<p>I’m wondering how hard the dance portion to Carnegie Mellon’s musical theater department is. I’m a pretty well trained singer, and an okay actor, but dance is not my strongest point. </p>
<p>How much actual dance skill is employed? Is it just following a choreographers directions or are true dance skills (extensions, etc.) emplyed?</p>
<p>How much ballet/jazz terminology do the choreographers use? Is someone with limited dance knowledge able to get by?</p>
<p>Mmmmm...this dance audition was a weird one for me...It was strange because the dance wasnt hard by any means, but I had the most trouble at this dance audition than at any other college musical theatre dance audition to date (I still have PSU, which is supposed to have a really difficult dance audition!) The dance audition consisted of a ballet portion first. It was very simple, leg extension (a devlope to the front on each leg) and a single pieroette (or however you spell it!) on each side is what I remember. It was short, but taught quickly. Then they did the jazz dance audition directly after. It was simple as well. So why did I have so much trouble? I think it was my pieroette's. My left side is very weak, and they were singles not only in the ballet auditions, but the jazz! Be sharp, point your toes, SMILE, and you should be fine :)</p>
<p>Thanks so much, I feel a little more ready now (at least I know what I'm getting myself into.) Thanks!</p>
<p>svb, don't fret about Penn State's dance audition. My D did it last year at NYC Unifieds and thought it was one of the most fun dance auditions of all, mainly because the woman teaching it started by reassuring the kids that PSU wasn't expecting them to be Broadway-ready dancers, but they were looking for kids who were good performers, so she encouraged them all to just commit and dance full out. Most people came out smiling.</p>
<p>Great! Thanks MamaRose!!!</p>
<p>Here's another question:</p>
<p>Do most of the boys auditioning wear tights? (I'm a boy and I'm trying to figure out what I should wear.) I don't actually own tights. I could get some, but only if I really have to.</p>
<p>I plan on just wearing sweat pants... not baggy ones. I'd be very surprised if having perfect dance attire affects the admission decision at all.</p>
<p>One boy was like, a primo ballarino (he was fantastic) and he wore black tights, a white tee, and black ballet shoes. The rest of the boys were wearing tee shirts, shorts or nylon stretchy long pants, and jazz shoes. What I have been wearing to all of my dance MT dance auditions has been a black fitted tee shirt, black footless tights (so that they can be rolled up to my shin), a black pair of shorts over my tights (they come above the knee), and black ballet shoes. If you dont wanna get all technical and go out and get tights and ballet shoes, I would highly recommend wearing shorts (It will be easier for the judges to see your turn out and such) and a white form fitting tee shirt (which is typical attire of any dance audition). And NYQ12, youre right that your dance attire bears little on your admittance, just make sure you look clean and professional. Buy clothes that are form fitting (they need to see your physique), and I would advise to wear shorts, not sweat pants. Hope this helps! :)</p>
<p>Just a thought, anyone who has specific questions about the CMU audition, please private message me! I can also answer questions about CCM, Baldwin Wallace, and Point Park. I'd be so happy to be of any help. :)</p>
<p>It's actually better not to wear shorts, because the dance auditors want to see a long line of leg. So guys should wear black jazz pants and black shoes or black tights and shoes (and a fitted black or colored t-shirt - or tank top, if you have really buff arms). Girls, it's best to wear either black pants and shoes and a leotard, black tights and black shoes with a colored leotard, or tan tights and tan shoes with a colored leotard. A ballet skirt over a leotard and tights is acceptable, too. (This info comes from recent MT program grads who have taught their schools' dance auditions.)</p>
<p>Is there any reason why the tights and the shoes need to be the same color? I was planning on wearing tan tights with my black jazz shoes and a red leotard, but is this a bad idea?</p>
<p>Not a great idea - that color difference cuts off the line of your leg. (Same reason ballerinas wear pink tights and pink shoes.) My advice is to wear black tights, or get tan shoes - well, not MY advice :), but the advice of the Michigan, CCM, and CMU grads with whom I coach.</p>
<p>Wow, I'd never thought about that before! Thank you so much for the tip, I will definitely be getting myself some tan shoes!</p>
<p>The longest line of all, visually, for girls, would come from a black leotard and black tights and black shoes. :)</p>
<p>KitKatt...it would be a lot cheaper for you to just get black tights to go with your jazz shoes!</p>