I am very involved in dance, committing 16-25 hours a week to class and rehearsals. I am also a member of a youth ballet company at my studio. I feel that I am a very skilled dancer, though not good enough to win national awards(I don’t compete). I am also planning on getting an extra letter of rec from my dance teacher. I am not sure of Stanford/Ivies’ general attitudes towards dance supplements- will submitting a video that doesn’t reflect national award-winning skill along with an extra letter be too much unnecessary supplementary material and hurt my application? Or is it the opposite- could a lack of dance supplement when I obviously am very passionate about dance diminish my dance skills in the minds of admissions (if she is that good, why didn’t she submit a dance supplement?). Thanks!
Without national awards, for HYPMS and the like, I would recommend against the video, but add the extra letter.
“that doesn’t reflect national award-winning skill”
You don’t need to have national awards, but you should not submit a supplement if your skills are not at that level.
I think it depends on the school and whether or not your skill level is commensurate with their own dance programs/dance company. For example, Princeton encourages an arts supplement and has its own ballet company. Brown doesn’t really have a dance program of any significance. Some smaller LACs offer dance scholarships with only a small commitment to be active in the dance program and no commitment to major. Research the dance programs at institutions where you might apply and if you are as good or better than what they showcase at their shows, then include some footage.
Respectfully, to the earlier posters, there are very few ballet dancers who perform at the national level and fewer still of those pursue college degrees - they go straight to company contracts from HS, if they can get them. That’s one of the main functions that national competitions serve, to recruit talent. One can also be incredibly skilled but not possess the body type most prized by the profession. Many universities are happy to get talented dancers to enrich the cultural life on campus and don’t expect prize-winning ballerinas. If the OP is in a company, she’s probably pretty good. If she has Ivy-level stats with a rehearsal schedule like that, then I salute her!