<p>Has anyone heard anything about the Conservatory at this university. My dd has got alot of info from them lately. We are considering a visit to see it. Let me know</p>
<p>dancerpa, my D auditioned there in January. Reasons for selecting this to audition for my D included, the BA- BFA option; a well structured arts administration program in dance (which is actually a BS degree double major between dance and business); it is a mixed program, ballet, modern, ballet; and for D allows dancers to audition for and participate in MT productions.</p>
<p>DD auditioned on Jan 20 or around then. There were about 40 people auditioning (5 males if I remember correctly). The audition was very long, as it involved full clases in ballet, modern and jazz, plus individual solos from each kid. Currently enrolled students took part in the classes with the auditionees which D liked because she got some sense of the quality of current dancers. They let parents watch all the classes, but not solos.</p>
<p>D’s impressions were that the modern was more contemporary than modern. She spent a summer at Ailey and does Horton and some Graham at her current school and did not feel that the “modern” was really modern in those senses. The ballet class she found easy - it was a freshman/level 1 class - but there were a few very good dancers from the school. D felt she struggled with the Jazz. This is where she has the least training and most of what she does have is from MT, which this was not an MT style of jazz. Also, for many of the other kids this was where they seemed most familiar (D comes from a classical ballet program). Also she and all the kids were quite tired by this time (3 hours of dance and stress) until then.</p>
<p>There was a very large range of quality in the auditioners from very strong to what appeared to be quite beginner in all areas. Based on the solos D felt many of the kids came from competition backgrounds and did lyrical solos. Based on the students in the program dancing there was also a range within the styles. All dancers have to take all styles and so some were not too strong in ballet but led the groups in modern. And there were definitely some very lovely dancers in each of the styles.</p>
<p>Shenandoah allows juniors (I think) to come to what they call dance days. There were a few of these kids. They participate fully in the classes, but have different color numbers from the auditionees, so you might see if you can visit for one of these.</p>
<p>D was accepted into the BS dance/arts administration and Shenandoah is definitely in the pool for consideration still. I liked the program and the fact that many of the kids are double majoring and able to dance at a high level. They had other interesting opportunities also. We did not get to see much of the campus because we were there when there was a light ice storm in the night so the campus did not open until noon on the audition day and all the tours were planned for the morning. Let me know if you want to know anything else.</p>
<p>Hi, We visited Shennadoah over spring break and dd loved it. This will be one of her first choices. The dept head gave a few prospective dance majors a private talk. My dd loved her. She is going to audition in the fall with them. Thanks for your input. We probably would not have gone and seen them if I had not got your impression! Thanks.</p>
<p>dancerinpa- I am so glad you DD liked her experience at Shenandoah. In the end my D decided to go to Point Park (so she will be a dancer in pa). Shenandoah offered her a nice aid/scholarship package and she received a personal note from the chair. In the end I think the deciding factor was the modern style - she loved PPU and not Shenandoah. Good luck to you and your D. Enjoy the ride.</p>
<p>dear keepingcalm- My dd first choice will probably will be pp also. A couple of her friends from the studio go there. But Shenendoah is right up there. Thanks and have fun in the Burgh!</p>
<p>DD just attended orientation at PPU and cannot wait to get there- of course that could be because I am perpetually in a bad mood these days. Please let me know if you have questions as the year goes on, I would be happy to let you know how it is going.</p>
<p>Hi, just an update. DD just auditioned at Shenandoah and this will probably be her first choice. It was a long day but she loved it. How long did it take before your dd found out she was in? They told us a month but one of her friends last year found out faster. Was a boy though. Hope your dd loves PP.</p>
<p>dancerinpa - I don’t remember it being too long before she found out, but I am pretty sure it was right around the length of time they told us. I am also pretty sure that the online information showed up before we received official notice.
DD is loving PPU, both academically and dance wise. She was not cast in any of the fall concert pieces, which was a little disappointing (maybe more for us than her), but feels really good about her classes and that she is learning a lot but also can see how much more space she has to grow.
Good luck, the waiting is hard.</p>