Interviews and Placements for BA/BS in Dance

DUE DATE: by 11:59 PM EST on February 1, 2027

BFA and BA.BS Dance (DANC)

We encourage all dancers to audition in person for our program. The guidelines below are for all who are not able to attend the in-person event. The process for remote auditions includes submitting a video audition (see below) and submitting a résumé and headshot.

Submission Requirements: Upload your accessible link (Unlisted YouTube, Vimeo, or Google Drive links with permission) to your Cardinal Landing portal via your digital Portfolio. In the Portfolio, you will see a text box where you will paste the appropriate link for your audition video. 

Audition Requirements:

• Headshot
• Résumé
• Audition Video (see requirements below)

Dance Video Submission

In our department we emphasize technique, artistry, creativity and intellect through a variety of forms. We honor each student’s journey in their development as artists and in their abilities in these different forms. We encourage you to highlight your talents and interests in your video submission.

(1) Please submit 3 - 5 minutes of basic dance exercises, from which we can get a sense of your dance skills and technique — as well as any other class-type activity that you believe will help us see your current level of training. These exercises/combinations should be in at least 3 out of the 5 following forms: modern, hip-hop, West African, ballet, or jazz. You may use music if you wish.
(2) Perform a 90-second to 2-minute solo. It can be in any dance style that you feel best demonstrates your artistic qualities. It does not need to be self-choreographed.
While it's important that your video shows us what we need to see, and a nice, clear video is important, this is not meant to be a test of your videography skills. We hope that this method clarifies the transparency of our teaching faculty, our commitment to inclusivity, and the value we place on equitable learning experiences. Below are some additional suggestions as you develop your digital audition footage.

RECORDING ADVICE

• Combine ALL video clips from (1) & (2) requirements above into ONE video. Your application will only accept one video link.
• Ensure good lighting, we want to be able to see you.
• Have your camera off the ground if possible.
• Make sure beforehand that we can hear the music.
• Have a non-distracting background.
• Make sure the camera can see you at all times.

***Please do not feel the need to spend any money on your audition tape. We want to see you as YOU are and let your dancing speak for itself. With that said, if you have footage from other schools/intensives that you feel adequately represents your abilities as a dancer, feel free to submit this in your audition video. We as a department do not want to put any additional strain on your time, resources, or body/mind.

In short, enjoy the learning process as you explore these dance forms and present them in your audition video. We look forward to watching your submissions!

Your placement audition will include participation in a technique class (approximately two hours long), and will consist of ballet barre and centre work in addition to progressions and/or combinations in both modern and jazz.

Immediately following the class portion of the audition, you will meet with dance faculty for a brief, informal interview to discuss your individual academic and artistic goals. The BA/BS program can easily combine with another major, and you will have the opportunity to discuss your future career interests such as dance education, studio ownership, choreography, and dance therapy. The interview is an opportunity for the faculty panel to get to know you a bit more, and it’s also an opportunity for you to address any questions you may have about the BA/BS Dance program.

If you audition off-campus, and decide you want to visit campus at a later date, we would love to have you! We can set up a day where you’ll shadow a student, attend classes, and see a show or dance concert, if possible. You can email us to arrange this.

In order for the dance faculty to properly assess your placement, alignment, and movement skills, it is essential that you adhere to the dress code below for the audition

• Supportive undergarments – dance belts and sports bras as appropriate.
• Hair neat and pulled up and away from the face.
• No loose or dangling jewelry of any kind.
• No baggy clothing of any kind, including but not limited to sweatshirts, t-shirts, sweatpants, shorts.
• Tights in black, white, or color inclusive tones to enhance the line of the body. 
• Leotards/unitards in black, white, or color inclusive tones to enhance the line of the body.
• All attire needs to be form fitting and snug to the body.
• Ballet slippers in black, white, or color inclusive tones to enhance the line of the body.
• Bare feet and socks could be required

For JAZZ classes:

• Any color tightly fitted T-shirt, leotard or tank, with tights, jazz pants, or other close fitting pants.
• Socks or bare feet for warm up, jazz shoes for progressions and center work.

This personal, multi-disciplinary approach to the audition process enables the dance faculty panel to observe your technique, performance quality, and artistry, as well as your adaptability in a range of dance styles, and your ability to learn new and unfamiliar material quickly.

Ultimately, this process allows us an opportunity to get to know you as a unique and individual artist. In turn, you have an opportunity to display your individual strengths in several disciplines and capacities so that we may assess your potential to thrive and succeed in our program.

Creating a list of questions you ask every university for which you are auditioning may allow you to compare dance programs more specifically. However, the answers to many of your questions will be on the various departmental websites and in printed materials, so we cannot emphasize enough how important it is to research the programs prior to your auditions. It's possible that you will be asked what you are looking for in a BA/BS dance program, and why you're interested in our program in particular.  Having a sense of what differentiates one program from another is one of the best things you can do prior to your college audition and interview process.

If you haven't been able to find an answer to your question(s), please feel free to ask the faculty or the dance students who will be present on your audition day. We want to make sure you get the information you need!

Finally, this is a time for us to find out a bit more about you, and for you to learn more about us and our program. Relax, breathe, and be yourself. We look forward to meeting you!