<p>I used your post simply as a thought, not really answering it but rather describing how intense music is to give the OP context, which seems it was your point as well:). I tend to agree with you, her D may be better served by doing music in college as a non major, staying with dance if that is what she wants, and combing it that way. And yes, while dancers do things on their own, it isn’t the same thing most of the active work goes on in studio…having observed the SAB students for several years now, that stands out in how different it is then music in that regards.</p>
<p>Has she considered Musical Theatre programs that would allow her to dance somewhat, tap a lot, and learn acting, directing, theatrical choreography, and singing skills?</p>
<p>KatMT-
At one point over the summer when my daughter was suffering with her injuries, we discussed musical theater as a possibility because it involves many of her interests. But when she started to feel a little bit better, she went straight back to wanting the BFA in dance. One thing she told me recently is that when she performs in tap, she wishes that she was better able to work with the lighting people as well as the band to make the performance come out how she wants it. Is that part of musical theater? If so, what is it called? (She asked me to look into that field of study as well.) Are there any colleges/ college majors that would allow her to study music in some depth as well as some aspects of staging and production as I described earlier. She also has a good, but untrained, voice and she has asked me for and taken vocal lessons as well. As far as acting goes, it is not one of her great loves, but she wants to be able to do it in the context of dance or if it was necessary for a dance role.</p>
<p>At Bennington College in Vermont, students can concentrate on dance or music, and also take classes in lighting, scenery, voice and acting. They can also veer off into any other subjects in any combination. Bennington is in Vermont, but there is a mid-year “field work term” in which you work off campus anywhere, and many go to NYC.</p>
<p>Sarah Lawrence is similar in many ways, and I looked up their theater classes to see if they have lighting, scenery and so on:</p>
<p>Design Elements I
Fall</p>
<p>This course is for students with little or no design or technical experience who are curious about design and want exposure to multiple design areas. It is also a useful tool for directors, playwrights, and actors who want to increase their understanding of the design and technical aspects of theatre to enhance their abilities as theatrical artists. This is a very hands-on class, in which students will learn the basics needed to execute set, costume, lighting, and sound designs. We will use a short scene or play as the focus of our discussions of the collaborative design process. Class format will include both classes with the full design faculty and classes focused on specific design areas.</p>
<p>I’m sure if you look closely, many dance curricula will have music for dancers, lighting and design. (Since it is very important for choreographers to understand and use lighting.) I just chose two schools at random and found those classes for dancers, so if you check out websites in detail, you will probably find them at many places.</p>
<p>Since your daughter is 16, and still tap dancing, it would still seem very possible that she could participate in a modern program. I hope she can!</p>
<p>DAS mom, the situation you described sounds more like what she’d specifically get pursuing a bfa in dance. One of my son’s requirements for his bfa was to take two dance classes whereby he was familiarizing himself in order to compose music and run tech in a compatible way. So in those classes, some were dance students, some were composers and performing art technicians working together to sort out these elements of successful choreography and tech/music expression.</p>
<p>The non-dance majors were still required to do some of the dancing but obviously they had only basic skills, but the lionshare of their work was the composition, sound and light
production.</p>
<p>At UMich, I would expect that the lighting class would be available to everyone in the school of music and dance, but required for those seeking the theatre tech degree they offer. At that school, though, like most bfa-style performing arts programs, you would only get into a given program based on your portfolio of work to date – so the theatre kid’s in the directing program have largely already directed and written plays; the theatre tech kid’s have already run tech…etc.</p>
<p>The lionshare of your d’s work to date has been dance…to pursue another bfa route would likewise involve heading that direction now. </p>
<p>If she can also act and sing, however, music theatre might make sense.</p>
<p>Yes. In many MT programs your D would be required to take classes in lighting, costumes, directing etc…</p>
<p>Where I teach students are required to gain basic proficiency in technical theatre areas, and have the opportunity to pursue advanced course work, as well as directing, choreography, and design opportunities through faculty supervised, student directed projects. </p>
<p>I am certain that other schools must present similar opportunities. She may find more of these in a BA program, but likely some BFA as well.</p>
<p>All MT programs will require students to develop a proficiency in music and musicianship that would allow her to communicate more clearly with instrumentalists. </p>