Dance majors?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If in VA, JMU has a BA in Dance. George Mason and VCU both offer BFA programs. These are all audition programs and well regarded. Many students can double major with a BA but find it very difficult to do so with a BFA program. In MD, UMD has a BA and Towson’s degree is a BFA. DD is looking at public schools offering BA programs because she wants to double major in another academic discipline.

UMBC also has a BA program. Salisbury has a dance minor and an audition-based dance company. In addition, Hopkins's BFA dance program is one of the top in the country (so is Towson's, in case you didn't know that).

Shenandoah has an excellent dance program with BFA and BA options. Radford's program is also BFA and BA. ODU has a dance program as well - my daughter did their dance intensive 2 years in a row and really liked it there. It isn't as intense as others, but might be worth a look.

NC and PA also have some amazing options - our favorite in NC was actually Meredith, and she liked Slippery Rock in PA.

My child always intended on a second field and that IS generally easier at a BA program.

I searched probably every single program in the country using the Dance Magazine College Guide. I am also on the FB group called Dance Parents College Bound. I have fallen in love with the most random places. My kid actually had Northern Michigan U as an option.

Bets of luck!

Thanks for this! Did your daughter consider JMU’s Dance Program? Why or why not?

I’m just going to say she was NOT a good student and leave it at that.

She did do a weekend program in Summer 2021 - she had already gone to Radford a couple weeks before. JMU wasn’t ready to offer dinner housing yet, but Radford was.

JMU has a lovely program and I hear it is very encouraging of double majors where possible. They have been running an intensive with Danceworks Chicago for several years.

Definitely one to check out, especially if in state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:University of Utah has an excellent dance program.

We moved from Bethesda to Park City, UT 5 years ago. The majority of last year's seniors from my daughter's dance studio are currently freshman dance majors at UT and they rave about the program.

Yes. It’s fabulous.

It’s a nice program, but it is not particularly selective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As long as she stays away from UMD she should be ok. UMD grads are unemployable.

What makes you stay this? UMD is DD’s first choice.

The lack of audition process means that only the worst dancers go there. The faculty is incredibly weak and has little to work with. Not only do they have trouble getting hired but we won't hire anyone that was taught by a UMD grad.

Even students that enter with some skill will not keep pace with peers elsewhere. I sit on the otherside if the table and toss the resumes. Too many have underperformed to even bither.

Are you hiring for teaching or performing roles? Doesn’t UMD have a scholarship awarded to talented dancers by audition? If you’re hiring for performing roles, wouldn’t the audition speak louder than the school?

bother.

Both. Haven't had a competent audition in 5 years. The really strong local schools don't hire them to teach.

I’m sorry I’m not trying to out you but to understand more from your perspective. DD is planning to audition for several dance programs next year - including the local ones mentioned here - but UMD has a much stronger academic program and she wants to double major. Her goal is to dance in college at a fairly high (but not top) level and hopefully in a company someday, but doesn’t plan to make her living through dance. Is UMD’s program strong enough to provide those kinds of opportunities?

[Anonymous]

I know a wonderful dancer who majored in dance at SMU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NYU is #1

Actually Pace, Oklahoma City, and Boston Conservatory are.

Indiana is considered the Harvard of dance major programs. The acceptance rate is under 10%. Extremely strong program that many professional companies will hire from.

Indiana, Utah and Oklahoma, as well as Butler and UNCSA are the most sought after ballet programs.

Pace, OCU and BoCo are tops in commercial/broadway dance

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As long as she stays away from UMD she should be ok. UMD grads are unemployable.

What makes you stay this? UMD is DD’s first choice.

The lack of audition process means that only the worst dancers go there. The faculty is incredibly weak and has little to work with. Not only do they have trouble getting hired but we won't hire anyone that was taught by a UMD grad.

Even students that enter with some skill will not keep pace with peers elsewhere. I sit on the otherside if the table and toss the resumes. Too many have underperformed to even bither.

Are you hiring for teaching or performing roles? Doesn’t UMD have a scholarship awarded to talented dancers by audition? If you’re hiring for performing roles, wouldn’t the audition speak louder than the school?

bother.

Both. Haven't had a competent audition in 5 years. The really strong local schools don't hire them to teach.

I’m sorry I’m not trying to out you but to understand more from your perspective. DD is planning to audition for several dance programs next year - including the local ones mentioned here - but UMD has a much stronger academic program and she wants to double major. Her goal is to dance in college at a fairly high (but not top) level and hopefully in a company someday, but doesn’t plan to make her living through dance. Is UMD’s program strong enough to provide those kinds of opportunities?

No clue about other majors. As a dance major it is considered weak. The weakest. Below CLI Conservatory. If she is not planning to work in dance then who cares.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know a wonderful dancer who majored in dance at SMU.

SMU is a really good program, as well.

Oh, and don’t forget TCU-they also have a lovely ballet program

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As long as she stays away from UMD she should be ok. UMD grads are unemployable.

What makes you stay this? UMD is DD’s first choice.

The lack of audition process means that only the worst dancers go there. The faculty is incredibly weak and has little to work with. Not only do they have trouble getting hired but we won't hire anyone that was taught by a UMD grad.

Even students that enter with some skill will not keep pace with peers elsewhere. I sit on the otherside if the table and toss the resumes. Too many have underperformed to even bither.

Are you hiring for teaching or performing roles? Doesn’t UMD have a scholarship awarded to talented dancers by audition? If you’re hiring for performing roles, wouldn’t the audition speak louder than the school?

bother.

Both. Haven't had a competent audition in 5 years. The really strong local schools don't hire them to teach.

I’m sorry I’m not trying to out you but to understand more from your perspective. DD is planning to audition for several dance programs next year - including the local ones mentioned here - but UMD has a much stronger academic program and she wants to double major. Her goal is to dance in college at a fairly high (but not top) level and hopefully in a company someday, but doesn’t plan to make her living through dance. Is UMD’s program strong enough to provide those kinds of opportunities?

Not likely employable for a dance company.

[Anonymous]

Pointe Park?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NYU is #1

Actually Pace, Oklahoma City, and Boston Conservatory are.

Indiana is considered the Harvard of dance major programs. The acceptance rate is under 10%. Extremely strong program that many professional companies will hire from.

Indiana, Utah and Oklahoma, as well as Butler and UNCSA are the most sought after ballet programs.

Pace, OCU and BoCo are tops in commercial/broadway dance

Indiana is in a category of its own. It is respected in the professional dance world in a way the others are not.

The program is in the highly respected Jacobs School of Music and provides amazing opportunities to their dancers while in college and many get hired into professional companies when they graduate. Majors can also double major at the Kelley School of Business, which sets them up really well for their longer term future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pointe Park?

This is a conservatory experience. Hard to double.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NYU is #1

Actually Pace, Oklahoma City, and Boston Conservatory are.

Indiana is considered the Harvard of dance major programs. The acceptance rate is under 10%. Extremely strong program that many professional companies will hire from.

Indiana, Utah and Oklahoma, as well as Butler and UNCSA are the most sought after ballet programs.

Pace, OCU and BoCo are tops in commercial/broadway dance

Indiana is in a category of its own. It is respected in the professional dance world in a way the others are not.

The program is in the highly respected Jacobs School of Music and provides amazing opportunities to their dancers while in college and many get hired into professional companies when they graduate. Majors can also double major at the Kelley School of Business, which sets them up really well for their longer term future.

Fine, but the others aren’t rubbish

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As long as she stays away from UMD she should be ok. UMD grads are unemployable.

What makes you stay this? UMD is DD’s first choice.

The lack of audition process means that only the worst dancers go there. The faculty is incredibly weak and has little to work with. Not only do they have trouble getting hired but we won't hire anyone that was taught by a UMD grad.

Even students that enter with some skill will not keep pace with peers elsewhere. I sit on the otherside if the table and toss the resumes. Too many have underperformed to even bither.

Are you hiring for teaching or performing roles? Doesn’t UMD have a scholarship awarded to talented dancers by audition? If you’re hiring for performing roles, wouldn’t the audition speak louder than the school?

bother.

Both. Haven't had a competent audition in 5 years. The really strong local schools don't hire them to teach.

I’m sorry I’m not trying to out you but to understand more from your perspective. DD is planning to audition for several dance programs next year - including the local ones mentioned here - but UMD has a much stronger academic program and she wants to double major. Her goal is to dance in college at a fairly high (but not top) level and hopefully in a company someday, but doesn’t plan to make her living through dance. Is UMD’s program strong enough to provide those kinds of opportunities?

No clue about other majors. As a dance major it is considered weak. The weakest. Below CLI Conservatory. If she is not planning to work in dance then who cares.

CLI is not respected, huh?

What about Steps, Peridance or TAPS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As long as she stays away from UMD she should be ok. UMD grads are unemployable.

What makes you stay this? UMD is DD’s first choice.

The lack of audition process means that only the worst dancers go there. The faculty is incredibly weak and has little to work with. Not only do they have trouble getting hired but we won't hire anyone that was taught by a UMD grad.

Even students that enter with some skill will not keep pace with peers elsewhere. I sit on the otherside if the table and toss the resumes. Too many have underperformed to even bither.

Are you hiring for teaching or performing roles? Doesn’t UMD have a scholarship awarded to talented dancers by audition? If you’re hiring for performing roles, wouldn’t the audition speak louder than the school?

bother.

Both. Haven't had a competent audition in 5 years. The really strong local schools don't hire them to teach.

I’m sorry I’m not trying to out you but to understand more from your perspective. DD is planning to audition for several dance programs next year - including the local ones mentioned here - but UMD has a much stronger academic program and she wants to double major. Her goal is to dance in college at a fairly high (but not top) level and hopefully in a company someday, but doesn’t plan to make her living through dance. Is UMD’s program strong enough to provide those kinds of opportunities?

Not likely employable for a dance company.

How about strong schools that offer dance minors and/or strong companies - Princeton, W&M, Wesleyan, Vassar? Or other schools offering BA dance degrees like GW, AU, or Connecticut College?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As long as she stays away from UMD she should be ok. UMD grads are unemployable.

What makes you stay this? UMD is DD’s first choice.

The lack of audition process means that only the worst dancers go there. The faculty is incredibly weak and has little to work with. Not only do they have trouble getting hired but we won't hire anyone that was taught by a UMD grad.

Even students that enter with some skill will not keep pace with peers elsewhere. I sit on the otherside if the table and toss the resumes. Too many have underperformed to even bither.

Are you hiring for teaching or performing roles? Doesn’t UMD have a scholarship awarded to talented dancers by audition? If you’re hiring for performing roles, wouldn’t the audition speak louder than the school?

bother.

Both. Haven't had a competent audition in 5 years. The really strong local schools don't hire them to teach.

I’m sorry I’m not trying to out you but to understand more from your perspective. DD is planning to audition for several dance programs next year - including the local ones mentioned here - but UMD has a much stronger academic program and she wants to double major. Her goal is to dance in college at a fairly high (but not top) level and hopefully in a company someday, but doesn’t plan to make her living through dance. Is UMD’s program strong enough to provide those kinds of opportunities?

Not likely employable for a dance company.

How about strong schools that offer dance minors and/or strong companies - Princeton, W&M, Wesleyan, Vassar? Or other schools offering BA dance degrees like GW, AU, or Connecticut College?

Pretty solid options. Even Harvard has a dance major. The current group of GW and AU students are doing well in the working world.