You might be surprised to hear that both Seán Curran, chair of the dance department at the NYU Tisch School of the Arts, and Jodie Gates, the director of the University of Southern California Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, still have mentors. After all, they’re both leading educators at two of the country’s most prestigious […]
At first, visiting your school’s physical therapist is like visiting a foreign country. It sometimes feels as though PTs are speaking a totally different language. (“Wait, what did she just say about my tendonitis?”) With time, you’ll come to understand that physical therapy is one of your school’s most valuable resources, whether or not you’re […]
If you’re a high school dancer looking at your summer as the chance to do some serious college prep (and no, we’re not talking about another SAT study course), a collegiate summer intensive could be a great option. Dance Spirit spoke to some expert educators about why a summer program offered by a college or […]
Towards the end of your first semester as a dance student, you’ll participate in something that resembles an exam. Whether your school calls it a jury, a placement, an evaluation, an assessment, or an appraisal, the structure remains roughly the same: You take class in front of all of your dance professors, they scribble furiously […]
Choosing a college dance program is a super-high-stakes decision: You’re trying to set yourself up for career success, and you’re making a huge financial commitment. So it’s no wonder the process feels rife with pitfalls. Here are the seven biggest mistakes dancers make in their quest for the perfect school. Skipping the Campus Visit This […]
Remember that time Beyoncé decided to slay our entire lives with a HERstory-making Coachella set? That epic performance—which we’re still trying to recreate in our bathroom mirrors—was inspired by the vibrant homecoming traditions at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). HBCUs give students a college experience that honors Black history and community. And they play […]
Because they’re the one part of college applications you don’t do yourself, teacher recommendations can feel like big, scary question marks. As Sarah Langford, college counselor at The Chicago Academy for the Arts, says, “When admissions chooses between equally talented candidates, a memorable letter can put you in the ‘yes’ pile.” But take heart: You […]
For many non-dancers, planning a post–high-school gap year can feel like a necessary step toward getting college-ready. For potential dance majors, though, taking a year off between high school and college might sound counterintuitive. After all, you’re essentially delaying your entry into dancing professionally. But a gap year can provide helpful experience, training, or personal […]