Schools that consider Voice/Acting ahead of Dance Ability

College Majors Musical Theater Major
1

<p>Hi-first time posting. I have been reading helpful threads for some time (esp. those by soozievt and MichaelNKat!). My D is a HS senior and has already applied to UArts. She has her full list of potential BFA MT schools - but is concerned about applying to those who have strong dance requirements.</p>

<p>Is it true that PSU and Syracuse fit into this category? How do the following schools rank with respect to how seriously they might consider a student with very strong vocals, strong acting ability, with dance ability ranking third?:
Ithaca, Elon, Montclair State, Emerson, Otterbein, Rockford, U of W Florida, Pace</p>

<p>Also, how do the BA Theatre (MT emphasis) schools like Wagner and Muhlenberg traditonally operate with respect to dance being third?
Thanks so much in advance for help with perspective on these and all other schools on which you may care to share info!!</p>

2

<p>Welcome to the MT Board. You'll find that it can be a great resource - there are a lot of very knowledgeable professionals, MT students and other parents (who have been through the process) who share their experience freely. This Board can also drive you nuts - particularly as the audition season starts or decisions are coming out and the stress level builds - enjoy it all ! :) </p>

<p>Of the schools you list, I can speak to Syracuse, Ithaca, Emerson and Muhlenberg based on my daughter's experience at Syracuse's MT summer program and auditioning there and based on her audition experiences at the other 3.</p>

<p>Of the 4, Syracuse , I think, emphasizes dance more than the other 3.. It has a dedicated dance component to its MT program run by a Julliard trained professor with impressive credentials from the world of professional ballet/dance performing. He usually does the dance portion of the audition. In terms of relative weight given to acting, singing and dance in the audition, I don't think anyone can really tell you that unless they have "insider info". I do know, however, that Syracuse scores each segment of its audition with a 1 - 5 score (with 1 being the highest) and we were told by the department that you must get a 1 or 2 on each segment to get a spot. Does that mean that someone who gets a 1 on acting and singing and really wows the auditors but gets a 3 on dance won't be offered a spot? Who knows; the bottom line, though, is that a student should come prepared to dance at the audition. My daughter had many years of ballet, jazz and hip hop experience and also had been in dance classes for 6 weeks with the head of the dance program, so she knew what to expect. She said that there were some students who had problems learning or doing the mini routines taught at the audition but that if a student has been taking dance regularly and is at least at an intermediate level, they should be ok.</p>

<p>Ithaca, there is no dance portion to the audition but once there, MT students do take dance.</p>

<p>Emerson, the was a dance portion to the audition but my daughter found it to be very elementary and easy. Other students on this board have reported the same experience. From what was described to me and what I have read, if a student has some dance background and generally can move, they should not have any problem with the dance portion if it is the same as last year.</p>

<p>Muhlenberg, there is no dance audition unless you are applying to be a dance major (and I really didn't pay attention to whether this was mandated or just for scholarship purposes). For students interested in MT, there is no dance component to the audition; in fact the entire audition is optional and not required for admission to the college or to be a drama major. The audition is for purposes of talent scholarship money. 1 or 2 monologues are required (check the website) and a song is optional. It is a very laid back and comfortable audition with Charles Richter, the head of the acting program (by appointment so it is one on one), and if you are singing, the accompanist is usually the head of the vocal music program.</p>

<p>Hope this helps.</p>

3

<p>Welcome KeystoneMom. </p>

<p>I would have difficulty stipulating which programs ranked dance as "third" most important in terms of admissions. I don't know that schools even come out and say that in general, or at least not all of them, in this way. </p>

<p>Here is what I think and observe.....Ideally, a student should be strong in singing, acting, and dancing in such a competitive process. All three skill sets are needed in this field. However, it is a holistic process and I think that many schools will consider an applicant who is strong in two areas but weaker ( BUT showing potential) in a third area. Generally speaking, for MT, voice cannot be the weakest of the three skill areas. Sometimes a person can get in who sings very well, dances well, but is weaker in acting but shows potential for more training to be an actor. OR sometimes someone can sing quite well and act well, but not have very advanced technique in dance but can at least move well and show some potential with further training. Students like either of these two situations likely DO get in at some programs. Ideally, being skilled to some degree in all three areas increases the odds. For someone with very little or no dance background, it would be important to at least take a ballet class this year, not just to help with college auditions, but because the applicant wants to be a MT actor and this skill will be needed anyway. If your D took one class now, she could be familiar with some basic technique but also learn to be comfortable and used to learning a dance combination on the spot. Even if an applicant has poor technique (which is trainable), they can look decent in a BFA dance audition if they at least move well, can pick up a combination (the more you practice having to do that on the spot the better), and can also showcase their performing/presentation skills (even a poor dancer as far as technique can showcase being "ON" performance-wise). But if your D has never had to learn a dance combination quickly, she may feel flustered and not be able to present well. So, even very beginner technique would look OK if the person could show they can pick up a combination quickly and can also perform well on stage with presence. </p>

<p>Anyway, no schools put dance FIRST. A student with a dance background has an edge. A student who is a triple threat also has an edge. But a student who is weak at dance can do OK if they show potential as a dancer AND their voice and acting auditions are particularly strong to compensate. Again, strength in two areas and weaker in a third can still get in (if not weak in singing). </p>

<p>That said....Ithaca has NO dance audition....so there ya go. They likely do look at dance background on a resume but they don't weigh dance skills at the audition at all. </p>

<p>Emerson....when my D auditioned in 2004-2005, had a very very simple dance audition. My D said that someone with no dance could do it. She thought it was not a good dance audition as anyone with dance skills could barely get to show them but then again, even in a basic audition, someone with technique, who moves well, and has stage presence, can still show that. </p>

<p>PSU and Syracuse, which my D also attended and was admitted to, had true dance auditions including ballet and jazz. I think it is going to help to be able to dance at those schools. I recall that Syracuse rated each portion of the audition from 1-5. So, while they will take kids who are strong in two areas and weak in a third, let's face it...they take so few kids that someone with a 5 (I can't recall now if a 5 or 1 is best but let's say 5 is the highest) in dance and a 5 in acting and a 5 in voice is going to get a slot over someone with a 5 in voice and acting and a 1 in dance. BUT it could be that someone with a 5 in voice and a 3 in Acting and a 5 in dance gets in. I can't go through all the examples. </p>

<p>Dance is part of the audition at Montclair, Elon, Otterbein, Wagner, Muhlenberg and Pace but I have not personally been to those auditions though have worked with students applying to most of those schools. I am unfamiliar with Rockford and U of W Florida. At Muhlenberg, the audition is for scholarships and likely is a tip factor is a good audition in terms of admissions but it is an optional audition and thus it is not like much is riding on dance ability and in fact, dance is not part of their audition for theater. </p>

<p>I don't know if anyone can categorically state for some of those schools that dance counts "third." I think they would agree that dance counts. Strong dance can compensate for weaker acting if voice is strong or strong acting can compensate if dance is weak but voice is strong, etc. However, all areas count. If someone is not good at one area, it is even more imporant to be VERY strong in the other two.</p>

<p>NOTE: I cross posted with MICHAEL, LOL.</p>

4

<p>Thanks to both of you for your candid and thorough responses.
MichaelNKat-how about UArts with respect to dance portion of the audition? My D has requested the first date (12/1) on her application.
PS I believe this is your D's school and that she is loving it - my D and I both were very impressed by UArts when we visited, and it has risen to the top of the list. (Geographically ideal, as well, as we are from Bucks Co!).</p>

5

<p>KeystoneMom....so far, this thread is made up of the Philly contingent....Michael and you live outside it and I used to. :)</p>

6

<p>soozie-that is cool. Philly proud!</p>

7

<p>I believe that Wagner has a pretty intense dance audition. I worked with two performers from there this summer and both were VERY strong dancers. I also have known students who have auditioned for and been accepted there. They too were strong dancers.</p>

<p>This, however is all anecdotal evidence :) ... </p>

<p>I think that SoozieVTs assessment that most schools are looking for strength in two areas and strong potential in the third is good to remember. Also that it is never to late to get better in your weaker area. Taking a dance class now will only help build your Ds confidence level when she starts auditioning in December. </p>

<p>Best of luck as you begin this admission season in earnest!</p>

<p>PS. I have no Philly connection other than very much liking the city of brotherly love :)</p>

8

<p>Hi and welcome!</p>

<pre><code>Of the schools on my D's list, Ithaca and Drake did not have a dance audition. She did not audition at NYU, but they did not have a dance audition this past year either. I don't know about this year.
If my D had not been a dancer, I think that we might have looked hard at schools that had no dance audition, but that had a strong dance curriculums so that she could become the best dancer possible in her four years at the school.
</code></pre>

<p>I agree w/soozie and KatMT about taking some dance. You might find an instructor who would work w/your D privately. It can make a huge difference and costs about the same as voice lessons/hr.<br>
Many things to consider, I wish you and your d the best of luck.</p>

9

<p>My daughter also did the first audition in December! Your daughter should have a very enjoyable experience. The MT faculty and students are very welcoming and friendly. Best of luck to her.</p>

<p>Each segment of the audition is scored 1 - 6 with 6 being the highest. Per my daughter, the dance audition was not tremendously difficult from a technical perspective (it was much more demanding than Emerson's and not as demanding as Syracuse's) and I think they are looking more for the ability to follow instructions, quickly pick up the routines and the ability to move, as opposed to superbly developed technical proficiency. Dance does play a significant role in the MT program; depending on the year, students take 2 hours and forty minutes to 4 hours of dance classes per week throughout the entire 4 years, so they are going to look for students that have demonstrable dance potential. However, in this year's freshman class there are students who have been placed in beginner ballet and jazz and those who have been placed in intermediate. So while I think it is important to do well at the dance segment, if you have a strong singing and acting audition, not walking in as a "prima ballerina" isn't going to knock you out of the box.</p>

<p>And yes, my daughter is just thrilled about being at UArts. She tells me that each and everyone of her instructors clearly have so much to offer and she feels that she is going to learn a tremendous amount this year. It's a lot of work already (freshmen have about 20 hours of actual class time each week plus all of their out of class reading, writing and practice time) but how great is it that an assignment can include going to a show and then writing an analysis of what you saw.</p>

<p>And with you living in Bucks County, you know just how much Philly has to offer culturally and socially. My daughter could not imagine living anywhere else. There is a palpable energy in the air in center city these days with all the theaters, restaurants and other activities going on. It's a very dynamic and exciting place for a student to be going to school.</p>

10

<p>Thanks to all for your ideas and for being so welcoming! I will be sure to come to you with more questions.
KeystoneMom</p>

11

<p>Muhlenberg's dance program is open to all students on campus, but the department has a solid reputation, so it would be a great place to develop dance skills without worrying about whether or not you would be allowed in the classes. Muhlenberg claims to be one of the few schools who have multiple levels of tap class, too.</p>

<p>D2's roommate has been dancing since she was three and although is pre-med, is continuing dance study at Muhlenberg. D is in beginning ballet, despite having had some very sporadic ballet training, and feels very challenged. The only downside, the class is made up of 30 kids - her largest classes. Her Music Theory class has only 10, and her French class has 6! Of course, voice lessons are one-on-one. I think she said her first year honors seminar was 16.</p>

12

<p>I can tell you a bit about the dance audition at Montclair: my D felt it was moderately difficult. (She is an excellent dancer with many years of training.) But at Montclair, you can choose between 3 areas of MT to major in: voice, dance, and acting. Therefore, if you choose acting or voice as your major area of study, you would not be held to the higher standards of a dance major. (D is currently attending Syracuse, and it's true that they put a strong emphasis on dance, especially for girls. She also auditioned at PSU, and found their dance audition pretty tough. Their main teacher is a Fosse-trained dancer who seemed wonderful but demanding.)</p>

13

<p>You've received good advice above, and I'd like to add a couple of things.</p>

<p>Consider OCU for MT. They look for people with good classically trained voices, even for MT, and they do not have a dance audition. One can then take dance at many levels once there (including starting in level 1).</p>

<p>Elon added a dance audition last year for the first time. I assume that voice and acting have taken priority for the audition, at least in the past. Since Elon has become so competitive for MT admissions, I assume that the dance part of the audition will become more and more important.</p>

<p>As several people have expressed above, your daughter will need dance skills in the competitive business of MT. It's never too late to start. She needs to enroll in dance classes / or private lessons as soon as possible and try to concentrate as much as possible on this dance training before she starts auditioning for college. I think ballet is most important, followed by jazz, but I'd recommend both. My son started dancing very late but really focused on dance his senior year in HS.</p>

14

<p>Hello -- Someone PMd me asking about the weight of the dance audition at James Madison University. I responded to her privately, and have also posted the information on the JMU thread for anyone who may be interested.</p>

15

<p>I didn't have a dance component at my Pace audition.</p>

16

<p>There is a dance audition at Baldwin Wallace, but admition into the program is mostly based on acting/singing</p>

17

<p>I go to Syracuse and the dance program is kick ass....that said, you do not have to be a prima ballerina to get in. There are many MT freshmen who have never taken a ballet class in their life. It's all good though, cuz by the time you leave their, you are whipped into shape. They've seen it happen.</p>

18

<p>bsb, good to hear from you again on this list. You're a freshman in the MT dept, aren't you? I am sure I am not the only one who would enjoy hearing how things are going for you so far! Maybe you could post under the Syracuse thread on the top of this forum and tell us what is going on there in 'Cuse. (I grew up right outside the city, so I get to call it that! :))</p>