<p>ocuMTinfo: I did NOT mean to infer that ocu's Dance BFA was somehow not a great dance program; just that this kid is an absolutely top notch dancer. I have no doubt she could qualify for any dance program in the country (given, of course, the fact that programs have to limit the number of students they admit and there are many great dancers out there). I believe that the only dance programs she might struggle to be considered for would be strictly classical ballet ones and she is NOT interested in that at any rate. I say this because my own daughter just went through the process of auditioning for dance programs a couple of years ago and her "raw talent" (natural extension, turn-out, etc) is less than this girl's; plus, my d. is quite tall for a dancer. And my d's auditions (for strictly dance programs, mind you) were successful. So that is why I do think this kid will do VERY well with auditioning for DANCE programs....and why I tend to think of them as "safeties" for her. </p>
<p>You are right, though. I should probably temper that and make these upper level programs (such as OCU) more "matches" for her...</p>
<p>Thanks so much for your input, everyone. I am so glad to see this has generated so much helpful discourse...</p>
<p>So, I will suggest they add Montclair State as well as SUNY Fredonia to the list of considerations.</p>
<p>Thanks a bunch, folks!</p>
<p>Thanks for the clarification, MTmommy</p>
<p>I am currently a junior MT student at UArts. While dance is my weakest of the three Triple Threat Strengths, I find that we have a variety of all people, most of whom are much stronger in two strengths than in the third. We certainly have some very accomplished dancers in our MT program, though many of them go out of the way to take extra classes in training or audit classes from other teachers when there is time.</p>
<p>As for being a dance major at the school, they do offer major declaration after sophomore year. This is so those who are in the two-year dance certificate program can get a rounded education in all of dance and those who are staying for the BFA can concentrate more on what they are interested in. BFAs are offered in Jazz, Ballet and Modern. I believe it is still a requirement to have all three in your schedule, but your choice of style will be the one you will focus on and spend the most time with during the week. As I said, this is all after sophomore year.</p>
<p>That being said, there are several voice classes offered for non-majors. Voice lesson for non-majors is usually taken care of through the School of Music, rather than the School of Theater Arts. Non-majors generally work on far less music (because they don't have to perform juries) and are not expected to work on the level that Vocal Majors and MT Majors do. Also offered in the dance program is a Musical Theater Ensemble piece. This class works on the staging and singing of a musical theater piece every semester. The dancing is choreographed by the MT Jazz/Tap teacher and the music is directed by one of the MT voice teachers. To be honest, this piece isn't a work of art when it's finished. It usually has some fine dancing, some under par vocals--unmiked--and is usually to a karaoke track of whatever song is being done. But the students who are in it (my roommate has been in it for a few semesters) genuinely enjoy being in the piece because it's fun, it's different, and you get to act more with it. </p>
<p>Hope this helps!</p>
<p>Thanks, sheerviolette. Every bit of info is helpful!</p>
<p>I think that OCU has a top notch dance program. They have many performers dancing professionally. One can major in tap, jazz, or ballet, I think. It seems very competitive to me, and I think it should be considered a reach for anyone, but certainly never a safety. Also, I think it is better for this person to not go into any audition feeling overly confident about dance abilities and think that any audition - based program is a safety.</p>
<p>Elon offers a dance major and minor. I'm not specifically familiar with the dance major, but in the catalogue they offer modern, jazz, tap, and ballet. I can tell you for certain, though, that the dancing and choreography I've seen there is wonderful / amazing / etc. - some of the best I've seen - and I know for a fact that they have excellent dance teachers. I'm looking at it from an MT perspective, but surely these same teachers teach the dance majors.</p>
<p>UArts has instated a new minor, beginning next year. It's the musical theater minor. Only students majoring in acting, dance or vocal are allowed to audition. </p>
<p>As no classes for the minors have started yet, I have no idea if they are generally going to continue to audition students after their freshman year or if incoming students are going to have the option to start the minor from the beginning of their education. Similarly, I have no idea what classes are to be offered to the students to complete their credits for the minor. I would assume it would be based on whatever major the student calls his or her own. For instance, if your daughter were a dance major who added the minor classes to her curriculum, I'm sure a voice lesson or class and an acting lesson or class would be included.</p>
<p>Thanks, ericsmom, for the advice. I assure you. This young woman is very experienced and would never approach any audition with an over-confidant aire. That was my own personal summation of this kids' abilities and I realize I may have mistakenly given the impression that she is going to be overly-confident or "cocky". She will not.</p>
<p>Again, the point of my original post was to get an idea of schools from the point of view of a student whose primary focus in training to date has been in dance. She is already well-prepared in that area, in fact, but of course wants to keep up her training and improve! What she needs now is great acting and vocal training and that is not the usual focus of discussion on these boards. So this has, by and large, been an extremely helpful discussion! If my comments extolling her talents have seemed overly complementary and generous to the point of assuming she will gain easy acceptance at any audition-based programs out there, please know that that is NOT THE CASE!!! This kid and her mom are NOT assuming that!!! This is why I/we needed help comming up with a good list of schools for her!</p>
<p>Thanks a LOT to all you wonderfully helpful people out there! It's so great to know that there are so many great MT and dance programs available and so many helpful CC-ers around...</p>
<p>Thanks, sheerviolette, the UArts dance program with the MT minor sounds GREAT! That school was already on her list. One of her teachers (where she currently dances) is a UArts alum and wanted her to audition there, so it sounds even better....</p>
<p>By the way, not that it really matters (because she is sometimes like "mine") but this is truly not about my own d! I am trying to help out a friend who was frightened to the point of inaction in the college search process for her very talented daughter. Her daughter and my daughter have danced together for years, though...</p>
<p>Soozievt, I just checked out the Montclair website and it sounds PERFECT for this kid!!! I forwarded the link to them. Interesting that my d's roomie for the duration of the show she is currently doing just graduated from there, I believe....small world!</p>
<p>Oops, I realize I may have started this whole sounding cocky thing by saying PPU was a safety. Looking back, I realize that being an "AMAZING" dancer doesn't necessarily mean you are in, as it is a very subjective term. I would say churchmusicmom that if you D's friend has been compared to others in your region and truly stands out as being AMAZING, she should not have to worry. To consider a school dance program a safety, you have to be one of the best. You will know that you are one of the best if you have competed regionally with solos, and consistently win titles and overall top scores. This also applies to ballet dancers who win regionally and nationally. For these kids, I believe PPU, and most dance programs are safeties. I naturally assumed this was the kind of AMAZING you were talking about. Hopefully I don't sound cocky, just confident about what I have lived through and witnessed these past 16 years at various dance competitions, as well as knowing that you can't fake being AMAZING, and the audtioners will spot her if she truly is.
Good luck and tell your friend's D that the best part about most of the MT auditions, is that they do the dance first, and it will be a great confidence booster when she can start off in her element. From there it's just not so easy! :)</p>
<p>Thanks, Melsmom. I actually met with them today and had a great time going over some of the info everyone here had shared so far. They were AMAZED at how generous you all are with your time and advice.</p>
<p>PPU remains on the list of schools that she is VERY interested in. Thanks in large part to you all, I think she is on her way to establishing a pretty well balanced list of schools to which she can apply this next year. </p>
<p>And, Melsmom, you are correct: She has competed regionally and nationally and consistently won top awards in several different dance styles (including with her own original choreography). I do not think you sound cocky at all, any more than I think that of all the amazingly knowlegable and helpful vocal coaches and musicians as well as theater majors (and their parents and/or mentors) who post regularly on these boards. They just have lots and lots of experience to back up what they say and I respect that. AND I love having all of that storehouse of knowlege available to me!</p>