<p>And one odd coincidence. I know from these posts and some PMs that several of these girls are studying biology and/or neuroscience. That's what my D wants to major in. Occurred to me that perhaps the time they spend monitoring and analyzing their physical structure with their minds to improve their various spinnings and leapings and tiptoeing actually makes them wonder how the system works.</p>
<p>My daughter did ballet over 10 yrs. and nearly ruined her body with the turnout.
But yes, it was a great help to her studies. Furthermore, my boys did ballet for several years too- big company school, all the shows, - and it helped THEIR schoolwork and consentration too. Of course they gave it up for tennis when they were 11.</p>
<p>We could not get S to go near ballet. And my H was a ballet dancer at one point. But we did get a photo of him in a tutu when he was 2, courtesy of D. Hmm. Maybe that's why he wouldn't go near the studio...</p>
<p>I was a fairly serious dancer in HS (summer programs, etc.), and then went to Pomona College, which has an emphasis on modern but very decent ballet classes. No pointe, though. I think being a dancer helped me get in, for sure.
I didn't dance nearly as much in college as I just wanted to focus on other things.
This is my second year out of college and I still go to class 3x/week. I don't see why I'd ever quit-- it's good exercise, I enjoy it, and it melts stress away, especially since I am NOT concerned about going pro. I literally try to schedule my life around the ballet classes that are available to me; it's that important. Some have asked why I don't quit, as I don't have professional aspirations, but I see nothing wrong with having a lifelong love of dance.</p>
<p>Alumother, my niece fits your description of a former dancer who went into the natural sciences/ biology, in her case, premed. We took care of her since she was age 9, and quickly found out that she was an accomplished dancer. Her mother was a professional ballerina, and they had always had a barre and a studio wherever they lived. I did not know the extent of her talent, until I enrolled her in some inexpensive dance classes. She ended up at the Pittsburgh ballet junior program on full scholarship, one of the very few. Had she continued, she would have likely done well, as she turned out to have that tiny build, natural grace and an ear for music along with all of the natural skills of dance. As a nondance family, we hardly knew what to do with her. My daughter joined her in dance, but no where near the same level, as she was a big, heavy girl even in childhood, much more the field athlete than the dancer, though now she has really slimmed down and has done dance in college. Anyways, we were all set to go with dance as Pittsburgh does have a number of excellent programs at Point Park, the Pittsburgh ballet, but she decided on her own that she did not want to devote the time to be the best of the best, and did not want to be the worst or even in the middle of the best. She ended up taking dance for her own pleasure through high school and college, but not at the high powered level that she could have gone. It did not make any difference for college except as an example of a talent and activity as she did not apply to any dance program. I do believe that any sustained activity whether it is a sport (not talking about a recruited athlete), voice, theatre, debate,community service, band, is valuable on the resume. Just do not expect a "hook" out of the deal unless the student is of national level or beyond, or if the activity is going to benefit the college directly. There are truly very few "hooks" out there, and that is why it is foolish to expect any activity to pull you in. But, yes, of course, having an interest and being successful in any wholesome activity is going to benefit you in admissions.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I do believe that any sustained activity whether it is a sport (not talking about a recruited athlete), voice, theatre, debate,community service, band, is valuable on the resume. Just do not expect a "hook" out of the deal unless the student is of national level or beyond, or if the activity is going to benefit the college directly. There are truly very few "hooks" out there, and that is why it is foolish to expect any activity to pull you in. But, yes, of course, having an interest and being successful in any wholesome activity is going to benefit you in admissions.
[/quote]
Very succinctly put.</p>
<p>Disagree with The Dad's perception of UCI's academics. UCI is a very young, public university, and there are strong biases in rankings toward older schools and private ones. Some UCI academics are as good as they come. For instance, Erwin Chemerinsky and Michael Drake, who are currently teaching a UCI freshman seminar (limited to 15) on the Civil Rights movement.</p>
<p>Another excellent academic school with good options for ballet dancers is UC Berkeley. While the dance there is mostly modern, both in the theatre department and in Physical Education, you can walk to Berkeley Ballet Theater on College Avenue, and take GREAT ballet classes from Sally Streets (NYC Ballet, Kyra Nichol's mom) and others. 9:15, every morning.</p>