Dance?

[RumTumTugger]

Posted: 1/15/05 at 5:36pm

Hey, I'm a freshman male in Highschool and I was just wondering.
Do Music Theater college's look at your dance experience. Because right now I can sing, act, and play the piano but I don't think I could afford dance lessons. Thanks!!

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 1/15/05 at 5:40pm

most colleges have a very simple dance audition with their attention to acting and singing.

[RumTumTugger]

Posted: 1/15/05 at 5:42pm

Thanks, but if I were to get involved in a dance class (lord knows where I'd get the money), what type of dance should it be?

[MyNameInLights]

Posted: 1/15/05 at 5:44pm

Probably jazz, but tap couldn't hurt either. And don't worry about not being able to afford it, I know how that feels. Jacob was right, it's a very simple dance audition that isn't too hard at all.

[dancindramadude]

Posted: 1/15/05 at 5:44pm

Really, they dont really focus that much on dancing. Cause I can act, dance, and I have designed (make-up, costumes, sets, etc.) and have done make-up, i have been a grip. But the one thing I am not good at is singing. I guess it is good that I am taking voice lessons right now.

[dancindramadude]

Posted: 1/15/05 at 5:44pm

Really, they dont really focus that much on dancing. Cause I can act, dance, and I have designed (make-up, costumes, sets, etc.) and have done make-up, i have been a grip. But the one thing I am not good at is singing. I guess it is good that I am taking voice lessons right now.

[RumTumTugger]

Posted: 1/15/05 at 5:45pm

It's not that I couldn't afford it, it's just that I'd probably have to drop Piano lessons or voice lessons, which I don't wanna do.

But maybe I can get a job and pay my way through it.

[ashley0139]

Posted: 1/15/05 at 5:51pm

Dance is, of course, a great thing to be able to do. It definetly helps in the theatre world. Before, I had always focused on voice, voice, and voice. I have since branched out and began taking dancing and some acting lessons. So it is good. So, to make a short story long, it's a good thing to have but not necessary. And if you get into a theatre program on your voice and acting, you can DEFINETLY take dance in college. I know lots of people who do that. Hope that helps in a roundabout sort of way.

P.S.- MNIL is probably right. Jazz is definetly the best way to go. Then tap.

[Phantom2]

Posted: 1/15/05 at 5:55pm

Two words...

TRIPLE THREAT!

[mint0621]

Posted: 1/15/05 at 8:13pm

Susan Egan's in my ballet class, maybe she finds it helpful. =)

[CatieElphie1]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 10:22pm

i'm a junior in high school with NO dance experience at all, except for the choreography given to me in the musicals I've been in..and I wasn't that good at dancing then, either, but several schools have offered me scholarships and/or the chance to audition for a scholarship at thier school and they KNOW I can't dance...so I think it's like a matter of personal prefference, really!

[Jwei123]

Posted: 1/16/05 at 10:24pm

if you are to choose *one*, it should be ballet...it is the foundation of most musical theatre dancing (obv. not tap!)

[VeuveClicquot]

Posted: 1/17/05 at 2:44am

Take a ballet class.

I was a Freshman in High School when I took my first ballet class. I HATED it. It was painful, boring, and embarassing.

After four years of standing at that stupid barre, I was still no ballet dancer. But the experience affected every part of my acting. It not only made me a better dancer, it gave me crucial tools to rely on whenever I'm on stage. It makes you aware of your physical presence, and gives you extraordinary control and confidence. I'm extremely grateful that I did it, even though it was a rather miserable experience at the time.

[divacathe]

Posted: 1/17/05 at 3:44am

As somebody who just went through the horrors of auditioning for every MT school under the sun, I have a few pieces of advice.
1 ~ Definately take Ballet. No matter what school you audition at they are going to make you do a jazz and a ballet combination for the audition...Ballet IS the foundation of ALL dance.

2 ~ Do research and find out how the school views Acting, Voice, and Dance. For Example, If you're going to Audition for UofM, Cincinnati, Webster, or Syracuse make sure you're a spectacular dancer. All VERY dance centralized programs. Also, there are a lot of schools though, who will take you b/c you can act/sing, they'll add you to their class, and then they'll accept a few dancers too. It's all about an equal balance.

3 ~ Know what you're getting into. If you need it, I have a list of all the good Musical Theatre Schools in the Country. It also says what their main focuses are. It might be helpful, let me know.

Anyway, good luck, and do me a favor, whatever you do...DON'T GO TO AMDA...YOU DON'T GET A DEGREE...IN THIS BUSINESS, YOU NEED A DEGREE!

Happy Hunting!

[VeuveClicquot]

Posted: 1/17/05 at 4:07am

Generally very good advice divacathe, but something in your post made me laugh: "IN THIS BUSINESS, YOU NEED A DEGREE!"

In the nearly 20 years that I spent auditioning for shows in New York, never once did anyone ask me to show them my degree. Or even care whether I had one or not (I do, by the way, it was an extraordinarily expensive piece of paper issued from NYU).

A college education can be an extremely valuable thing, or it can be a waste of time. You get out of it what you put into it. But either way, a BFA is a pretty worthless piece of paper (unless your ultimate goal is to be a drama teacher in a high school somewhere), and certainly not something that one NEEDS to succeed in the biz.

[actress_06]

Posted: 1/17/05 at 11:13am

I'm a junior in high school. My only bit of dance experience is a softshoe I learned in an hour the day before it was performed for a fundraiser. It all worked out for the best. But I know how you feel about the money thing...I don't have time or money to take dance, but over the summer(when I have more time) I'm planning to take lessons for free from a friend who is a dancer...So if you have ay dancer friends ask them if you can get free lessons from them and then owe them a favor or something.

[timote316]

Posted: 1/17/05 at 11:26am

This reminds me of my college musical audition. They quickly (like REALLY quickly, one run-through) taught us a dance, then had us do it. I laughed through the whole thing, because I am not a dancer in the least.

I swear, everytime I talk about that audition, I realize how screwy it actually was...

[Marcomeatball]

Posted: 1/17/05 at 11:28am

This is why being a 237 lb. Male has it's downsides..hah

I'd love to take tap, but what with going to college next year! Hah!

[Switz78]

Posted: 1/17/05 at 11:53am

I disagree with the folks telling you jazz. Ballet is the basics. If you can learn technique through ballet then you can be a better overall dancer. Also I know several male friends who stepping into college had only done show choir and through their 4 years really pushed themselves to become better dancers and are now getting hired as dancers.
If you have an inate rythm in you, which I'm sure you do playing the piano, I would say you can hold off until college for the dancing. My god you're a teenager, if you work spend a little having fun, don't work so hard and regret not having a life later on. It happens.

[TonyBWay]

Posted: 1/17/05 at 12:51pm

I would say as a freshman in h.s. ...you have time to become a better dancer before you audition for college. Take advantage of any dance you can do locally in your town. Whether its a dance team at your school, high school productions, or community theatre.

I know a lot of people, guys specifically who I went to college with who initially had little to no dance training and left as bonified "dancers." So anything is possible!

I agree that ballet is the core of any dance form, but chances of you having exposure to them before jazz or tap is probably nill. I would say take advantage of whats going on around you. That might also be a local aerobics or yoga class, if you are unable to take a dance class, trust me, they help! It will assist in your coordination of learning dance.

And as a side note: a college degree in Music Theate can be a valuable "piece of paper," that is if you know how to use it. I can tell you that if you have the proper training (sight singing/reading, dance, and strong acting skills) you will excel. You couldn't imagine how many people who don't have these skills spend a lifetime of just auditioning and not working!!! ...and wonder why!?! Updated On: 1/17/05 at 12:51 PM

[ElTico68]

Posted: 1/17/05 at 1:01pm

I would suggest starting with some beginning ballet, that'll give you a foundation to start building on.

As for payment, most studios have "work/study" programs. You work one evening, or help out with chores like cleaning or mailers, and you get a certain amount of classes in exchange. You should check into it...

[divacathe]

Posted: 1/17/05 at 4:33pm

Veuve, I agree that sometimes a degree doesn't matter, but in my experience, my sister was told that she needed a degree before a lot of people would see her, and I just think it's better to be safe than sorry. Also, most people don't have the skills and drive that a peformer on Broadway needs right out of high school. But, I do agree, there are many people who have no degrees, but 90% do.

Anyway, with the dance thing...also, try and work on your quick study a lot. Because that's what a broadway audition is like. They give you only about 2 chances to learn a dance, sometimes only 1 chance, and then expect you to do it and add some "pizzazz" of your own to it. Also, it is a good idea if you have some dancer friends to have them help you a little bit. I couldn't afford it either, but I worked at McDonalds to be able to pay for ballet and jazz and lyrical lessons. But, If you're friends are gonna help you, have them teach you the basics. Like: All the 5 arm/foot positions in Ballet. And some of the basic terminology. That'll help you the most, and when you go in to audition for schools you'll realize you actually understand what they're talking about. If you need it, I have my list of Ballet terms that I could send you. You could have a friend show you what all the things on that sheet mean.:)

[DBillyP]

Posted: 1/17/05 at 5:03pm

You might also, as a male, find a studio willing to take you on scholarship.

And as much as I hate to say it, you should take ballet. Though, do NOT limit yourself to one discipline. Take jazz as well.