Which dance should I learn?

Everytime I tell teachers that I'm aiming for broadway/musical theatre, they tell me that I need to know how to dance. I even read somewhere that unless you can get past the dance part of the audition, you won't even get to the singing audition.

I want to learn to dance, but there are so many different kinds. Which one(s) should I learn if I wanted to get into musical theatre?

As I have stressed many times before, ballet, ballet and, oh yes, ballet.

Every other dance style passes through ballet, and that is the basic technical background you need. It all comes from ballet.

Ballet also teaches body awareness and discipline.

Barre work can be boring as all get out and at the beginning, can leave you with muscle spasms at inconvenient times like the middle of the night when you are sound asleep, but you learn so much that has nothing to do directly with dance like body carriage/posture and concentration. It is also a great workout.

Ballet.

Some dance-heavy shows will put you through paces first. Some shows are not that dance-heavy and you sing first. South Pacific to name one, A Little Night Music for another.

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Definitely ballet

If you can take more than one, take jazz. Also, if it is musical theatre you are aiming for, you might benefit from taking a tap class too.

But definitely take Ballet.

Agreed. Ballet has helped my so much.. I'm in Jazz 2 at my school right now, but need to get back to basics. I'm so excited, they're offering a ballet class over summer that will meet M-Thursday as opposed to just M and W or M and F (as it is during the regular school year).. woooo

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On a lighter note, tap dancing is one of those skills that you can pull out at class reunions, family gatherings and anywhere that civilians gather, such as country club dances, proms, formal business dinner dances, etc.

Like playing the piano and being able to hold a conversation, tap dancing is always an asset and any social event.

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Maybe I just got lucky, but my dance teacher went to school for MT. So if you can find a teacher who has done the same, that would be ideal.

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Ballet. It will make every other type easier

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I agree that ballet should come first. And then jazz.

But, unless you are going to be a DANCER, you should take social dance at some point.

Then hip-hop, and then tap. IMHO

Ballet then Jazz then tap

...if you are first starting

Ballet, 100% ballet.

Also maybe theatre jazz.

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