I am a current high school senior with a not-great GPA but very strong SAT scores applying to colleges. I am planning to either major in musical theatre or theatre, a BFA or a BA, with a possible double major in music composition or dance(if I can’t get into an MT program) (or possibly education) . I have a ton of dance, theatre, and music experience. However, I am also circus student, and I practice aerial arts such as lyra and static trapeze, in addition to contortion, gymnastics, and some other disciplines.
I am trying to find more colleges to apply to that have classes in Aerial Dance, Circus, or Circus clubs which I can train and practice in. I most likely will not be able to afford off-campus circus classes. This is very important to me as I consider it a big part of my theatre experience, as the circus skills I have have already gotten me professional theatre jobs. It isn’t a hobby for me, it is something that will greatly benefit my future & that I really care about.
Even for the colleges that do have classes and programs, it is very hard to find information on them, so any info would be greatly appreciated.
U of New Hampshire (which has a BA in MT) requires their dance minors and majors to take aerial dance. If you go to the school’s website and type in aerial dance it will take you to a page specific to that. Very cool!
In terms of aerial dance, U of Colorado-Boulder has an MFA in Aerial Dance, but I don’t know if there are opportunities for undergraduates in this (you could ask), and also offers BA and BFA programs in theater, musical theater, and dance.
We have several friends who did the physical theatre program at Coastal and loved it. They spent a semester in Italy at the Accademia de Comedia? which they loved. I do know they have used things like silks and rings in some of their musical productions. And I don’t think Coastal’s academic admission is too difficult. It might be a great choice for you. They also were eligible for in-state tuition even though they were from out of state because there was not a school in our state that offered a physical theater major. So something to look into!
@vvnstar Accademia dell’arte in Arezzo, Italy. As a PT major, Juniors spend the whole year in Italy. All other MT and Acting majors have the option of going for a semester as well if they so choose.
Thanks for filling in the blanks for me @stagedoormama. You are indeed correct with the name of the Italian school and the fact they were there for the entire year. I was a big fan of Coastal when D auditioned. And although I loved where our D went to school, I think we would have been equally happy if she had accepted her offer to Coastal.
As a PT major, Juniors spend the whole year in Italy. All other MT and Acting majors have the option of going for a semester as well if they so choose.