maksimate Posted August 21, 2004 Report Share Posted August 21, 2004 I recently graduated from high school and am now taking a year off to travel. I have a quetion regarding college dance programs. I do want to be a professional dancer, but I also don't want to dedicate my life soley to dance, only to find out that I can't make it, in which case I see myself much older and with no higher education--not good. Is a college BFA in dance program in any way comparable to an exclusively dance school? If I went to a university and studied dance, would it be enough to land me a place in a company? thanks! Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted August 21, 2004 Report Share Posted August 21, 2004 It depends on where you go. If your goal initially is to set it as a career goal, then a good strong minor in something else can be helpful in career transition. Places like Indiana, Butler, Oklahoma, Utah and Purchase (SUNY) have decent placement records. Link to comment
maksimate Posted August 21, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2004 What about Hunter College, UC schools, and NYU? Decent programs anyone? Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted August 21, 2004 Report Share Posted August 21, 2004 Hunter has never been particularly strong in dance, and favors modern. I don't know about the UC schools that have dance, and NYU seems to be in a state of flux right now. For years they were still fighting the War against Ballet, that Martha Graham declared over in 1968. I don't know how much of that lingers. Link to comment
Administrators Victoria Leigh Posted August 22, 2004 Administrators Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 I think you had better look at the first list Mr. Johnson put up, plus maybe SMU. The most performance oriented schools that I am familiar with are Indiana and Oklahoma. Possibly SUNY Purchase as well. Link to comment
maksimate Posted August 22, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 What's SMU? Excuse my ignorance! Link to comment
ConstanzaElisabeth Posted August 22, 2004 Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 Southern Methodist University, in Dallas TX. Despite everyone's good words about it on BalletAlert, i was very disappointed with their audition process. Link to comment
maksimate Posted August 22, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 Oh no! I don't want to go to any of those schools--that presents a problem. Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted August 22, 2004 Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 Welcome to the Wonderful World of Hard Choices. Link to comment
maksimate Posted August 22, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 I want to go back to the world of what lunch line to stand in choices! Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted August 22, 2004 Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 It's all part of growing up. Be comforted in that you are not alone! Link to comment
maksimate Posted August 22, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 Suprisingly, that doesn't comfort me! But oh well--Onward! Thanks for your advice everyone! Link to comment
iceydeville Posted August 22, 2004 Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 *knockknock....although i'll be 17 in a month* I also have a question regarding colleges. What about the Five Colleges Consortium up in Mass. consisting of Mt. Holyoke (and four other colleges that I don't know of)? And what about Texas Christian University? I visited their campus over the summer and saw the dance facility. It wasn't as high tech as it could be, but apparently they have a strong ballet program and Fernando Bujones it the Artist in Residence or something. Would you guys suggest TCU to be as good as SMU? Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted August 22, 2004 Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 What about them? They all tend to favor modern when they think of dance at all. Mt. Holyoke, Smith, and UMass Amherst all have ballet, but those courses are treated like crazy aunties in the attic by the administrations. And how much do you like western Massachusetts? Especially in the winter? And TCU is all right. Link to comment
Administrators Victoria Leigh Posted August 22, 2004 Administrators Report Share Posted August 22, 2004 I don't think Bujones is there much, though, as he is also director of Southern Ballet in Orlando. Link to comment
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