My dancer will not be majoring in dance. Dance is an activity, not a future.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

That’s not even close to being true. Maybe when you were young a hundred years ago but no more.

In ballet companies usually have a school attached. Boston Ballet has a tuition free graduate program for post high school dancers. Very tough to get into. More companies are now adding post high school programs for students with potential to dance professionally within a couple of years.

Alvin Ailey takes most of their dancers from their own school, Boston Conservatory has a three year BFA in commercial dancing.

The best programs are not colleges but the dance companies own post high school programs or conservatories. Juilliard has many famous graduates. None started at 18.

And what a mistake to do this instead of attend university!

Many dancers get injured and poof their “career” is over. Never forgo an education for dance.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

This is very outdated info. You need to exceptionally talented, excellently trained at the college level, and well connected through your home studio to get high paying work.

Oy vey

Anonymous wrote: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.

That’s not even close to being true. Maybe when you were young a hundred years ago but no more.

In ballet companies usually have a school attached. Boston Ballet has a tuition free graduate program for post high school dancers. Very tough to get into. More companies are now adding post high school programs for students with potential to dance professionally within a couple of years.

Alvin Ailey takes most of their dancers from their own school, Boston Conservatory has a three year BFA in commercial dancing.

The best programs are not colleges but the dance companies own post high school programs or conservatories. Juilliard has many famous graduates. None started at 18.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Agree. Even if you want to open a dance studio, you’d be better served going to college for business rather than dance.

Only if you want yo churn out lousy dancers, which is, of course, bad for business.

Even the most toxic studios with mediocre dancers are cutting checks. It doesn’t take a dancer to run these money makers. It takes a well minded business person.

Well, you have to know you are hiring good instructors

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Agree. Even if you want to open a dance studio, you’d be better served going to college for business rather than dance.

Only if you want yo churn out lousy dancers, which is, of course, bad for business.

Even the most toxic studios with mediocre dancers are cutting checks. It doesn’t take a dancer to run these money makers. It takes a well minded business person.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Agree. Even if you want to open a dance studio, you’d be better served going to college for business rather than dance.

Only if you want yo churn out lousy dancers, which is, of course, bad for business.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Agree. Even if you want to open a dance studio, you’d be better served going to college for business rather than dance.

A lot of dance programs offer the opportunity to take business classes and many dance majors do. It seems odd to suggest not dancing in college, which is where they get to higher skill levels. It's very obvious that demanding programs produce next level results. You see the heightened skill even after one semester. It matters.

You typed a shortened version of what my phone deleted on me ;P

Look, it is up to each student/family to decide how they wish to handle dance interest/dreams.

There are many programs across the country with business/entrepreneurship/arts admin concentrations. I know of just the schools my daughter applied to, Radford and Slippery Rock have BFA concentrations under dance with this option.
https://catalog.sru.edu/undergraduate/liberal-arts/dance/dance-bfa-concentration-dance-entrepreneurship/
https://catalog.radford.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=57&poid=7585#danceentrepreneurship
Dean offers this in their BA program (Dance with studio management): https://dean-www.s3.amazonaws.com/files/resources/2024-2025-dean-college-academic-catalog.pdf
Northern Michigan Dance Business Track https://catalog.nmu.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=4&poid=511&returnto=248

Montclair, one of the most respected programs in the country, offers a BA in studio management https://www.montclair.edu/theatre-and-dance/academic-programs/undergraduate/ba-dance/

Lots of dancers take a minor in arts administration

The student can decide the level of dance they want to do once at college. Many dancers find a way to double major. Some decide to do a different major and minor in dance, or they do a dance team or a company or any number of other options/combinations. There is one dancer on the Colle Bound board who decided to do the Arts Admin major at Pace while doing dance instruction at the many incredibly NYC studios that send their artists off the Broadway.

For my daughter, dance was the easiest way to college. It got her interested in going to get a diploma. She was NOT the best student and a 4 year school wasn't a given. She had an interest in AT type work with dancers. But her academic/LD struggles were a challenge. Dean checked so many boxes for what she wanted and needed out of college. They gave her a talent scholarship and placed her into one of their special programs for kids with LDs. They also have the incredible opportunities for kids interested in exercise science/AT. She made sure she started in the exercise science classes right away. She may not stay a dance major, but the school offers so many different pathways for her. Doing dance classes and exercise science classes gets her EXCITED about school. I already have seen a change in her and it makes us so dang happy that she actually cares about getting to class and doing well.

This is a kid that DCUM would have written off and told her just to go to community college. Trust me, we considered all paths for her. Even in April, we weren't sure she was 4 year school bound. But now she's there and loving it. Which is exactly why we gave her this chance.

Many of the teachers at my kid’s dance studio have a BA or BFA in dance. Many also do other things besides teach dance. Many also perform/have performed with different companies. Many of the studio kids end up taking dance as a minor in college.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Agree. Even if you want to open a dance studio, you’d be better served going to college for business rather than dance.

A lot of dance programs offer the opportunity to take business classes and many dance majors do. It seems odd to suggest not dancing in college, which is where they get to higher skill levels. It's very obvious that demanding programs produce next level results. You see the heightened skill even after one semester. It matters.

Anonymous wrote: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.

Agree. Even if you want to open a dance studio, you’d be better served going to college for business rather than dance.

Barnard

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Dance trained you brain for creativity.

Anonymous wrote: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.

This is very outdated info. You need to exceptionally talented, excellently trained at the college level, and well connected through your home studio to get high paying work.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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

It is not selective in the way that Indiana is. If you actually want to dance professionally in a company, you are more likely to be hired coming from IU than any of the other schools mentioned here, at least in part because IU accepts such a small percentage of their applicants. Directors know that.