<p>My D is a senior that is pursuing MT, she has an audition coach & has taken voice lessons for a few years, but does not have a big dance background. I would say acting is her strongest, followed by singing, then dance. She has danced in the group numbers for our HS musicals & has done fine. Last year she took a dance class that was just for MT kids & learned a lot & is taking some dance thru her audition coaching (at the studio where she goes for coaching). Her director was talking w/us after her fall drama this weekend & shared his opinion, that her acting is truly her strength & to be sure to consider programs that offer a BFA in acting as well, that since she has not been dancing her whole life & will be competing against many others she may not get into the MT programs. We have been very aware that she is not a triple threat & she is hoping that she can show them in the auditions w/some further training she could be!</p>
<p>So, my question is for those that have gone thru this, those that are in a program now... is it possible? Are there schools that chose the kid that isn't a triple threat? Or are we more likely destined for an acting route?</p>
<p>Thanks for sharing your experiences & opinions, I always enjoy hearing what everyone hear has to say. It doesn't change our direction, it just helps me to "talk" w/others! :-)
Tami</p>
<p>Why not just go the acting route? Does she want to be an MT major over an acting major? My D is an actor first but also dances and sings. We are looking for a BFA in acting program with flexibility to continue training in dance and voice.</p>
<p>Sounds like my D. My D had a lot of show choir dance experience and could move well, but strengths were singing and acting. She did audition for both acting and MT at two of the ten schools she applied to, and wound up with two MT acceptances and one acting acceptance. Most all the dance auditions she thought were pretty mild; they were looking for ability to move and potential for development. So I think you D will be fine. Into experience there are a relative few kids that are true triple threats coming out of high school. Most kids are relatively strong in some areas and weaker in others. So be confident but maybe do both auditions if she would be happy in an acting program if that’s what is offered.</p>
<p>Some schools are happy to audition a student for both BFA Acting and MT programs, but some strongly discourage it. Some programs question if the student has a clear enough vision of their future if they are willing to become an Acting major just as easily. There are different thoughts about whether or not a student who strongly prefers MT could be happy in an acting program in the same school that also has a MT program. I think my D would have grown into the idea eventually, had she not been accepted into an auditioned MT program, but likely would have been happier in a program without MT specialists. At least, as long as the program still offered voice and dance to their theater students, and produced some musicals. That being said, she did not share my opinion, so her safeties were the non-auditioned BA Theater programs at schools where she was auditioning for MT and had already been accepted to academically. Discuss with your D which scenario would feel better to her and pick a couple of safety options that would allow her a choice if it comes down to it…then go for it - full out, with as much confidence as she can muster. I promise we saw plenty of mediocre dancers at the auditions, but the ones that did their dance audition with confidence and a smile on their face at least showed they had a good disposition and were willing to try their best.</p>
<p>Research the schools. CMU, considered one of the top programs by many, eliminated the dance portion of their audition this year.</p>
<p>I was suprised last year how many schools did not have a dance portion. My personal observations were that many schools put an emphasis on acting being your strongest suit.</p>
<p>If she wants MT, then she should go for it. Truthfully, although you may read otherwise here on CC, there really are NOT a ton of kids who are triple-threats (sorry, I know that will make some folks mad). I’d say about 90% of the kids who audition for programs are not equal across acting, singing, dance. There will always be one skill that needs a lot more work in a college program, and that’s okay. That is what the college program is for! To train!</p>