Apply Yourself

Preparing a winning application takes reflection, not perfection

By Clarissa J. Walker



A Balanchine-worthy audition solo, top Algebra II test scores, and perfect turnout are the goals of many students applying to college dance programs. But dance faculty and admissions counselors say focusing too much on being the best may be a mistake.
So what are the rules to live by when preparing a winning application? Know what you want, be able to explain your goals, and be yourself.

Make sure the college offers what you’re after
It’s easy to get sold on a school just because it matches your mental picture of a perfect campus or because your studio dance teacher recommends it. These are the type of details that will help you narrow down your list. But you shouldn’t begin preparing an application before doing deeper soul-searching and much more research.
“The words ‘dance major’ mean something totally different at each institution,” said Cornelius Carter, director of dance for the University of Alabama’s Department of Theatre and Dance. “You have to do your homework and ask, ‘Does that school’s curriculum meet my needs?’ Some schools are strictly modern. Other schools are looking for a conceptual dance artist. You have to be clear about the type of program you are looking for.” One of the biggest mistakes applicants make, he says, is neglecting to think clearly about what they want in a dance program and whether the college they’re applying to can provide it.
Do you hope to be a professional dancer, a dance therapist, an arts administrator, a studio owner, or a mix of the above? Do you want to spend 95 percent of your college time in the dance studio or get a healthy dose of academics, too? Do you want a broad dance education that includes different dance genres or to focus specifically on a single style, like ballet? Will you thrive on a big, bustling campus or be happier at a smaller school? After you’ve answered questions like these, you can investigate interesting dance programs to find out which ones come closest to fitting your needs. When applying, you’ll be able to explain why you think the college is right for you.
To get a good picture of what a program is really like, vice president of enrollment at Dean College Jay Leiendecker recommends comparing more than details and descriptions from college catalogs. Find other methods of investigation to uncover signs of the program’s size, how much presence it has on campus, its resources, and the frequency of opportunities to dance.
Calling or, even better, visiting the college can provide good insight. If you crave lots of time on stage, for example, check campus bulletin boards for notices of tryouts, rehearsals, and a schedule of upcoming shows–evidence that stuff is happening. “If you don’t see or hear of several performances in a semester, there may be a message there,” says Leiendecker. In addition, “ask the school how many students are receiving certificates, associate degrees, bachelors degrees in dance,” he says. The answers will give you an idea of how many of the students are there to pursue intensive dance study since B.A.s and B.F.A.s generally require more extensive dance coursework than other types of degrees.

Speak up!
Joan Palladino, dean of the School of Dance at Dean College, says making direct contact with the college is key to preparing a good application. Telephone, visit, and converse with current students and faculty before deciding to apply. When talking to them, be clear about your plans and preferences. It’ll make a good impression–and also help faculty advise you on whether the fit seems right. “Students must be able to discuss their goals intelligently. Be able to say, ‘Down the road I want to be a dance journalist, dance therapist, et cetera,’” says Palladino.
And while getting advice from your parents during the application process is recommended, admissions offices and dance departments say they prefer it when students inquire and advocate for themselves. The voice on the phone should be the applicant’s, says Nelly van Bommel, a staff member at the SUNY Purchase College Conservatory of Dance. "We feel that the student should be very much in charge of the application.”

An informed applicant auditions better
In-depth knowledge of your top choice programs will also prepare you for another admission hurdle: the audition. (Not all dance departments require them but many do.) When preparing an audition solo, “Think about what is appropriate for the school,” van Bommel says. “Is your solo within the range of techniques they’re asking for? For example, we don’t want to see a jazz solo here. We do ballet and modern.”
“And we don’t need to see students bite off way more than they can chew,” says Carol Shiffman, the dean of the Conservatory of Dance at Purchase. “What we are really looking for is commitment, for full-out movement and the ability to connect completely, viscerally, as a dancer.” The most common mistake of applicants in auditions is overshooting their technical ability.
“Cockiness is a killer in this process,” agrees Palladino. “College dance requires a shift in mindset for many applicants: They need to understand that they may be the top dancers at their studios, but the competition within the larger dance world is totally different.” Students are advised to keep the choreography clean and simple so it displays technique they’ve mastered regardless of the level.

Academics vs. auditions
In the admission process, should you focus more on grades or technique? Well, no matter how artistically talented you are, a college can’t accept you if you don’t meet its basic entrance requirements. But beyond that, the perfect ratio of academic to artistic ability is different at each dance department. (Once again, researching the program’s preferences is critical.) Generally, departments lean either more towards a conservatory or liberal arts model. Conservatories look for strong technique first and academic achievement second. A liberal arts program looks at dance and academic achievement more equally, and its curriculum offers a balance between arts and academics.
While acing the audition at SUNY Purchase (or anywhere else) won’t get you out of submitting a decent college application, Shiffman says up front: “The most important thing for us is the personal audition. Frankly, the application is totally
secondary.”
But at Hollins University, Jeffery Bullock, associate professor in the department of dance, says they look for “passionate, focused, well-rounded students” who have excelled in a range of high school courses, including English, sciences, and the humanities. “We want students with a worldview,” says Bullock. “For example, we look for creative writers in dance. We don’t just want to see how high their leg goes.”
Dean College’s Palladino adds that academic achievement may be a sign of artistic potential, since both pursuits require discipline. But she also looks for other markers of commitment. For example, she takes community service into account when considering whom to admit. “I’m looking for evidence of a work ethic,” says Palladino. “Their SATs may not be the greatest, but I want to see some sign that they haven’t just blown off all their work to run to the dance studio.”
Keep in mind: Commitment and accomplishments of
all kinds are celebrated in this process. “Don’t worry about dance experience you don’t have,” Bullock advises. “What you need to do is be in the present moment. Be aware of what you do have. Don’t try to be something that you’re not. It’s not necessary.”

—Clarissa J. Walker is the associate director of admissions at Dean College and a freelance writer who lives in Providence, Rhode Island.