To major in dance?

Question

Do you have to know how to dance very well? To you have to compete and dance on pointe etc. I want to major in dance, but am not on pointe and an really only fluent in lyrical and ballet.

Answer 1

The advice already posted is a bit exaggerated in its discouraging words. I have a dance minor from a large Midwest state research university (nothing like a Juilliard) and have several friends with dance majors from the same school. I wouldn't trade my dance minor for anything and would have majored in it if I was devoted enough, but I wanted time to pursue other interests. One of my friends is teaching at a studio, one plans to apply to graduate school for dance therapy, several others are pursuing MFAs, and other graduates have moved to New York and San Francisco to start their own experimental modern dance companies. Anyone who studies dance thinking s/he'll end up performing with a professional company is disillusioned; university dance programs are wonderful and offer many performing opportunities, but not always with famous choreographers in huge theatres. It's hardly glamorous; the university dance student has more important goals than glamour.

Since first established in the '20s at the University of Wisconsin, the goal of the university dance program has been not to turn out professional performers with perfectly molded bodies trained to bend to every choreographer's will; rather, it has been to develop "the thinking dancer" who is well-rounded and values creativity and expression (choreography/improvisation), science (anatomy/somatics/other movement studies), history, dance writing, and music as much as performing. Thus, most university programs are based on a core of modern ("academic") dance with some ballet (in many programs you will not be expected to dance pointe at all, just to take upper-level technique classes in soft shoes). I first came to modern dance with no idea what it was, but immediately fell in love. I met my favorite teachers in the dance program.

Your program's focus will depend on what kind of college you go to. I recommend a public school or a smaller non-arts private school because the dance programs are individualized and nurturing.

Best luck. Keep dancing.

Answer 2

Hate to tell you but dance majors are usually for the people who arent good enough to get into companies. All you can really do with it is teach. The really good performing arts schools that accept people are really picky and only want people who will make the school look good. I know I auditined for schools that had dance majors and it was a big waste of time if you were already good. i also took classes at college and ended up teaching the class because the teacher had a masters in dance yet didnt know how to dance. Its just kinda a waste of time. if I were you i would minor in dance and get a degree in something else unless you want to teach.

Answer 3

It can be tough if you have little prior experience. HOWEVER, do not be discouraged. Aside from dancing in the classes for your dance major, also take classes at studios ( especially ballet and technique classes). Expect to work hard to catch up ( Like me).
Think of it this way, alot of amazing dancers did not start until late.

Rudolph Nuryev( ballet dancer) did not start until he was 17 which is very late by ballet standards.

Martha Graham took her first dance class at age 22

David Zurak, who dances for Martha Graham Dance Company, went to college for civil engineering but decided to major in dance after falling in love with it at age 23

Donyelle Jones, from So you Think You Can Dance, started dancing at age 18.

There are more that I can't think of at the moment. Just work hard and dance, dance, dance!!

Answer 4

Let's think about this....

If you're going to a school that has a performing dance program, then you're going to be in classes with people who are the absolute best 18-22 year old dancers in the USA. IF that is you, then that's great. If not.... you're in for misery.

Second, what kind of job would you get if you majored in dance? There are indeed dance jobs out there, but unfortunately 99.999% aren't exactly what I think you're looking for (how do you look in a G-string?). Legit dancers mostly wait tables and go to auditions and dream about being legit (see "Flashdance).

There is nothing stopping you from attending a school with a great dance program, but going there to major in something else. At that point, you make friends in the School of Dance on campus, and see if you are good enough to be one of them. If you're good, then they will adopt you in a heartbeat, but if you're not, then you'll have your Plan B well underway.

Answer 5

Well it depends in what kind of dance you wanna major if it is ballet or lyrical you have to know how to dance in pointe cuz they're both related to each other. That's my opinion but if you wanna major for other kind of dance then go for it, and if you have to dance on pointe just practice girl. PRACTICE!!! =)

Answer 6

you will capture on quite quickly. i've got in no way danced in the past in my existence and whilst i began out to bop with a experienced group i've got caught on quite quickly with the technique. you may practice and practice. it quite is in no way too late to bop ballet.