Dance majors?

[Anonymous]

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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.

My daughter is a sophomore, dance major at Towson. Her goal is to own her own studio and teach, she does not want a performative career though many at Towson do. She applied and got into the typical schools dancers all seem to pursue (except Montclair State, did not get into the dance program) She did get into the dance programs at JMU, VCU, George Mason, Radford and American. UMD was a little too modern based on reputation so she did not apply. She has a chronic illness so decided to stay closely in Md. She loved Towson, it's demanding and I have to say pretty slow on offering any accommodations for disabilities (she has a syndrome that causes fatigue and has some Dr's appts. Even after disability office approved her status the dance dept lagged behind and made it hard). She really had to advocate for herself to not be penalized with a lower grade for missing a dance class due to a necessary doctor's appt for example. Which seems crazy to me but that tells you about the expectations. And maybe about dance culture in general. Though different schools may have different tolerances.

We walked out of a dance program we attended at GW when she was a senior in high school. It was poorly choreographed. And American's program was difficult to gage, it was hard to know when they even had shows, so despite getting in, she felt like the school really did not invest in the dance program. We could be wrong on that. Best wishes to your daughter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:High ranked schools with great dance programs -Hopkins, USC, Northwestern, Emory, Duke, Michigan, NYU, OSU, UC-Irvine (this one is good for ballet), Rutgers

I have heard excellent things about the dance instruction at Princeton and Wake Forest , though not an academic major

I think WashU, as well, but not talked about as much.

Vandy and Stanford have companies that are very good

Unless the family is rich, you'd be a little crazy to pay Princeton ot Northwestern prices for a dance degree.

What about Indiana or GMU?

Princeton doesn’t have a dance degree. They do have classes and apparently excellent ballet instruction.

Northwestern is rarely mentioned on the Dance Parent board, so I don’t think many ARE paying for that.

Many who truly want a dance degree give up a top academic school for an amazing dance program. For example-Montclair State in NJ and Point Park in PA. A friend from that board had a daughter drop out of Montclair when she decided a Dance BFA wasn’t her path. She came back home and went to the local state school, where she is doing a dance club while pursuing psychology.

[Anonymous]

Funny about American - I wanted to see something there with my daughter and we wound up at a senior project presentation. It was…odd. They did it in an art gallery. Do NOT go to that for a feel for the program

[Anonymous]

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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.

Interesting, as the perception among dancers is that it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Northeastern with Marymount Manhattan Campus(NYC)

The MMC dance program is also one of the most sought after for potential dance majors. Obviously the NU buyout has put things a little in flux, but the common understanding is that NU intends to keep the arts programs there strong. Keep an eye on it for changes, but definitely one to consider.

[Anonymous]

Does she want a job with a living wage after college? Dance and French are a hard sell to actually afford to support yourself post college

[Anonymous]

Family member studied French. Has great career working as a gov consultant. French is used a lot in regards to security work in N Africa.

[Anonymous]

Here's the thing about dance majors: If you are not a strong enough dancer to go right into dance from high school, then you are not strong enough ever to make a living out of it. Or if you are, why waste a college degree on something you already know how to do? It is the most illogical thing I have ever heard of. There are lot of uemployable degrees out there, but to me, dance is the top of the list. I know a pretty untalented dancer who insisted they would only go to an "audition only" dance program, but didn't make it into any top ones, so went to Elon. She passed up much stronger academic colleges because of this misplaced priority. Now she's a pilates instructor. Either go be a dancer, or go to college.

[Anonymous]

I am old but grew up dancing at Wash Ballet. I don’t know anyone that actually graduated as a dance major.

Friend went to Utah. SLC used to be much more conservative. Hated it and moved on.

Friend went to NYU for dance. Changed major after one year.

Know people who studied other things and continued dancing in the side at Princeton, Harvard.

Know someone who danced at William and Mary, majored in Kineseo and now is a MD.

Dance is not a good job hunting major. Can work with another minor.

If you’re not looking for ballet it might be ok. Very few go from college dance programs to paying ballet gigs. It happens, but those people had the physique and needed a little more strength or refinement.

I am honestly would like to what kind of jobs dance majors from UMD, VCU etc are getting after graduation. Dance has such a short performing window. Actors, singers, musicians can have long fulfilling careers. Dancers have to transition. The body can’t do it forever.

Just curious how thing play out in todays world…….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Family member studied French. Has great career working as a gov consultant. French is used a lot in regards to security work in N Africa.

No, French major average salary is shitty.
Anecdote feel good story doesn't mean shit.

[Anonymous]

I have not read this whole thread. I am a college guide author and former dance and English major.

It really depends on if she wants more ballet or modern. Most college dance programs are modern-based. Before you can even look at colleges, you need to know this answer.

Barnes and Noble and Amazon carries my book and lists recommended dance programs.

Here is my book on majors for creative students:

Creative Colleges: Finding the Best Programs for Aspiring Actors, Artists, Designers

https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Colleges-Programs-Designers-Musicians/dp/149264711X/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.1jBC7ylH9KZW8E-y9M-K_Mac7tL8nqbbOvN0A-xLvDKMFr_BPfkg6PsA9W79U7r-myDwJ7gZIRh6Ns5JyXXxaxHE44Ry8dabwAm-_4pSHE5ZNbIb2YDiy7az4IW8nCI-urtWRe7Ain0lu4N6E7gk3WtvzoKcJS26NDXaP2KgF_4i3guDp0z22o89C2xkTMSBm9eEzbjOqU-yBej4P-3QfvnjlyesfbShiNkHtOK1fFo.yx7KzSb1ppk3nEAJqfxyE2T0T5uK7FFeFOfwcWMfuQw&dib_tag=se&keywords=creative+colleges&qid=1727622861&sr=8-1, Dancers, Musicians, Writers, and More 5th Edition

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a friend who majored in dance at ASU and raves about that program.

I know another woman who did a double major in Dance and English at Goucher College which offers dance scholarships that are very generous for students who are serious about dance. Worth looking into.

I am not your friend by I went to Goucher and did the same thing--Dance and English (also wrote a college guide for creative students).

ASU is very good. I wanted to got to Butler....my parents would not let me. Or Barnard. I did not want to go to Indiana U because I wanted to double major.

[Anonymous]

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

Yes, it does. It is the first college dance program in the country.

[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?

PP here. She will not be happy there if she wants a dance major. Better to find a school where she can double major.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Related question for those whose kids majored in dance and graduated, where are they now? What are they doing?

I did dance and English. I had extreme college debt and could not go the dance route. I taught for a short time. I became a writer/editor and wrote two books. Between my day job and my business, I make almost 200k.