Ask an Expert

This new feature "Ask An Expert" is a place for you to ask questions pertaining to your education in the craft. The questions are moderated and answered by our faculty of experts who will share their expertise in the field with our readers.

Q. My son wants to double major in college; one area being dance and the other he has not decided yet. He is a Jr. in high school and we are on the search for colleges. My first question is to ask how do you determine a good dance program verses just a dance program at a college? What should you look for? DLT

Expert answer provided by:
John Evans, Associate Professor of Dance
Mason Gross School of the Arts
Rutgers University

A. Dear DLT:
A good way to start to investigate college dance programs is through the Dance magazines college guides. They list all the programs in the country, the degrees they offer, tuition rates, if scholarships are available, audition dates, and general information about each college program. There are many great programs across the country and depending on what you are looking for I am sure there is a good fit for your son. If he wants to have a double major in a liberal arts degree he will need to be at a strong liberal arts college that has a good dance program. There are many schools that fit a conservatory model and do not have the focus on academics that many of the dance programs at major research institutions have. I agree with you and your son that a solid education is an important aspect to ones college career. The more well rounded you are as a student the more well rounded and interesting you become as an person. Some schools offer the best of both worlds. At Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University in New Jersey, where I teach, we have a conservatory model for all four programs in theater, music, visual arts and dance inside a 1st tier research university. So the students have a strong focus on the development of their art form as well as a great school to get their academics.

Other things to consider when thinking about a program are; How big is the program?, Where is it located?, What are the facilities and theater like?, Are you interested in the creative side of the art form or do you just want to be a dancer in others' work?, What about scholarships?, and most importantly, Who are the teachers?

If a program is too big it is easy to get lost and not feel a sense of connection to your faculty. Personal attention is important as you go through your four years of training to keep you moving along the appropriate track. Obviously self motivation in the study of your chosen art form is critical and goes without saying. No teacher can give you the passion and desire to master your craft. Many programs have large graduate programs in addition to undergraduate programs. There are trade-offs with these programs. The graduate students can take up a large portion of the time and energy of the faculty and the undergraduate student sometimes get less attention. On the other side; some of these graduate students (especially at the larger programs) are professionals returning to continue their education, get their Master Degree or PHD's so they can become college professors. That means they are probably teaching and choreographing on the undergraduate students which can provide more performing opportunities for those undergrads. If a program is too small it will probably not have the kinds of resources that many of the more substantial programs have.

Location is important. There are many great programs in the middle of the country but around those programs is often not a lot of other arts events and dance going on. Some school have performing arts center and bring many companies through, so at the bigger programs there will be opportunities to see some stuff but not really of your choosing. If you are looking at a program closer to NY you have many opportunities to see dance, take classes outside of the program you are in, and experience the life of a dancer before you get out of college. New York is the dance capital of the world and there is stuff going on every weekend all year long.

Facilities at most universities are good. You just want to make sure there is enough studio space so that besides classes not being overcrowded there is plenty of rehearsal space available for students to work on their own choreography.

A strong focus on the craft of choreography is good for those who wish to become choreographers as well as those want to be as versatile as possible as performing artist. Many contemporary choreographers use their dancers to create and shape movement material that goes into the work the company is creating. Having a strong background in choreography makes students better dancers. Although there are some programs that have a stronger focus on training and less on improvisation and choreography. So look at the curriculum and what classes are required at each program you visit. A lot of that information can also be found online on the college or university website designated for the dance department or division.

Scholarships are going to be different at every institution. Older college programs tend to have more money for scholarships because their graduates have gotten older and have given back to their schools. Newer programs won't have funding from alumni but may have other sources inside their university. Most scholarships at bigger programs where students have to audition (fine arts degrees like a BFA) are talent based. Some universities have minority based scholarships available to performing arts programs and all universities have academic scholarships for students who are academically gifted. You can usually get information about what scholarships are available and what kinds of criteria are necessary for application on a programs or universities web site.

Last, and I think the most important factor in choosing a school, is who are your teachers and also who are your peers? You spend a lot of time over four years with these people and you want to make sure they are invested in your training and your well being. There are some programs that have a very competitive atmosphere and there are some that are more nurturing and supportive. Some people fit well into a competitive environment and some do better in a supportive environment. So my suggestion is to spend a day at each school you are thinking about after you do your research. I know that may mean traveling a long way but in the big picture of how much college costs these days it is a drop in the bucket and will help you make the right choice. Observe classes, get a tour with a current student so you can talk with them about their experiences, talk to the faculty that are present and ask every question you can think of. Then after you leave, email them with more questions. And don't forget, the summer dance programs offered through US Performing Arts give you the opportunity to "try on a college" before applying. There you will be able to see the facilities, work with the faculty and improve your technique as they get to know you too!

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