<p>I am new to College Confidential and would like to know if other parents have advice for my daughter who is a Junior in High School and wants to major in dance.</p>
<p>I don’t have information for you, but you might want to post on the board here for dance majors: [Dance</a> Major - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/dance-major/]Dance”>Dance Major - College Confidential Forums)
Good luck!</p>
<p>well - my S would like to major in theater and I told him that he also had to get a degree in something else. I don’t mind if he minors or double majors in theater or drama but he must get a degree in an alternate field. There are way to many un/under employed theater majors. I would think that Dance would be in the same area… it is so very difficult to “make it.” just my two cents…</p>
<p>Thanks,learning how to navigate site</p>
<p>Thanks, I agree with you. But, my D has her own mind and does not listen to advice. She does not believe in a “plan B”</p>
<p>If it’s any consolation my niece wanted to major in fashion design (always on the list of most useless majors) and her parents fought her, insisting she get a business degree and take some classes in fashion design. The business classes were a disaster, they finally relented, she graduated top of her class with internships at BCBG and Michael Kors, and now has her own label (and is totally self supporting). Oh, and she graduated in four years.</p>
<p>Bravo to you for being open to having a child major in dance. </p>
<p>She’s 16 or 17, I assume, so let her have her dreams. She should be talking to dance professionals and visiting schools where she can pursue this interest.</p>
<p>She (and you) should also realize that she is too young to eliminate other options. If she’s really, really good – has the physical talent and passion – this is apparent now or will become apparent soon. (You don’t give too many details, so my advice is general, too.) Soon you will have to be realistic about her dance studies. If she’s in the top tier, she’ll have opportunities for advanced study in a city, yours or elsewhere. If she’s not tippy-top, you should be looking at state schools that have dance programs but also have all the other areas of study, too. </p>
<p>Dance, unlike many other fine arts, requires physical abilities that may peak in the teens or twenties. She is also at risk of injury. What are her long-term goals? Would she be happy teaching dance or being a choreographer? </p>
<p>I know a young woman who entered a well-known performing arts academy after high school as a dance major. Plagued by injuries, she transferred after three years and is now studying to be a physical therapist. It was a difficult decision to change course, but she is doing well and brings a valuable perspective to her new career goal.</p>
<p>Good luck. Enjoy these years.</p>
<p>Agree with ici, except would point out that some of the best dance programs are at state universities (U of Arizona, Florida State, UC-Irvine).</p>
<p>My oldest started on a full voice scholarship, and though she still sings, it’s not for credit! She hated being a music major, and thought shed love it. She started out as a double major in English and music, but then transferred universities and changed to Pre-med after volunteering and job shadowing. She LOVES it, and has already been involved in 2 research programs. We never pushed one or the other…just do something you love. She figured it out on her own. Her music classes counted as electives, and she actually will have enough to minor in music if she chooses. A large state school with a good dance program will give her TONS of options! If she truly wants to teach dance, that’s wonderful! But remind her that dance teachers work after school, evenings and weekends…not a great schedule for a young mom (I know that’s s long way off…but having been a piano teacher off and on over the years, it’s a reality) but perfect for a young lady out of college!</p>
<p>My S is studying illustration. I felt like it may be doable but that I was not a good judge of talent in that field. So, he went to classes in the city, enrolled in a program that was competitive and required a portfolio review to get into, had him work with professional artists and enter competitions. His success at a lot of this stuff was validation that he has the talent to potentially be successful.</p>
<p>I would suggest the same to you. Dance competitions, competing to get into a dance troupe or train under a professional, etc., will test her passion and talent. Also, the best school for dance may not be a college. Have her try out for the best, whatever it is, so she can see how she measures up with her peers.</p>
<p>My S has thousands of pieces of work nobody ever asked him create. It’s a passion he is always pursuing. Its got to be close to that for your D or it’s just a hobby.</p>
<p>goldiern, what does she want to do with her dance degree? Does she want that dance degree to be a BA or BFA? Does she want to teach, choreograph, perform, own a private studio, work as a dance administrator?</p>
<p>If her interest is in performing, I agree with ici in post #7 - it’s important to know where her natural ability places her, compared to her peers. Dancers, more than other performing arts majors, have a limited time in which to become successful as performers. Although there may be some exceptions, this is the basic fact of life she’ll have to accommodate every day. If she can get into one of the leading conservatory programs, it means that school believes she’ll have a realistic chance of success as a dancer. That counts for something. If she isn’t considered pre-professional by those standards, dance can still be part of her everyday life - but she and you might want to think twice about spending a college education to pursue that field. </p>
<p>Double-majoring in a more practical field is possible in some programs - though many BFA programs stringently limit the credit hours taken out of the dance department. I hope you’ll come back to tell us more about what your daughter wants.</p>
<p>One of my son’s friends is a dance major at a small, private university with a well-regarded dance program. She loves it but knows it is tough to make a living in that field, and that it is a short career in any case. Meanwhile, she has a part time job at an upscale store that is part of a large national chain. Also has a minor in business. The interesting thing is that management at the company where she works has already expressed an interest in hiring her full time after graduation, with a path to advancement. </p>
<p>She’s glad she pursued her dance dream and if it doesn’t pan out, she’s not worried about finding a job. How sad it would be to never even give it a go, see if you can achieve that dream. Plus, she is (as you would expect) in super physical shape. Amazing legs!</p>
<p>My son graduated with a double BFA in theater and playwriting–the two majors most likely to keep you living in your parents attic. He moved to Chicago and is making a living in theater, along with short order cooking. He is happy and paying his bills; doesn’t ask us for money, although we do pay his health insurance. I figure if he gets tired of the gypsy lifestyle, always looking for his next audition, he’ll go to grad school and find a “real” job. We couldn’t be prouder of him!</p>
<p>I have two children, one a sophomore and one a hs senior, who have found their passion and it is acting. They cannot imagine going to college for anything but, and to insist they do would be a huge waste of money. My daughter is absolutely thriving, I could not ask for her to do a better job. My son has an early acceptance to a wonderful BFA program and is getting ready to audition for a few more. His enthusiasm would be greatly diminished if he were not going for what he loves.</p>
<p>goldiern…buckle up, the numbers stink and there are lots of highs and lows, but keep your mind and options open. There are the well known programs but there are a lot of not as known but equally impressive ones you may learn about. I would read the cc thread for dancers.</p>
<p>My sib and I were talking about this a few weeks ago because sib’s sophomore D wants to be a professional ballet dancer. We knew several kids who were ballet dancers growing up, but they went away in high school to dance schools and then directly to dance companies in NYC. I think we agreed that it would be best for the student, if they want to go to college, to find one that has strong ties to dance companies. Some of the ballet companies also have an apprentice program that could be a transition in lieu or in conjunction with area colleges. If you aren’t talking about classical ballet, I’m not sure what a good path would be. Some of the colleges that I’m familiar with for strong ballet are Indiana, North Carolina, Utah and I’ve heard that Fordham has a program with Ailey.</p>
<p>I have a daughter who is a musician, and a daughter who is a dancer. I feel that there are some misconceptions about majoring in dance (and the dance forum on CC is not that useful).</p>
<p>First, I suggest you think about reading or obtaining a book called “Creative Colleges” which is available online, and has a lot of info on dance programs. All kinds of colleges and conservatories are out there. Many liberal arts colleges allow majoring in dance.</p>
<p>Second, subscribe to Dance Magazine or, at the very least, get their college guide, which comes out every year. It has an amazing amount of information.</p>
<p>A BFA, BA or BS in dance is a bachelor’s degree like any other and a graduate of a dance program can enter any graduate or professional school (law, med etc.) or apply for any job that requires a bachelor’s. The discipline of dance is respected everywhere.</p>
<p>Many dancers continue into their 50’s. Ballet has limited time for career, but modern is a very different story. Dance has become more academic in recent decades: we know many who went on to get PhD’s in dance and teach at the college level. Dance majors at colleges are considered to be engaged in intellectual and creative study as well as physical, both in their dance studies (including making work) and in other courses they take in other areas. Conservatories are more performance( or choreography) focused with fewer liberal arts courses, but still 1/4 of classes are not in dance.</p>
<p>Schools like Bennington, Sarah Lawrence, Vassar, Barnard, Connecticut College and Skidmore, have great programs. The first two have interdisciplinary majors or plans so that dance is connected to, say, math, or anthropology.</p>
<p>I hate to see young people discouraged from following an artistic path. Most dancers I know do have other jobs, sometimes in dance organizations, sometimes teaching, sometimes entirely unrelated, and often dancers are entrepreneurial in making their own opportunities. As with music, it is no longer about “making it big,” but making it on your own terms. Though some do, of course, make it into companies that pay well and have health insurance (Europe is better for this!).</p>
<p>PM me if you like. With more info I could be more helpful. Is she doing any summer program, for instance? Is she focused on ballet, modern, jazz, choreography? Etc.</p>
<p>I just worked with a lovely young lady who was a dance major. She graduated last year and is now working as a dancer in a local dance company. She has over $80,000 in school loans and she is making $13,000 a year. So my advice to your daughter is go to a school where she gets the best financial package and minimal or no loans. This young lady will be living at home with Mom and Dad probably forever as she will be working to pay off those loans for the rest of her life probably. It is such a burden to have such loans and the kids don’t realize how much of a burden it is until it is much too late and you are obligated to those loans.</p>
<p>^^Yes, even if they are employed with a dance company the pay is very low.</p>
<p>Dance major can work at all kinds of jobs, like anyone else. I know many many dancers who are teaching at the university level, tutoring, fundraising for non-profits, repairing computers, nannying, you name it. Not very many dancers rely on work in a company for their income. Taking class, rehearsing and performing in the evenings, on weekends, or working it around job hours works for many.</p>
<p>compmom, I really like your post #16</p>