<p>As I've mentioned earlier, I'm just a sophomore, but due to my international location I figure it's never too early to start thinking about these things. I'm planning out my dance classes for the coming year now, and something curious struck me. I'm a novice jazz and ballet dancer (although I'm sure I'll improve in the next two years), but I'm a fairly strong tapper. I know that tap isn't typically required at a MT dance audition, but if one were a strong tapper (and weaker in other disciplines), could that still sway the dance audition in one's favour? I know it will vary by school, right now I'm just looking for any helpful generalization someone has to offer!</p>
<p>You might be able to discuss your tap experience in your interview. If you think about it enough, you can slide any information you want into the interview portion.</p>
<p>My D brought tap shoes to all of her auditions - but never needed them. She was asked at several auditions, though, if she could tap - and asked about what steps she knew, etc.</p>
<p>My daughter never had to tap at any auditions and there wasn’t really even a time for it. The majority of auditions include a dance that a choreographer will teach to you. Some do allow for 30 sec. or so of anything you want to do so maybe you could throw it in there.</p>
<p>At Pace University there was a tap part to the dance audition, though non-tappers could opt out.</p>
<p>Colleges ask for your theater resume which should include your dance training. Even though tap is not part of most BFA auditions (my kid attended 8 auditions and none involved tap), the colleges will see that you have training in tap. My D had extensive tap dance training from a young age up through college and was in a select tap dance troupe through her years in HS and also choreographed tap dances for this troupe. It was all on the resume. </p>
<p>That said, definitely balance your training now with ballet and jazz because as far as the auditions for college go, that is what the audition portion will involve and in any case, these are skills to develop if you are pursuing MT. Being a good tap dancer is nice too but obviously not all shows involve tap. But you likely have learned some skills in tap dance that will carry over. For instance, you have learned to pick up dance combinations and that is a way of working that will come in handy at a dance audition as you are used to having to learn a routine on the spot. Now, you need to develop technique in ballet and jazz. But all the skills will come in handy and all your dance styles will be noted on your theater resume and they do examine your training and background (they ask for a resume after all). The resume can’t take the place of a strong audition but is a piece that gives them an idea of what you have done so far. Keep tappin’ and keep dancin’!</p>
<p>What soozievt said. This audition season my D attended 1 dance call with a few minutes of tap at the end and one dance call where individuals who could were asked to demonstrate some basic tap steps at the end. At a third audition dancers were told to bring tap shoes if they had them, but at that particular call, no tapping was done.<br>
It’s hard to say what will be that “thing” that puts you into the winner’s circle at these various schools.
Still, make sure you see the video of the very cool tap routine in the rehearsal with Sutton Foster in the upcoming revival of 42nd Street!</p>
<p>^^I think you mean Anything Goes!! :D</p>
<p>(that number does look great)</p>
<p>Yes, thanks Soozievt. Something told me to get my facts straight…</p>
<p>Also great tap routine (all girls in Cinderella Darling) in the new production of How to Succeed now in previews.</p>
<p>Tap is good, You should bring your tap shoes to your auditions, along with your character shoes, flats, ballet slippers and point shoes. Many schools will get to some point in the dance audition and them asks who taps and then ask for a time step or so. Do not be afraid to mention you tap at an appropriate moment. As someone else suggested, you could bring it up at an interview. tap is a plus - it is not part of most initial dance auditions because it is so skill specific. A person whose strength is something other than dance can attempt a jazz combination - but tap cannot be taught to one who has not studied in five minutes. Keep up the training in all areas - I am sure you will be fine if you keep your eye on the prize.</p>
<p>^^Based on that post, there seems to be some schools that ask who taps. Please be aware that many schools never ask this at the audition. My own kid applied to 8 BFA in MT programs (NYU/Tisch, Michigan, Carnegie Mellon, BOCO, Ithaca, Syracuse, Penn State, Emerson) and at that time, tap never came up at any of the dance auditions (and she is a lifelong tapper). I have advised many students who have auditioned for many other BFA programs and so far, not a one has been asked to tap. However, based on the post above, there apparently are some schools where this must occur.</p>
<p>Soozievt - sorry, I did not mean to sound as if it where routine to ask about tap. I have seen this, first hand, at SU - but that was a long time ago. It came up,briefly at an MTEA meeting and my recollection was that several folks - example, OU, Elon, FSU mentioned that they do at times ask for about tap. Some schools (even in your list) have no dance audition at all. My point was only to be ready for anything (with all the shoes) and to keep training across many areas.</p>
<p>Soozievt- Syracuse at Unifieds this year asked who could do a this step or a that step in tap. Those who knew the terms demonstrated wearing their regular dance shoes they already had on. It was a 30 second portion of the dance audition. </p>
<p>The one day she left her taps in the car, was the day she needed them for the last 5-10 minutes of a campus audition for some real choreography. Thankfully there was time to make a mad dash for the car before the group was called. </p>
<p>We have not heard back yet from any of the tapping audition schools. I sort of doubt however that any of them might have smacked their hands to heads, saying “She can double time step! We must have this girl!” Still, tap seems to be on the rise on B’Way so it’s worth working on. (See “So You Want to Dance on Broadway” book by Tina Paul for the importance of a good ballet foundation even for shows where there is no ballet to be seen.)</p>
<p>mtdog, I am glad you are raising the point to bring one’s tap shoes in case! I think we brought them too. I was just saying that it is not that common to tap at college auditions, but perhaps it was just the schools my kid auditioned at. When she auditioned at Syracuse, there was an intense dance audition but no tap (she was admitted). All her schools had a dance audition except Ithaca and BOCO, but BOCO has since added dance to their auditions. But I hadn’t heard of any of my students tapping at their auditions and they have auditioned at schools my kid did not. Of the schools you mentioned, I have never had anyone audition at FSU or OU (which may explain why I haven’t come in contact with this) but have had students audition at Elon (and been admitted) but nobody mentioned tap dancing there. I was just trying to point out to the OP that tap is GREAT to have as training and on the theater resume, but not that common in the college audition itself, but I’m glad you pointed out that some places may ask for tap on the audition day and to definitely bring one’s tap shoes in case!</p>
<p>classicalbk, thanks for the update on Syracuse. This year, I only have a student who auditioned there for acting and nobody for MT. My D auditioned there in 2005 and it was on campus and no tap but things change year to year and so this is good to know.</p>
<p>CMU does not include a tap portion to it’s dance combo! You don’t start taping until your Sophomore year and then you continue until your Senior year.</p>
<p>There is a tap component at the Pace dance call with tap shoes; U Mich had tap steps at the end of the dance call without tap shoes. UArts lets you supplement your dance audition (if you audition on campus) with a 2 minute solo if you choose to do so; you could show your strength in tap there.</p>
<p>That’s helpful for people to know. Audition processes change year to year. When my kid auditioned at UMich, there was no tap steps in the audition. She did not audition at UArts or Pace, but I knew UArts lets you supplement your dance audition with a solo if you choose to do so. I have had students audition there but as they were not strong dancers, they did not do that.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the words of wisdom, everyone. Soozie, I hadn’t looked at my tap in the way that you mentioned (as a way of thinking to better pick up combinations). Like I said, I’m booking my dance for the upcoming year now, so I’ll be taking this all into account. Also, thanks for the routine suggestions - that is in fact what I try to do when I get a moment of spare time! :)</p>
<p>I auditioned at six schools this year - CCM, Elon, Syracuse, Ithaca, Baldwin-Wallace, and University of the Arts - Elon was the only one that asked people to tap.</p>