this is a question for those of you who are confident with auditioning here, or have in the past...
i spoke to a woman from Ithaca, and since there is not a dance audition, she said to include whatever you can in the upbeat song. I've been tap dancing for 16 1/2 years, and I want to show them that, but do you think it'd be too messy?
yeah, she told me that if you have any expereince with dancing that you should incorporate it in your song.... its weird, but if it would help, you know how it is! :)
Like I said, I cannot imagine anyone giving that advice, or anyone following it! If the details of Ithaca's audition are that there is no dance component, then I would concentrate on what they DO ask for and not worry about dance. Your training should be included on your resume, so they'll know about that. I would not recommend trying to sing your way through a dance at the audition. Who was it you spoke to? Was it someone who is an auditor? You might want to email the head of the department there and inquire but, honestly, I've never heard such silly advice given.
expressthis -- they'll most likely see in monologues/songs that you can obviously move. also, 16 years of dance WILL NOT be overlooked on a resume!! it WOULD be a little messy to try and add that into your songs. if they really want to verify what you've written on your resume, they'll ask you about it and MAYBE ask you to demonstrate a step...but don't worry about it!
best of luck!! how soon is your audition?
"grace, you're stuffed in a box getting rid of ass plaque. let's face it, this evening is a bust."
sporti, I'm not sure why you're "whoa"-ing me. There is a vast difference between acting a song, and incorporating dancing into your song choices for a college audition. That was the point I was trying to make, and I honestly have never heard of any college giving that kind of advice. Having gone through the process myself as well as hundreds of my friends, in addition to assisting with my college's auditions every year, this is a new one on me!
it just seemed to be quite an enthusiastic reaction...that was the whoa. no bad blood intended.
i've been through the college audtion process 3 times now and have been told that same thing by several schools....i don't think it's too unusual. i've actually seen/heard auditioners dance in auditions, as well, but it DID look a little messy.
HOWEVER, it couldn't HURT to follow erinrebecca's suggestion and email Lee Byron (dean of theatre dept) to ask him, but he can be a little hard to reach/not as likely to reply.
"grace, you're stuffed in a box getting rid of ass plaque. let's face it, this evening is a bust."
EVEN IF they said you COULD show dance in your song audition, I would not recommend doing it. The focus of your singing audition should be your singing and also acting the song. The song should not be formally "blocked" but merely acted. To also show dance would detract from the singing and acting. If Ithaca really wanted to see dance, they'd hold a dance audition. Frankly, I think they should do a dance portion at the auditions (separate from singing of course), even if dance is less important at their program (which they admit it is), just to see how people move at the least.
Do not worry if you can't show dance as they are not looking for that IN the audition. They will see your dance preparation on your resume. That is enough for that school in that regard.
My daughter auditioned for Ithaca's Musical Theater BFA two years ago and got in, including a scholarship. She is a lifelong dancer. She did not dance whatsoever in that audition. She did not choose to attend Ithaca College.
My recommendation is to NOT dance in your singing audition. I can't imagine others doing so and if they do, I bet they are in the minority. I don't see it as helping and if anything, I see it detracting from what a singing audition should be and should show.
Best of luck in your admissions process! Your dance background will STILL count on paper, don't worry!
When I was auditioning for college MT programs (I am now a Junior), I danced during my songs in every audition...and was accepted to every program. Erinrebecca may think I'm "silly", but it served me fine.
Since you are a brand new poster as of today, I'm curious if you can share where you attend college and where else you applied. That might help readers. I think dancing in your singing portion of an audition is not that common, though I understand that some may opt to do this. However, at many programs, the audition ALSO consists of a dance portion where those skills are demonstrated, so I am not sure the need to dance in the singing portion and that is often discouraged by professionals who advise musical theater performers regarding vocal auditions.
I will just share from personal experience. My daughter applied to the following BFA in MT programs:
NYU/Tisch/CAP21 University of Michigan Carnegie Mellon Boston Conservatory Syracuse Ithaca Emerson Penn State
Most of those had dance auditions as part of the admissions/audition process. Ithaca did not but she got in and is an advanced dancer but showed no dance at the audition. BOCO did not but she got in and again showed no dance at the auditions, but her resume has all her dance background on it. (by the way, this was two years ago and now BOCO has added a dance audition). Lastly, Tisch/CAP21 had an optional dance audition for experienced/advanced dancers, which she chose to do and got accepted (by the way, they have done away with that option there). Otherwise, all her other BFA programs included dance at the audition. She got in a few of these too. At the two BFA programs that didn't hold a dance audition, she still got in. The ones that included it, she got to show her dance skills during the dance audition segment, so I see no need to show them during the singing segment.
Can you share your experience as to where you applied where you say you danced at all your singing auditions and this apparently was OK as you got in? Which of these also had a dance audition and which did not? That helps others, thanks.
It is crucial to ACT a song in a musical theater singing audition. It is recommended to not dance while performing the song in a vocal audition.
One of the bibles of this field is Fred Silver's "Auditioning for the Musical Theater." He writes:
"It's funny to see dancing combined with a song at an audition."
If they want to see you dance, they will ask you to dance. Most schools have a dance audition. If they don't, they also read the resume. They might ASK you to dance. I have a client who just got in ED to Tisch. She is a dancer. Tisch has done away with dance auditions (though they have dance placement once you attend). She told me that at her audition, when the auditor saw that she is a dancer, he asked her to dance on the spot. But her singing audition segment was sung as acting the songs, not dancing them. When asked to dance, she did.
I've been a "lurker" for a while, and just decided to join today since I feel I may be able to help kids out that are auditioning for MT programs.
I auditioned for Webster Ithaca Syracuse Emerson Carnegie Michigan NYU/CAP Hartford PSU OCU
I currently attend one of the programs listed above, but would prefer not to state which one.
I feel I should add that I didn't do anything HUGE during my songs -- no grand jetes or fouettes or anything. Wouldn't it be impossible to spot and sing at the same time! But my songs were somewhat choreographed to show that I had dance experience.
Soozie -- I get it that you don't think it's normal and I appreciate you citing references to help these kids out. I'm just saying that it isn't a make-or-break point.
Savethestage....I also think that it is good that you are sharing your experience and obviously it worked for you. The more sharing the better. Your list of schools overlaps my daughter's quite a bit. She didn't audition/apply, however, at Webster, Hartt, or OCU. I am pretty sure that OCU and Hartt have dance auditions and I am not sure about if Webster does or not. Therefore, just about all of your schools except Ithaca held a dance audition. That is why I am just saying it is not necessary to show dancing while singing as they give you another opportunity to show that skills in the dance segment. At Ithaca, I can simply share that my daughter, while being an advanced dancer, did not demonstrate dance at Ithaca but it was clear on her resume. Dance is also not as big a factor in Ithaca's program as it is in others. She still got in. I don't know of anyone who has danced while singing their song but given that so many audition, I don't know what EVERYONE does, and clearly you are an example of someone who danced while singing and the first I have met.
I hope you are enjoying whichever program you attend. For all I know you could go to school with my kid .
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