Dance Division

Our Dance programs provide academic and professional preparation demanded by a wide variety of careers.

Audition & Interview Requirements

Dance (BA) and Dance (BFA): Dancers spend a day on the Shenandoah campus attending dance classes, meeting with faculty and auditioning.

• Audition days begin at 9:00 a.m. with a faculty presentation about the Dance Division’s programs and opportunities, followed by a campus tour.
• Auditioning students participate in Ballet,ContemporaryModern, and Commercial Jazz Styles class work; as well as a creative exercise with our faculty and some of our current students.
• Auditioning students present their 90-second solo and finish the audition with a brief 7-10 minute interview with faculty.
• Dancers and their families receive complimentary tickets to attend a dance concert that evening as part of the audition day activities.

Applicants must upload the following to their Shenandoah Application Portal when registering for an audition:

Follow guidelines on the SU audition page for uploading materials.

• Artistic résumé   (sample)
• Current headshot   (sample)
• Current Dance photo – an arabesque, a jump or leap, or any other shot that represents you in movement (sample)

All auditioning dancers must prepare a 90-second solo dance:

• First-Year applicants are encouraged to choreograph their own solo, in order to best showcase their creative interests. A teacher’s choreography is also an appropriate choice.
• Transfer applicants must choreograph their own solo.
• Solos can be created in any of the following genres: contemporary, modern, jazz, or commercial styles.
• Solos should be well-rehearsed and present the applicant at their best, showcasing technical skills (ex: floor work, turns, movement connectivity, etc.), musicality, and performance expression.
• No classical ballet variations. No tap.
• Music for the solo should be brought on a phone, iPad or similar device that can be plugged into a sound system. If your device is not an Apple device, or have 3.5mm Auxiliary port, please bring your own adapter.
• No costumes please. Solo will be performed in the same dance attire as the auditionee was wearing during classes.  

REQUIRED ON AUDITION DAY

• Auditionees must bring a printed copy of their résumé, dance shot and headshot. These will be collected during check-in for the audition and shared with the faculty, who will review them during the audition/interview process.
• Dancers should bring a bottle of water and any small NUT FREE snacks (banana, granola bar, yogurt, etc.) they prefer, as there is no lunch break scheduled during the day.