dance degree personal statement

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What to include in your dance personal statement

• Convey your passion for dance: tutors really want to get a sense of your passion and love of dance through what you say in your personal statement. But demonstrate it with examples and experience, don't just say you're passionate. In fact, try to convey your passion without actually using the word 'passion'.
• Ditch the clichés: De Montfort University stresses the importance of not resorting to the clichés so many students come out with – like 'I was born to dance' or 'I come alive on stage'.
• Evidence of your interest in dance: according to De Montfort, selectors want to see your 'genuine enthusiasm for all aspects of performance and an appreciation for each of the factors that contribute to it' along with some examples of how your own experiences or wider reading about dance have fed into this.
• Relevant extracurricular experience: if you’re involved in a dance group or you’ve had first-hand experience of planning and performing a production, for instance, describe and reflect on what you learned from this.
• Your analytical abilities: tutors want to hear about performances you’ve watched and – crucially – how you've analysed them yourself or developed an opinion about the overall interpretation, or how a specific element of it made an impact on you and why.
• Any wider experience of ‘movement disciplines’: For its dance and drama with physical theatre course, Edge Hill University is looking for you to demonstrate your wider experience of 'movement disciplines', which could include sport, martial arts, circus skills or 'dance in any style'. It could therefore add further impact to your statement if you can link any activities like these to what motivates you to study your chosen course.

Check out our advice on writing your personal statement and find out more about careers in the creative arts .

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Dance Personal Statement Examples

Our dance personal statement examples will inspire you to write your own unique staetment, and help you understand why previous dance students were successful in securing a place at university.

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Dance and business degree personal statement example (1a)

Dance is a subject everyone can do. No matter where you are in the world, what country you’re from, the religion you are, everyone can dance. Each country has the uniqueness of having their own style, one that reflects their country and culture, which can be shared and studied by people all over the rest of the world. I admire seeing how Indian dancing is bright and happy, with Spanish dancing being sharp and fierce, the diversity each country brings. Through my years of studying performing arts as an A level I have been able to appreciate styles in terms of how they have developed, how different styles have come together, and how historic practitioners and choreographers have influenced the dance we see today. Having the opportunity to study the theory background behind dance, I feel has given me the inspiration for my career ambition, a dance teacher. I inspire to push the boundaries like Antonin Artaud, create a unique style like Bob Fosse and to simply move an audience with powering choreography like Mia Michaels. I have been able to develop my knowledge of how a dance class operates and the best ways to help teach individual students by volunteering as a teaching assistant for a Ballet class aged 2-4 at Sheila Theobald School of Dance. Along with this, I have also been able to develop my own dancing skills by being a pupil at the above dance school for 15 years, gaining dancing qualifications in ISTD tap and Modern, along with RAD Ballet. Over the years I have faced the question that many teenagers have to ask, ‘what do I want to be when I grow up’. Before even deciding and knowing that I would like to be a dance teacher, I have always been the one in the class who when left to practice a dance, would go straight over to help others without a second thought. The main dilemma I was always faced with was whether to pursue a career in business, where my years of studying this has made me develop a great interest in how businesses operate and how it relates to everyday life, or dance, a subject I have studied for as long as I can remember and hold a great admiration for. From this I like to think I used my initiative to combine the two, gaining the ‘best of both worlds’ leading me to my career and life ambition of one day opening my own dance school, and helping either simply bring fun to a child’s Saturday or create a dancer who will have a successful career. The A levels which I study, Business Studies and Double Performing Arts, I feel really contribute to making me the strongest I could be to succeed in my chosen career path. By studying business I feel I have strong knowledge to know how to make the business side of the school do well, with marketing it effectively alongside managing finance and staff. In tandem with my performing arts background which I feel my experience in this field will help make the product itself of a high quality (dance classes).I have never been the kid who got everything naturally and everything which I have achieved has been as a result from hard work and dedication, which I feel gives me the skills required to manage my own business. The same falls into dance, where I was never the naturally gifted child, in class I would struggle with choreography, leading me to go home and practice all night until I was up to the standard of everyone else. Or to improve my flexibility I would do things such as sit watching TV whilst sitting in the splits, all to get as good as the other pupils in my class, and most importantly I standard I could be proud of. I feel by having this knowledge of how I can improve, it gives me good skills in terms of teaching, as I know how to break down steps, and how pupils may not get everything the first time. I feel I would be able to offer them the best tips to be able to work hard and be the best they can be. I will continue to carry on with this work and life ethic whilst my years of studying at university, to take the best from what you can offer me, and give you the best that I can offer you.

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Pre-screening and In-Person/Recorded Audition Requirements

Prepare three contrasting selections from the following categories:

• Chorale preludes, free works (preludes/fantasias and fugues, etc.), or other compositions by composers of the Baroque era such as Bach, Buxtehude, Böhm, or Lübeck
• Works of the Romantic or Late Romantic era such as Mendelssohn, Franck, Langlais, or Reger
• Works written in a 20th, 21st century or modern idiom such as Hindemith, Sowerby, or Albright.

Selections should include a balance of lyricism, expression, and virtuosity. Memorization is not required but is strongly encouraged. Pre-screening material should be uploaded to your Artistic Profile and submitted by December 1. Overlap of repertoire is permitted for the pre-screening and audition.

OPTIONAL: You are welcome to upload 1-3 additional videos of other playing you’ve done in the past 18 months.

Performing Arts Technology

Every Performing Arts Technology degree requires the submission of a portfolio  by December 1,  and subsequent interview with the Performing Arts Technology faculty.

All applicants are required to submit a portfolio consisting of the following six items. For items 3–6, please provide a paragraph that briefly describes the equipment and techniques used, your motivation for the work, and the file name of the corresponding media.  All sound files must be uncompressed stereo audio 16-bit resolution with a sampling rate of 44.1 kHz (CD quality).

• Write a personal statement (approximately 150 words) describing your reasons for choosing to pursue studies in Performing Arts Technology. Describe two project goals you would like to achieve within the degree program (BM, BFA, or BS) for which you are applying. In your response, consider how these projects align with your long-term aspirations in music and the field of performing arts technology. Feel free to speculate on the future of music, envision your purpose within that future, and explore how you might push the boundaries of what is possible with current technology.
• Provide a writing sample essay (300 words maximum) that discusses the aesthetic and technical features of either  “ The Cable Has No Name”   by Agata or   “A Field of Social Tension”  by Li Yilei.  Whichever piece you select, please describe your response to hearing the piece, and why you think you had the particular response you did.  Please also describe the qualities that distinguish the piece you chose from other music you have heard, or that relate it to other music with which you are familiar.
• A recording of you performing on a traditional acoustic instrument or voice, preferably with other instruments
• Sophie – Faceshopping
• Eurythmics – Take Me To Your Heart 
• A recording of an original composition (two to five minutes long) for any combination of electronic and/or acoustic instruments and digital sounds. If the composition has a notated score, please include it. Applicants may include two contrasting compositions to fulfill items 5 and 6;
• A stereo mix of a high-quality recording that you have engineered. The recording should be produced primarily from microphone signals. This item will be evaluated based on the recording, mixing, and production quality;
• An original video (up to five minutes in length) – such as a music video, live concert, animation, short film, video installation;
• Visual art such as photography, painting, digital art, or drawing;
• Original sound design, composition, or recording for visual media;
• Documentation (video, audio, and/or still images) of a performance with electronic music hardware or an interactive system of your own design.

Additional Requirements for the BM in Music & Technology 

The Bachelor of Music in Music and Technology also requires a  recorded  principal audition. Please refer to the audition requirements for your principal instrument or voice.  If your program does not have any specific performance repertoire listed in the audition/interview requirements section, then you will need to refer to your program’s  pre-screening  guidelines for submission.  If your principal instrument concentration is with a Jazz style, then you will need to refer to the Jazz department pre-screening requirements.

Principal audition recordings must be submitted by December 1 .

Additional Requirements for the BS in Sound Engineering

The  Bachelor of Science in Sound Engineering  has higher academic requirements for admission than other SMTD degrees. We require at least a 3.5 GPA in high school academic courses. If you are submitting test scores, we require either an SAT math sub score of 630 or better, or an ACT math sub score of 28 or better. It is also important that students have:

• extensive coursework in mathematics, preferably through  at least  pre-calculus
• extensive coursework in natural science, with demonstrated aptitude
• experience with music theory and ear training
• high level proficiency on an acoustic instrument
• some experience with sound reinforcement and multitrack recording

Live Online or In-Person Interview Requirements

After a preliminary review of portfolios, a select number of applicants will be invited for interviews. This will consist of a 15-minute interview with several of the Performing Arts Technology faculty. Interviewees are asked to be prepared to discuss their portfolio materials.

Free Resources for Performing Arts Technology Applicants

Here is a current list of free Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) that you are welcome to utilize for any pre-screening submissions:

• Avid Pro Tools Intro (PC and Mac)
• Audacity (PC and Mac)
• Aurdour (PC and Mac)
• Garage Band (Only Mac)
• Reaper (PC and Mac)
• Soundtrap (Browser based DAW)

Please upload the following video recordings:

• One snare drum solo or etude
• Four-mallet solo, transcription, or etude
• Timpani solo or etude (please show your tuning in the video)
• OPTIONAL: 1-3 additional videos of other playing you’ve done in the last 18 months (for example, drum set or other)

 Questions regarding your video submissions should be sent to: Douglas Perkins ( [email protected] ), Ian Antonio ( [email protected] ), or  [email protected] .

Auditions will be offered in both in-person and live online formats. For Percussion, in-person auditions are always preferable to online ones, although there will be no penalty in terms of admission or scholarship consideration if an online audition is chosen. Equal consideration is given to both formats. For those who need to schedule an online audition, please contact [email protected]  for assistance.

• Concert snare drum solo or etude
• Rudimental snare drum solo or etude
• Two-mallet keyboard solo, transcription, or etude
• Timpani solo or etude

All applicants to the Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and Bachelor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance must complete the online application and upload unedited video recordings of at least three contrasting pieces for preliminary examination by December 1 . Movements of larger works are acceptable, and the videos must be recorded with the hands and profile of the applicant  visible at all times. Upon an affirmative evaluation, an in-person audition may be scheduled.

No pre-screening recording is necessary for Piano principal auditions (see principal audition requirements further below).

Audition Requirements (BM in Performance and BMA in Performance)

Auditions will be offered in both in-person and video-recorded formats. For Piano Performance, in-person auditions are always preferable to recorded ones, although there will be no penalty in terms of admission or scholarship consideration if a recorded audition is chosen. Equal consideration is given to both formats.

Those who are granted an in-person audition may choose to submit a recording of their audition in place of a live audition. All works listed in the audition requirements (below) must be performed from memory and in their entirety, and the video must be recorded with the hands and profile of the applicant visible at all times. The deadline for submitting recorded auditions will be February 6, 2025.

Note : the recorded format is intended for those applicants for whom travel to Michigan would be impossible, or a financial or otherwise personal hardship. In order to ensure equitable consideration of all applicants, those who choose to submit a recorded audition for the February 6 deadline will not have the option to switch to an in-person audition since they will be reviewed at the same time as the in-person auditions. No links from YouTube, Google Drive or other file-hosting services. Only original files will be accepted.

For the audition, prepare:

• a baroque work by a composer such as Bach, Handel, or Scarlatti with a minimum playing time of five minutes, no repeats. Any prelude and fugue from the Well-Tempered Clavier is acceptable
• a complete classical sonata
• a romantic work
• an impressionistic or 20th-Century work
• an etude of virtuosity
• (recorded audition only) a speaking video which addresses the following prompts: 1) Please state your name and the degree(s) for which you are applying; 2) Why do you want to study music in college? 3) Where do you see yourself 5 years from now? What would you like to be doing?

Memorization is required. Audition repertoire may duplicate repertoire submitted for pre-screening.

Applicants must meet all repertoire requirements listed above. Failure to prepare the full audition program will eliminate you from consideration. Additionally, please submit a complete, alphabetized repertoire list of all the major works you have studied from Bach Inventions and higher in terms of difficulty.

Piano Principal Audition Requirements (for pianists applying to degrees other than performance): accepting recorded submissions only

Piano audition requirements for degrees for which Piano is the principal instrument, not the major instrument (i.e.: Composition, Multidisciplinary Studies, Music Education, Music Theory, Musicology, Performing Arts Technology) are listed below. Principal audition recordings must be uploaded to the Artistic Profile by December 1 .

Please submit to the Artistic Profile:

• a baroque work
• a quick tempo movement of a classical sonata
• 19th- or 20th-Century solo of your choice
• a speaking video which addresses the following prompts: 1) Please state your name and the degree(s) for which you are applying;  2) Why do you want to study music in college? 3) Where do you see yourself 5 years from now? What would you like to be doing?

Memorization is required except by petition approved by the faculty.

Teacher Request and Contact Policies, and Admissions/Scholarship Decisions

While filling out your SMTD Artistic Profile, you will be asked to indicate your Studio Preferences, which will indicate to the piano department which teacher(s) you are interested in studying with if you are admitted to the School of Music, Theatre & Dance. It has no bearing at all on your acceptance to the School, and is used only for contact and administrative purposes after your recorded audition is submitted.

Before your audition, the Piano Department encourages each prospective student to feel free to contact anyone on the faculty for answers to questions about auditions, study at Michigan, or anything else that may be related to your interest in the School of Music, Theatre & Dance. After your audition has been performed/submitted, primary contact from the Piano Department will be with the teacher listed as first choice in your Artistic Profile, unless that teacher has given permission to second or third choices to contact you. This is simply for clarity and efficiency of communication. You may continue to initiate contact with any member of the faculty you wish, and may change your first choice designation after your audition is performed/submitted, but the department will ask you to be very clear about your preferences so we can determine studio assignments as soon as possible, according to which professor has space for which students in the coming year.

Admission to SMTD is based upon evaluation of your application as a whole, and also your recorded audition evaluations. Admissions decisions are made by the school’s Office of Admissions and are generally announced in late February/early March.

All auditionees are considered for School scholarships (provided they audition before the final date of consideration; please see  Scholarships/Financial Aid  for updated information) with decisions being made and sent to applicants by early April. Admitted students may receive several letters from different offices at the U-M concerning scholarships and need-based grants and loans; be sure to be in contact with the School of Music, Theatre & Dance Admissions Office concerning your total award package.

Upload the following video recordings to the SMTD Artistic Profile:

• 15 minutes of alto saxophone literature representing your highest proficiency. Suggested literature includes the  Sonata  by Creston,  Concertina de Camera  by Ibert,  Concerto  by Glazunov,  Brilliance  by Gotkovsky,  Concerto  by Creston and  Prelude, Cadence et Finale  by Desenclos.
• Two Ferling Etudes (one slow and one that displays your technical skills)
• A video demonstrating all twelve major scales (full range B-flat to F-sharp 3) and on major thirds in all keys (full range-varied articulations)
• OPTIONAL: 1-2 additional videos of other playing you’ve done in the past 18 months. Recordings of past recitals or performances are encouraged, including jazz or other genres of music.

Jazz improvisation videos are welcomed and, if you have significant jazz experience, you are encouraged to include video performances of your work. Contact our Auditions Coordinator ( [email protected] ) if you would like to audition separately for the Jazz faculty.

Audition/Interview Requirements (in person or online)

Students who advance to this stage of the application process will meet with Saxophone faculty for an audition and a brief discussion of your training, future and career goals.

Prepare an audition program with approximately 15 minutes of music that showcases your highest level of musical and technical expertise. Be prepared to demonstrate altissimo skills, overtones, and/or altissimo scales. Tuning response will also be tested. The music for the live audition may be the same or different from that submitted on your videos. An accompanist is not expected or required.

Theatre & Drama: Bachelor of Theatre Arts

Writing requirements.

Last updated 8/17/2022

Prepare the writings below in typed, single-spaced format, and upload to your  Artistic Profile:

1) Write a one-page statement explaining your previous experience with the theatre and why you are seeking admission to the BTA program. Why is the BTA the best fit for you? We encourage you to discuss specific aspects of our program and university that will support your interests and career goals (for example, courses, degree concentrations, professors, student organizations, alumni, context within a research university and/or a school dedicated to the performing arts). For more details about the program, consult the main  Bachelor of Theatre Arts  web page, the  BTA Student Experience  page, and/or the  BTA Curriculum .

2) Write a two-page essay reviewing or analyzing an artistic work (e.g., play, musical, movie, theatrical production, spoken-word performance, music video, dance work, opera, etc.) that you have read, watched, or attended. Consider discussing (for example) character development, major ideas or themes, political or social context, music or sound design, movement, technology, scenic or costume design.

3) OPTIONAL for applicants – encouraged for those interested in concentrating or minoring in playwriting:

Using one of the four poems below as inspiration, write a two-page story or narrative featuring the poem’s narrator as the “main character”:

• Reginald Dwayne Betts,  “Legacy”
• Darius V. Daughtry,  Poetry is a One Hour Forty-Three Minute Playlist  from  And the Walls Came Tumbling  (2019)
• Claudia Rankin, excerpt from  part IV of  Citizen: An American Lyric
• Alice Walker,  “Expect Nothing”
• The Admissions Office will screen your application for academic eligibility.  The review will include an examination of your transcript(s), letters of recommendation, and ACT or SAT scores.
• If your application passes the initial academic review, the BTA faculty advisor will read your writing samples and make an assessment of the quality of your work.
• The School of Music, Theatre & Dance Admissions Office will make the final determination regarding admission. A letter will be sent to you as soon as that decision has been made.

Is an audition required for the BTA program?

No. We do not require an audition because the BTA program serves students with wide-ranging interests. (Students whose sole focus is acting, directing, design, or technical theatre pursue the department’s BFA program.) BTA students complete coursework and hands-on learning opportunities in performing arts management, playwriting, global theatre and ethnic studies, practice-as-research, producing, education, and stage management, among other areas.

Theatre & Drama: Acting

Application requirements.

• Already a U-M student? Submit the online  cross-campus transfer application  instead of the Common Application; be sure to submit the Artistic Profile as well.
• Resumé and photo:  Upload a resumé to your Artistic Profile that includes previous theatre experience and training, and dance or music background, and roles performed. Include a photo with a good likeness of yourself.

Please upload to your SMTD Artistic Profile the following:

• Two (2) monologue videos: Upload two contrasting monologues (not to exceed a combined total of four minutes) from published works that are contrasting in style (period and/or genre) and emotional range. Your selections may be from comedies or dramas of any period. Try to incorporate some physical movement in at least one of the selections.
• “Why Acting?”   video:  Upload a 60-90 second face-to-the-camera video in which you answer the question “Why do you want to pursue a career in acting?” so that we may get to know you. Do not submit a multi-camera, highly technical, edited studio video.
• “Why Michigan?” –  Tell us why you want to attend the University of Michigan. You are permitted to re-use an essay from your Common Application that answers this same question.
• “Why Theatre at Michigan?” –  Describe your reasons for choosing performance training at Michigan and a theatre career. This may include goals, professional ambitions, and ideas about the field itself.
• OPTIONAL: 1-3 additional videos of other acting you’ve done in the last 18 months

Live Online or In-Person Audition/Interview Requirements 

• Students who advance to this stage of the application process will meet with the theatre faculty for a live audition and a discussion of your background and goals.
• Performance:  Prepare and memorize two contrasting monologues from plays, not to exceed a combined total of four minutes. You may choose new monologues or present the same monologues that you used in pre-screening. These selections, which must be from a published work, may be from comedies or dramas of any period. Try to incorporate some physical movement in at least one of the selections. Be prepared for the evaluators to ask you to do an adjustment or to have a conversation about the piece you have chosen. Additionally, you may be asked to perform a third piece if you have one prepared.

Recording Tips

• In one of your pre-screen recordings, please be no more than 4-6 feet away from the camera. The faculty would like to see ¾ of the body.
• In your second pre-screen recording, please be no more than 2-3 feet away from the camera. This should be a close-up recording from the shoulders up.
• Record your monologues in front of a neutral background if possible (for ex: in front a solid colored wall with no photographs or art hung on it).  A neutral background could be helpful, too, in your live audition.
• For your video submissions, please note that we  do not accept  links from YouTube, Google Drive, or any other file-hosting services. Only  original files  will be accepted.

Audition Tips

• Be on time for your scheduled audition.
• Warm up physically and vocally before the audition. Be relaxed and focused as much as possible.
• It’s recommended that you wear clothing in which you feel good, which you feel accurately represents you, and which allows you to move freely and comfortably.
• Choose material with which you feel comfortable, and is appropriate to your own age and experience. Avoid excessively stylized pieces, dialects, extreme physicality, and props.
• Remember that an audition should demonstrate both your talent and your potential.
• Be simple, direct, and honest. Avoid lengthy explanations or apologies.
• Remember that the faculty want you to be successful.

Theatre & Drama: Directing

Applicants  must  have completed the  Common Application and the Artistic Profile on or before December 1. 

• Already a U-M student? Submit the online  cross-campus transfer application  instead.

Portfolio Components

• Résumé and photo:  Upload a typed résumé that includes previous theatre experience and training. Upload a photo with a good likeness of yourself.
• “Why Directing?” video:  Upload a 60-90 second face-to-the-camera video in which you answer the question “Why do you want to pursue a career in directing?” so that we may get to know you. Do not submit a multi-camera, highly technical, edited studio video.
• Brief personal statement:  Upload a short essay describing reasons for choosing directing training at Michigan and a theatre career.  This may include goals, professional ambitions, and ideas about the field itself. It should not be more than two double-spaced typed pages.
• Instructional movement video:  Watch the video at the link provided .  Listen carefully to the instructions and watch the movements carefully. Practice the 2 sequences as demonstrated and then video yourself executing the movements. Wear clothes that allow for free movement. Make sure the camera is far enough away to capture the whole body. Upload the video/s with your application.
• Vocalization Video:  Read the text at the link provided.   It is a Chorus speech from  The Cure at Troy: A version of Sophocles’ Philoctetes  by Seamus Heaney. At the time of its composition, Heaney saw themes of the  Philoctetes  as consonant with the contemporary political situation in South Africa, as the apartheid regime fell and Nelson Mandela was released from prison without a full-scale war. Heaney described Mandela’s return as a similar overcoming of betrayal and a display of “the generosity of his coming back and helping with the city—helping the  polis  to get together again.” Choose any 2 stanzas and play with the words. Ignore the meanings of the words and play with sounds inspired by the vowels and consonants. Lengthen, shorten, howl, sing, growl, etc. It may feel foolish but that is OK! Have fun. Video yourself. Then upload the video with your application.
• Documentation:  Upload any notebooks, reviews, photographs that may give a fuller picture of your theatre experience. Upload at least one letter of recommendation from a theatre teacher or professional who has worked with you.

It is especially important that the items above are clearly and articulately presented.

Interview (Online or in person)

Be prepared for a conversation with the Directing faculty.  This will include a discussion of your theatre experience, your knowledge of playwrights and directors past and present, your other interests, and your goals. It is important to be relaxed, honest, direct, and yourself.

You will have the opportunity to ask questions about the program and the department. Please come prepared with questions. 

Theatre & Drama: Design & Production

Applicants must have completed the  Common Application and the Artistic Profile on or before December 1 .

• Personal Statement:  Upload a short essay describing reasons for choosing a career in theatre and training at Michigan. This may include goals, professional ambitions, and ideas about the field itself. It should not be more than two double-spaced typed pages.
• Portfolio: Since the BFA is a comprehensive design and production degree, your portfolio should include examples of all of your visually creative pursuits (i.e., drawing, painting, photography, doodles, graphics, crafts, theatrical design in any area – include any of your process and research as well as photos of outcome) as well as any examples of stage management work. Share anything that demonstrates your creative self. See our additional guidance to help with setting up your application portfolio .
• If applicable, provide one or two stage management production books into your Artistic Profile that show your organizational strategies, blocking, cueing, communications from rehearsal or performance to others on the team.

Interview Requirements (Online or in person)

• Interview: Be prepared for a short conversation with the Design & Production faculty. Be ready to discuss the materials in your portfolio, your previous creative work, shows on which you’ve worked, the kind of performing arts you enjoy and why, and performing arts that you have seen or studied. It is important to be relaxed, honest, direct and yourself. 

Upload video recordings of 15 minutes of contrasting solo and/or etude literature to the SMTD Artistic Profile that represents your highest level of proficiency. Memorization is not required.

Students who advance to this stage of the application process will meet with Trombone faculty for an audition, a review of your previously-submitted recordings and discussion of your training. In addition, you may be asked to play two-octave major scales from memory.

Upload 20 minutes of music (video recordings), including standard solo recital literature, one technical etude and one lyrical etude for trumpet representing your highest level of proficiency. Memorization is not required.

Optionally, you may upload a selection of 2-3 excerpts from the orchestral repertoire representing your highest level of proficiency. Memorization is not required.

Students who advance to this stage of the application process will meet with faculty for a discussion of your training, future and career goals, a review of your previously-submitted recordings, and live playing of your previously-submitted recorded material. You may be asked to sight-read and to play two-octave major, minor, and chromatic scales from memory.

• Blazhevich- Etude 32
• Hartley- Suite for Unaccompanied Tuba
• Lebedev- Concerto in One Movement

Live Audition Requirements (Online or in-person)

• Etude of the applicant’s choice from Bordogni Vocalises
• Mahler- Symphony #1, third movement solo
• Wagner- Overture to Die Meistersinger (J to L)
• Wagner- Ride of the Valkyries
• Two (2) contrasting movements of a Bach sonata, partita, or unaccompanied suite
• A movement from the standard viola concerto literature

OPTIONAL:  1-3 additional videos of other playing you’ve done in the last 18 months. Recordings of past solo or chamber music recitals or performances are encouraged.

Students who advance to this stage of the application process will be invited to meet with the viola faculty for a discussion of your work and goals, a review of your previously-submitted recordings, and live playing and sight-reading. The music for the audition may be the same or different from that submitted on your videos. An accompanist is not expected or required.

Upload to your SMTD Artistic Profile the following unedited videos. All music must be performed from memory.

•  One (1) movement of a solo Bach sonata or partita (repeats not required).
• The first five (5) minutes of the first movement of a concerto written between 1800 and 1950. If you select the Shostakovich Concerto No. 1, play the fourth movement and cadenza instead of the first movement.

Prepare an audition program with approximately 15 minutes of music that includes:

• Two (2) contrasting movements of a solo Bach sonata or partita (repeats not required). The Chaconne may be performed alone to satisfy this requirement as well.
• First movement of a concerto (including cadenza if one is written) If you select the Shostakovich Concerto No. 1, play the fourth movement and cadenza instead of the first movement.
• One Caprice chosen from Paganini Caprices, op. 1 or Wieniawski Etude-Caprices, op. 18

Memorization of the Bach movements and your concerto is expected. Your audition program may include repertoire submitted on your prescreening videos. An accompanist is not expected or required.

Notes for all Undergraduate Students Submitting Voice Repertoire

Please speak with your teacher for guidance on selecting great pieces that meet the following criteria. It is not necessary to choose the most advanced voice literature for your recordings. Operatic literature at the undergraduate level is not expected.

An accompanist is highly preferred for all recorded selections. However, if you are unable to arrange for an accompanist because of the pandemic, you are allowed to use Appcompanist or another recorded track resource.

For recordings, the Department of Voice & Opera recommends using an iPhone, smartphone, or similar recording device to create recordings, with a recommended microphone placement of 4’–8′ from the singer. At the start of your first video, please state your name and the type of recording equipment you are using.

Teacher Request & Contact Policies

While filling out your SMTD Artistic Profile, you will be asked to indicate your Studio Preferences, which will indicate to the Voice & Opera department which teacher(s) you are interested in studying with if you are admitted to the School of Music, Theatre & Dance. It has no bearing at all on your acceptance to the school, and is used only for contact and administrative purposes after your audition has been submitted.

Before your audition, the Department of Voice & Opera encourages each prospective student to feel free to contact anyone on the faculty for answers to questions about auditions, study at Michigan, or anything else that may be related to your interest in the School of Music, Theatre & Dance. After your audition has been performed/submitted, primary contact from the Department of Voice & Opera will be with the chair and the teacher listed as first choice in your Artistic Profile, unless that teacher has given permission to second or third choices to contact you. This is simply for clarity and efficiency of communication. You may continue to initiate contact with any member of the faculty you wish, and may change your first choice designation after your audition has been performed/submitted, but the department will ask you to be very clear about your preferences so we can determine studio assignments as soon as possible, according to which professor has space for which students in the coming year.

Voice Major: BM in Voice Performance and BMA in Performance

Voice Major: Pre-Screening and Audition Requirements

Upload to the SMTD Artistic Profile:

• Because of our historic legacy and ongoing passion for promoting inclusivity in the vocal arts, we recommend that at least one selection be written by an underrepresented composer (composer of color, female composer, or other underrepresented group.)  This piece should also be in a classical art song style, inclusive of spirituals.
• at least one selection should be in English
• at least one selection should be in a foreign language
• Why do you want to study voice in college?
• Who are one or two of your favorite vocal artists and how have they most influenced you?
• OPTIONAL :  1-3 additional videos of other singing or performance you’ve done in the last 18 months.

Voice Major: Live In-Person or Online Audition/Interview Requirements

Students who advance to this stage of the application process will be asked to attend a group meeting with the faculty to discuss the school, the curriculum, performance opportunities, and more. Those same applicants will be asked to meet with the voice faculty for an audition and/or interview that will entail review of your training, current work, future goals, a discussion of one or more of your recordings, live singing and aural skills exercises. Candidates who elect to complete this part of the process online will be invited for an interview only , with a detailed review and discussion of your performance recordings to be included, as well as some aural skills exercises. Please have your scores available for reference for all of your audition repertoire and previously submitted recordings.

Voice Principal: Choral Music Education

Choral Music Education: Pre-Screening and Audition Requirements

• Because of our historic legacy and ongoing passion for promoting inclusivity in the vocal arts, we recommended that at least one selection be written by an underrepresented composer (composer of color, female composer, or other underrepresented groups).  This piece should also be in a classical art song style, inclusive of spirituals.
• OPTIONAL:   1-3 additional videos of other singing or performance you’ve done in the last 18 months.

Voice Principal: Choral Music Education Live In-Person or Online Audition/Interview Requirements

Students who advance to this stage of the application process will be asked to attend a group meeting with the faculty to discuss the school, the curriculum, performance opportunities, and more. Those same applicants will be asked to meet with the voice faculty for an audition and/or interview that will entail review of your training, current work, future goals, a discussion of one or more of your recordings, live singing and aural skills exercises. Candidates who elect to complete this part of the process online will be invited for an interview only , with a detailed review and discussion of your performance recordings to be included, as well as some aural skills exercises. Please have your scores available for reference for all of your audition repertoire and previously submitted recordings.

Voice Principal: BMA in Multidisciplinary Studies

BMA Multidisciplinary Pre-Screening Requirements

• Because of our historic legacy and ongoing passion for promoting inclusivity in the vocal arts, we recommend that at least one selection be written by an underrepresented composer (composer of color, female composer, or other underrepresented group).
• At least one selection must be a classical art song
• The songs should be no longer than 3 minutes each

Voice Principal: BMA Multidisciplinary Live In-Person or Online Audition/Interview Requirements

Voice principal: composition, music theory, musicology, and music & technology.

Voice Principal Pre-Screening and Audition Requirements

• Because of our historic legacy and ongoing passion for promoting inclusivity in the vocal arts, we recommend that at least one selection be written by an underrepresented composer (composer of color, female composer, or other underrepresented groups.)
• Classical selections are preferred
• The selections should be no longer than 3 minutes each

Composition, Music Theory, Musicology, and Music & Technology applicants will have interviews and perform either a live online or recorded audition for their prospective home departments.

Additional Audition/Interview Information

2023 UPDATE Preferred Zoom and Internet Settings for Auditions

Auditions or interviews are by invitation only.  Candidates who advance to the audition/interview round will be contacted with an invitation and instructions on next steps such as how to register for your audition/interview date. SMTD does not accept walk-in auditions/interviews.

Depending on your program, your audition/interview could last anywhere from five to twenty minutes (or longer). You may audition/interview for a panel of faculty or for an individual faculty member.

We recommend you dress appropriately, similar to what you would wear for a job interview; if auditioning online or submitting a video do your best to maintain a neutral video background with little to no visual distractions. Please be sure to review this document as it contains important information regarding the use of Zoom for a live audition.

Auditioning students will not be asked to take written placement exams.

B.A. in Dance Admissions

If you are applying to UCLA for the first time , please read the information under “For New First Year and Transfer Applicants”.

If you are a current UCLA student who wants to major in Dance , please scroll down to “For Current UCLA Students”.

Dance Video Audition Advice for Fall 2023

FOR NEW FIRST YEAR AND TRANSFER APPLICANTS:

New UCLA first year and transfer students are admitted to the major for fall quarter only. To be considered for admission, applicants are required to complete both the general University of California (UC) undergraduate application, as well as a department supplement.

UC Application Filing Period: October 1- November 30 .

Applicants who have submitted their UC application and have listed Dance as their first choice major to UCLA will have access to the online supplemental application for Dance.

The Dance supplemental application portal will be open from November 15 – December 15. Once an applicant submits the UC Application indicating the Dance major as their first choice major to UCLA, their UC Application will be processed within 1-10 business days (excluding weekends and holidays). Once the UC Application is officially processed, applicants will use their UC Application ID to log into the online supplemental application. Undergraduate applicants must submit both the UC application and Dance supplement to be considered for admission into the major.

Supplemental Application Materials

The supplemental application for the Dance major is due on December 15 at 11:59pm PST, and includes the following specific departmental requirements:

• Academics and Extracurriculars
• Unofficial Transcripts
• Department Statement
• Video Audition
• Self Portrait Multimedia Project
• Optional Experience Resume

For full details about requirements and instructions on submission as well as formatting guidelines, please refer to the Supplemental Application Worksheet at SOAA website:

UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture Prospective Student website

F2024 Dance Supplemental Application Worksheet (For new First Year and Transfer Applicants to UCLA- B.A., Dance)

All supplemental materials must be submitted through the online upload system; any physical materials submitted to the department will not be considered in the review process.

If you have any questions about the admission process, please email [email protected] or visit UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture Prospective Students

***Please note that UCLA is closed for winter break from mid-December through the first week in January. We will respond to all inquiries submitted during this time upon returning.***

Discover Dance at UCLA 2023 (on Zoom)

This event is for prospective students who are interested in learning more about the Dance BA at UCLA and will provide attendees with information about the program, the facilities and studio space, the faculty, the student experience, and the application process.

Sorry you missed it! Watch this year's event on our WACD Youtube or Discover Dance at UCLA 2023

• Watch Studio Practices in Action Fall 2022 featured at Discover Dance

FOR CURRENT UCLA STUDENTS:

NOTE: The 2023-2024 Program Change application is open. Please read through the following information before you start the application. The link to the application portal is at the end of this page.

Current UCLA undergraduate students interested in the Dance major must identify themselves to the department by November 30, 2023 (4:00pm PST) in order to participate in the departmental Change of Major admission process during Fall/Winter. Applications are considered once a year.

• Register as a Change of Major applicant using this Google Form: https://forms.gle/8CMdCwEnti3MdMj69 . As a part of this registration, you will need to submit a PDF of your Program Change Petition. Download the petition form here: http://www.registrar.ucla.edu/Forms/Registration-and-Enrollment/Undergraduate-Program-Change-Petition .

Deadline to submit Supplemental Dance application (link below): December 15 at 11:59pm PST

Students are considered for Spring Quarter admission only.

The Department encourages prospective Change of Major applicants to book a counseling appointment with the department advisors, so that you can get direct individualized information about your degree proposal. Please email [email protected] to request an appointment.

UNIVERSITY REQUIREMENTS

You may apply to ONE major per quarter only.

You must be in good academic standing at the end of the application quarter. If you are on academic probation at the end of your previous quarter, you may still apply, with the expectation that your status will be cleared at the end of the current quarter. Minimum progress probation status may affect your change of major petition.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

The Department strongly prefers a minimum 3.0 GPA in Dance courses and an overall minimum 2.0 GPA .

ALL APPLICANTS must have taken previously or be enrolled in DANCE 1 in the current Fall Quarter of application.

FIRST YEAR AND SOPHOMORE STANDING APPLICANTS:

• You must have no more than 90 quarter units at the beginning of Winter Quarter, although fewer are recommended.
• Applicants must have taken or plan to enroll in DANCE 44 in the following Winter Quarter.
• Applicants must have taken or plan to enroll in DANCE 45 in the following Spring Quarter.
• Applicants must have taken and/or be enrolled in at least one class at the beginning of the following Winter Quarter from: DANCE 16, 67A, 67B

NOTE : If you are a prospective Dance applicant with no established UC GPA (ex. you are a new student entering in the Fall who has not taken previous coursework at UCLA or any other UC), you are not eligible to apply until you have a UCLA GPA. For most prospective Dance applicants, the soonest you can apply for a Change of Major is in Fall/Winter of sophomore year, as most students establish their first UCLA GPA in mid-to late December following the completion of Fall Q, which is after the COM deadline.

JUNIOR STANDING APPLICANTS

• You must have no more than 120 quarter units at the beginning of Winter Quarter, although fewer are recommended.
• Competitive applicants will have the majority of their School and University requirements completed.
• Applicants must have and/or be enrolled in at least 12 units at the beginning of the following Winter Quarter from: 16, 44, 45, 67A, 67B, 70, 101
• Applicants must have and/or be enrolled in at least 8 units at the beginning of the following Winter Quarter from (more are suggested): DANCE 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 56, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 65, C106A, C109A, 112A, C113A, C115, 116, 159, 160, WL ARTS 80

Program Change Application Portal

The department uses SlideRoom to collect Program Change applications. You will need to sign up for a free SlideRoom account. There is no additional cost associated with applying for a Program Change. When you are ready, here is the direct link to the application requirements as well as where to submit:

https://uclaarts.slideroom.com/ - Please choose DANCE Major Program Change Application (current UCLA Students)

Should you have any questions after reviewing this information, please email [email protected] .

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the department of world arts and cultures/dance offer any scholarships to incoming students.

The department offers scholarships of modest amounts to our continuing students. Some scholarships are being offered to new students through the UCLA Alumni Association. The Financial Aid Office works closely with all students who need financial assistance. A financial aid award generally consists of a combination of scholarships and grant money from UCLA and other sources, low-interest loans, and a work-study job during the academic year.

As a transfer student, is there any coursework you recommend that I take?

California community college students are strongly encouraged to complete IGETC requirements. All other transfer students are encouraged to make progress toward completion of the UCLA's School of the Arts and Architecture's general education and university proficiency requirements. Beyond the IGETC/General Education courses, it is recommended that dance major students take coursework in the area of choreography, improvisation, and forms of technique offered. For more specific recommendations, please review the Transfer Admission Guide . There is also additional information and guidance for transfer students at arts.ucla.edu/apply .

What happens at the live dance auditions?

In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of World Arts and Cultures/Dance (WACD) asks all applicants to audition by pre-recorded video ONLY. We will not hold live auditions for the Fall 2023 admissions cycle. Please review Dance Video Audition Advice for Fall 2023.

What is the theme for the personal statement essay? I have already written one for the UC application.

The department personal statement that is submitted with the supplemental application, is distinct from the UC personal insight questions. Your audience for your UC responses are “general UC readers,” and your audience for the UCLA Arts supplemental essays are your department faculty. The department faculty do have access to your UC responses. In the event that the reviewing faculty want more information about an applicant, they may request to review your UC responses.

Who can take dance/choreography classes at UCLA?

All current students are welcome to take dance and choreography classes here at WACD! Some popular classes may fill early, so be sure to register as soon as you are able. All students can register for beginning level classes, which are intended for students who are new to dance, or to a particular style of dance (ex: an experienced ballet dancer may wish to take a beginning West African dance class). Intermediate and advanced levels require attendance at the placement class that happens at the first class meeting at the beginning of each quarter. The placement process allows the instructors to ensure that students are enrolled in the class that most suits their needs at the time, and is not a personal judgment or a statement about potential. If you’re not sure what styles of dance or what levels are right for you, please email the instructor. In the case of a beginning level class you may simply show up to class on the first day of class. Bear in mind, however, that there is no guarantee you will be allowed to enroll in a class if it is full. WACD undergraduate and graduate students have first priority once classes are full.

What kind of dance performance opportunities exist for current UCLA students?

Current M.F.A. students periodically need dancers for showings related to their degree progress. Sometimes auditions are posted, while other times fellow dance class attendees are approached. Check the department announcements posted via our social media outlets (Facebook and Instagram), the department's weekly newsletter, and flyers that are posted within the department for audition information. Additional opportunities exist each year at WACsmash—an interdisciplinary showcase of artists within World Arts and Cultures/Dance. The show incorporates various styles of dance, film, and live music created and produced by undergraduate students. There is also an annual faculty-choreographed showcase during spring quarter every year. Audition information will be posted in the department.

Who can take seminars in the WACD department?

All current students are encouraged to attend classes here in WACD! Our department is highly trans-disciplinary, with no two students studying the exact same thing, and we embrace diversity of academic background and thought. Please be advised that upper level undergraduate courses may require certain pre-requisites, or permission of the instructor. Also, please note that some departments do not permit undergraduates from attending graduate seminars. Arts and Architecture undergraduates may not apply graduate level coursework towards their major requirements. Be sure to check with your advisor before you invest your time. Permission to attend a WACD upper level undergraduate or graduate course is ultimately at the discretion of the instructor. Please ask the faculty for advice about whether the course is appropriate for you.

For inquiries and additional information, please contact:

Ashley Pham

Academic Advisor - BA in Dance & M.F.A. in Choreographic Inquiry

• Email: ashleypham@arts.ucla.edu
• Phone: +1 (310) 206-5467

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Dance courses

Studying dance at university, example course modules.

• Dance technique
• Choreography: improvisation and composition
• Contextualising dance
• Dance portfolio
• Critical lenses and identities
• Dance journalism
• Performance and place
• Making dance work
• Dance in the community

Teaching hours / week

Average for this subject

Average for all subjects

Average hours for this subject: 18 (Low N/A - High N/A). Average hours for all subjects: 14.

The time you'll spend in lectures and seminars each week will vary from university to university, so use this as a guide.

Who studies this subject

• Female : 86% Male : 14%
• Mature : 9% School leaver : 91%
• Full-time : 100% Part-time : 0%

What students say about dance

Academic experience.

Teaching hours are vast. We are given both practical and academic teaching every week, with a great balance. The course is highly interesting, giving detailed information and methodology in respect to dance anthropology. It is very challenging but very enjoying, engaging both the mind and body on a professional level. Assessments are usually choreographically taught and performed or created by us and performed, as well as written exams, such as human anatomy and anatomical correctness of the body.

The contact time consists of both dance classes and lectures, but a lot more class than lecture. The classes are so much fun - it has been such an enjoyable first year for me. The end of semester assessments are a mixture of practical presentations, essays and portfolios, but you are given plenty of time to prepare for these, so have no fear! We have a performance centre with a fair few dance studios - you are never stuck for space if you want somewhere to dance.

For a dance course, the programme is very theoretical - there are a lot of modules with practical elements, but theory is heavily weighted. Choosing the placement year to work in the industry for seven months was one of the best choices I have made. This course has taught me the range of career choices available with a degree in dance.

What you need to get on a course

Subjects you need.

A-levels (or equivalent) usually required

• No Specific Requirements

Useful to have

• English literature
• Performing Arts

Application checklist

Here's a guide to what to expect from the application process - also check individual university entry requirements, as these may differ.

• January application
• October application
• Personal statement
• Work experience

Personal statement advice

Your personal statement is a core part of your university application, and getting it just right takes time. Before you start work on yours, take a look at our five quick tips on writing a personal statement. We'll help you past that writer's block!

Career prospects

Six months after graduating.

• Artistic, literary and media occupations

Longer term career paths

Jobs where this degree is useful.

• Choreographer
• Dance instructor

Other real-life job examples

• Fitness intstructor
• Performance director
• Vocational trainer

What employers like about this subject

A degree in dance should provide you with subject-specific skills that include an ability to communicate and influence an audience through performance; a knowledge of the history of dance and its effect on culture and the choreography, production, criticism and management of artistic performances. You can also gain useful transferable skills, including excellent communications skills, team-working, self-motivation and project management. Dance graduates are usually found working in the performing arts or education, but other industries, including arts administration, welfare, health, tourism and the fitness industry, also employ dance graduates.

Explore these related courses...

Related subjects to explore

Drama and theatre studies, photography and film, creative writing, music technology.

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