p>
<p>Do some more investigation into schools that your D is interested in. At many schools, it is not particularly difficult to double major in dance and theater as a BA. My D goes to American University and almost all theater students do a double major in four years. In fact, my D is double majoring in musical theater and history, with a minor in African American studies AND still took a dance class every semester. All in four years. She specifically chose to study at American because of the flexibility in their curriculum.</p>
<p>You might want to look at Montclair in New Jersey. They have a good BA in theatre and a strong dance department.</p>
<p>Many Musical Theatre programs require their students to take classes in acting, singing, AND dancing. This “triple threat” is what is in high demand on broadway, they need leading actors who can do all three, and then understudies who also can do all three who can step in for the leads.</p>
<p>Many producers also direct, and many musical directors also are choreographers.</p>
<p>KEVP</p>
<p>KEVP- D does sing. She would have no troubler handling chorus parts, and might one day be lead material with better coaching. She stopped voice lessons because in 11th grade the academics in her prep school were so demanding that with dance 6 days a week, theatre, and her State thespian board responisibilities time was so limited. </p>
<p>Thank you for the suggestions especially of specific schools. All the schools on her list so far allow her to double major but to apply to only one of the two majors during the application process. Rephrasing my question. In regards to schools that require an audition (which almost all dance programs do and some theatre programs do) </p>
<p>Should she attempt to apply to some schools as a theatre major and some as a dance major or just focus on one or the other.? I am concerned that being prepared to do well at both types of auditions will be very stressfull, just being fully prepared in either is very time consuming. Most schools she can only specify one or the other on the application and only audition for one or the other.</p>
<p>These are some of the questions she is going to ask each school, please make suggestions as to what to add to the list:
- Do you allow Dance/Theatre double major?
- If you are not a theatre (dance) major can you still take classes in the department, are there any restrictions.
- Are theatre (dance) productions open to non-majors?</p>
<p>Thanks for the valuable help.</p>
<p>Muhlenberg in PA has a wonderful program where you can major/double major/ major and minor in any combination of dance theatre and acting. Or you can do one plus something else. It is a BA with audition for scholarship(though if Charlie Richter likes you he will help you with admissions). Also demonstrated interest helps with getting in when you get to that point. You should definitely look at Muhlenberg, sounds like just what you are describing.</p>
<p>sewingmom, since you mention your D is taking a rigorous HS program, I wonder if her gpa and test scores might qualify her for merit scholarships at some schools? For instance, if she is NMF, she would automatically get a 1/2 tuition scholarship at USC which has a theatre major in their School of Dramatic Arts and is just opening their brand new Kaufman School of Dance. </p>
<p>In any case, if she might have high gpa/scores, you might want to add the possibility of merit aid into the search.</p>
<p>You may want to consider OCU. Their dance school is one of the tops in the country. And dance majors are required to take voice and acting. The dance school also offers an entertainment business degree that may be of interest. And if she likes to perform, in addition to the dance ensembles and shows, all students are welcome and encouraged to audition for all shows whether it be MT, opera or a straight show.</p>
<p>Chapman allows students to double-major in BA Theater and BA Dance. Both programs are also outstanding, and both will receive a bump in the next few years upon the completion of the new Musco Center for the Arts, a state-of-the-art multipurpose performing arts building due open in spring 2014.</p>
<p>As for your questions:
- Yep. See above. It takes some careful scheduling, but can theoretically be done.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Non-dance majors may take some dance classes, but in most cases are required to demonstrate basic proficiency, even for an entry-level course. Non-theater majors are allowed to take TH100 Intro to Acting (though to my knowledge anything beyond that requires at least a minor) and any entry-level technical or educational theater courses (e.g., Theatrical Makeup or Theatre and World Cultures).</p></li>
<li><p>This varies based on the whims of the department heads. Last semester, auditions for the theater department’s productions were open to non-majors. This semester, it’s limited to majors. I’m not sure how exclusive the dance department has been. Both departments are very talented and competitive with at least some preference given to BFA students, who are required to complete a certain number of performance credits to graduate, but it’s by no means uncommon for BAs to win parts.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Now I am confused.</p>
<p>It seems as though the daughter can act AND dance AND sing.</p>
<p>This is what we call a “triple threat”. It’s a good thing.</p>
<p>So why doesn’t she at least consider going somewhere where she can declare her major as “Musical Theatre”, where there is a program specifically called “Musical Theatre”? We often abbreviate this as “MT” here on CC.</p>
<p>Then she won’t have to do the extra work of a “dual major”, and won’t have to choose between acting and dance. When I was a student at Columbia College Chicago, there were many Musical Theatre majors who were like your daughter, equally talented in acting and dance, and who also had some singing abilities.</p>
<p>KEVP</p>
<p>It would help to have an idea of your D’s academic profile in order to suggest schools. </p>
<p>Perhaps your D could look into BA schools that offer both majors that are not by audition where you don’t necessarily apply directly into the major. Then she could double major or major in one and minor in the other.</p>
<p>I realize you said a university and not a LAC, but I’ll just put out there about Wesleyan, Vassar, Skidmore, Trinity, Muhlenberg, and Connecticut College. </p>
<p>For universities not by audition that she may be able to major in both areas or major in one and minor in the other: Univ. of Pennsylvania, Cornell, Duke, Brown, Tufts, Northwestern, Vanderbilt, WUSTL, Johns Hopkins, Georgetown, Emory, George Washington, UVA, William and Mary, Wake Forest. </p>
<p>American was a good suggestion made above too.</p>
<p>KEVP- DD does not think she can sing well enough for MT. She has never had a MT lead in high school. She really does not like a lot of MT, more a Sondheim girl then anything else. I went to AU grad school so that is on our list but is a bit far from ,though we do have family there still. </p>
<p>Soozievt- thanks for the exetensive lists of schools. She won’t consider any schools with less then 10,000 students and really wants the full University experience, most of the schools she wants are in the 25,000-40,000 size. As for her grades not sure her actual stats they are decent but not over the top, probably a 3.6-3.7 UW out of 4. ACTs will be low due to dyslexia. She got a couple of offers at festival and a bunch of call backs so that was helpful even though only one of the schools sparked her interest. She also announced to me last night (though this changes by the minute) that she really wants to stick to schools in the West, CA, AZ, CO and not the east coast except maybe DC and Florida, since we have family in DC and Florida. What is WUSTL? </p>
<p>Thanks everyone for all the help!</p>
<p>WUSTL = Washington University in St Louis.</p>
<p>As a theatre student at James Madison your D could take dance… even minor in it. As a dance student she could take theatre classes… even minor in it. The performance crossover opportunities are a little trickier. Dance program performance opportunities are only for those students concentrating in dance. There are a number of dance clubs on campus that allow non-dance majors the opportunity to perform. Theatre auditions are open, but performances and rehearsals can be difficult for dancers to manage around the dance performance commitments.</p>
<p>At JMU most of the students in the MT program are involved in both plays and musicals. Some consider themselves mostly MT performers, but most consider themselves singing and dancing actors. The more skills developed the more opportunity for work post graduation. </p>
<p>We have accepted dancers into the MT program who are slightly weaker singers. Over the four years they develop into much stronger singers.</p>
<p>I only mention James Madison because it is about 20,000 students, provides a university experience, allows applicants to audition for multiple programs (occasionally we see applicants audition for all three programs), and is only about 2 hours from DC.</p>