Guest Punkychic Posted July 15, 2003 Report Share Posted July 15, 2003 I will be graduating next year, and am wondering what i should do for dance during college. I really want to continue dancing through college, but doubt that i am advanced enough to take class through the college. Would it be worth my while to just find a studio near my school instead? Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted July 15, 2003 Report Share Posted July 15, 2003 It's well worth your while to make campus visits and find out what the dance/ballet atmosphere is like at schools you would like to attend. You should do that anyway to find out what the academics are like in order to aid you in your selection process. You may find that there are classes in ballet that are not demanding of high-functioning dancers, so that you may use them to improve. Finding out about supplementary off-campus classes is a good idea, too. Link to comment
Guest Arak Posted July 17, 2003 Report Share Posted July 17, 2003 I know people who didn't even start dancing until college! Most colleges with dance programs offer classes to nonmajors. Shop around and see what you like. Or find a studio in the area. With this option, you could even make a little extra cash teaching some classes to younger students. Link to comment
Administrators Victoria Leigh Posted July 17, 2003 Administrators Report Share Posted July 17, 2003 Non-major classes and classes at an outside studio are both valid ideas. Teaching is NOT! Younger students need extremely well qualified teachers and should not be taught by someone who has not been trained to the most advanced level and had a considerable amount of performing experience IN BALLET (as opposed to jazz, hip hop, lyrical, etc.). One thing that can be studied in SOME college programs is teaching, however, I do not think that even these programs can totally prepare someone who is not at least very close to professional level. Link to comment
coffee Posted August 12, 2003 Report Share Posted August 12, 2003 My hope is to dance after high school as well. However, I was wondering if it will be possible to find the type of school I am looking for. I want to find a college that is good in acedemics, particularly in the sciences, but I also want to take dance. Now here is the problem. I dont want to end up at a school with a dance program that is not serious or very good. But, I am afraid that I will not be able to find a dance program that is good enough that will allow me to take classes without being a major. Is this going to be an impossible search? sorry if its a little confusing... Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted August 12, 2003 Report Share Posted August 12, 2003 This is a far easier search than you think! The College Guide published by Dance Magazine is very valuable in narrowing your choices, and combined with the college catalogues and campus visits, should pare down those choices to a reasonable few from which to select. You may be spending far less time on this search than your contemporaries, who generally don't have as concrete a set of criteria as you have already developed. So far, so good! Keep it up! Link to comment
Hjete Posted August 12, 2003 Report Share Posted August 12, 2003 Don't worry, coffee! I'm sure you'll find a school that matches your criteria. You just have to take the time to look. There are lots of schools with excellent teachers that may not have nationally recognized dance programs. These can be good, especially if you aren't planning to become a professional dancer. I'll be a freshman this fall, and I basically picked my college around dance because I don't know yet what I want to major in, but I do want to continue dancing in a qualified school. (I've been in a pre-professional program and couldn't stand going to a program that wasn't serious.) The school I chose has a modern emphasis, but the ballet teacher is excellent, with a well-qualified background (National Ballet of Canada), so I'll have the opportunity to continue my dance education as I pursue some other field as well. It sounds like you have a very clear idea of what you are looking for. I'd suggest using the resources that Major Johnson suggested and then talking directly to the dance programs of schools that seem to have what you want. I wish you all the best as you embark on the exciting college search. Try to enjoy it as much as possible! Link to comment
coffee Posted August 18, 2003 Report Share Posted August 18, 2003 Is the Sterns Directory the same thing as the College Guide? and where can I find these? Do I order them directly from the dance magazine? Thanks! Link to comment
Administrators Victoria Leigh Posted August 18, 2003 Administrators Report Share Posted August 18, 2003 Coffee, the Sterns Directory is not the same thing as the Dance Magazine College Guide. What you want is the Dance Magazine one, and you can order that directly from Dance Magazine on line or by mail. Link to comment
coffee Posted August 19, 2003 Report Share Posted August 19, 2003 Thanks! Its kind of expensive, but I think that it is worth it. Hopefully it is helpful! Link to comment
Hjete Posted August 20, 2003 Report Share Posted August 20, 2003 You could try your local library before purchasing the college guide. Mine had it, so I could use the resource but save the money. However, the library I got it at was the regional arts branch for a large city's system, so I might've just been lucky. HTH Link to comment
Guest Allegro Posted August 23, 2003 Report Share Posted August 23, 2003 Here's a fact I found helpful when I started scoping out campuses. I didn't want to choose a college based on the dance program, mostly because I really wanted to focus on getting an academic degree. But most of the colleges and universities I visited, if they didnt' have a dance program or classes within THEIR school, they made it very very easy to take classes at nearby schools. I go to the University of Notre Dame, and although the school doesn't offer a ballet program as of yet, I can go across the street to St. Mary's and take classes, and get elective credit for them! HTH Link to comment
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