<p>Can someone please tell me how the dance minor greatly differs from the major?? I really want to major a BFA in Acting and then minor in dance.</p>
<p>It will vary by school, but I believe it mainly consists of taking fewer dance classes. You may also have difficulty getting into some classes that reserve spots for dance majors. Elon University in NC offers an especially rich variety of ways to dance; check out their website for a description of their program. Since you want to act and dance: Can you sing, too? Muhlenberg has a great musical theater program.</p>
<p>I can recommend Muhlenberg highly if only because our daughter starts there in the fall as a theater major. They appear to be the only school whose dance program and theater program are both rated in the top ten. However, they don’t offer a BFA in theater but the head of the theater program strongly encourages actors to take dance classes. Seems to be a realy synergy there as opposed to unhealthy competition. Good luck.</p>
<p>Oklahoma City is a great place for a musical theatre major. I think that an acting major with a dance minor is a perfect combination. You need to have some dance background for MT, or at least it is going to be very beneficial. You will take much less classes in dance obviously but you will maintain or gain some good skills.</p>
<p>My d and I visited Muhlenberg twice when she was looking at schools in 2007-8 and loved it, especially its excellent theatre/dance facilities and its very welcoming atmosphere. My d contacted the department chair before her visit and arranged to take an advanced ballet class, which she felt was at a strong level. One of the things she most liked about Muhlenberg was that all students could take dance classes, regardless of major. I remember d telling me that the dancers in class were very hospitable, approachable, and encouraging. We think Muhlenberg is a real gem!</p>
<p>Hi. I would try Shenandoah University. Their conservatory is great. All Acting and MT must take a dance class as part of their audition. My daughter will be a BFA in dance there in the fall. The MT is highly rank as I am sure the acting is great too. A minor in dance would be possible I think.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone!! I’ll have to check out Muhlenberg, it looks like something i would be into</p>
<p>frazzled1: Did your daughter think that Muhlenberg was a school where she could do challenging ballet all four years?</p>
<p>Yes, if I’m remembering correctly. My d is a strong avocational dancer who came out of a very good small private studio - no SIs, no desire for a professional career in dance. So your viewpoint may be different if you are dancing in a pre-pro program or hope to join a company some day. </p>
<p>D did think there were some very good dancers in the ballet class she took. A friend of hers who also took an advanced dance class there observed that most of the people in it seemed to be biology majors. 
Muhlenberg was one of the few schools with a strong dance program that allowed non-dance majors full access to its classes (though of course the dancer has to place into the level by audition or with teacher approval).</p>
<p>Recently heard this about Muhlenberg ballet, I have paraphrased:</p>
<p>… have an extensive ballet program as well as modern, jazz and tap. This fall (2011) Marisa Cerveris, a former dancer with New York City Ballet, will be team teaching the upper level ballet classes with Heidi Cruz former dancer with the Pennsylvania Ballet. The Balanchine Trust is restaging one of his ballet’s with Muhlenberg dancers for performances in February 2012. This fall there will be 17 ballet classes a week within the credit program and additional classes via the non-credit program.</p>
<p>I was surprised because I had heard they have more musical theater than ballet options. I do know they have a big theater program, so this info about ballet was very nice to learn.</p>
<p>In 2007 the dance division was considered extremely weak.</p>
<p>^^^ It would be helpful to know by whom.</p>
<p>My understanding is that Muhlenberg is the only college whose theater and dance programs are ranked repectively in the top 10. I know the Princeton Review ranked Muhlenberg’s theater program #6.</p>