How to Apply | Faculty | Curriculum | Performances | Facilities | Alumni

How to Apply

Links to Printable Information:

2008 Admission Application - New Students (pdf)
2008 Admission Application - UWSP In-House Students (pdf)
Audition Protocol Information (pdf)
Injury Form (required for all auditioning students) (pdf)
Dance Program Major & Minor Curriculum Description (pdf)
Dance Program Overview

Please note: you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader software to open these links. If this software is not already installed on your computer, please click here to DOWNLOAD the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Eligibility
To be eligible for admission to UWSP’s Dance major or minor programs prospective students must be admitted to UWSP as full-time students before their assigned audition date. Students must then successfully complete an on-campus performance audition and interview with UWSP’s dance faculty.

UWSP’s dance program is dedicated to creating a dynamic environment that inspires and engages students to become thinking artists in the field of dance through technical, theoretical and compositional inquiry. During the first year, the dance faculty works with students to re-evaluate technique and explore new approaches to training at a high level. This re-evaluation includes training with optimal anatomical alignment that supports injury-free dancing. Students also develop the ability to work as a part of an ensemble, the ability to work openly and honestly with other dancers, and the ability to be flexible in the artistic process with choreographers, directors, and rehearsal assistants. Therefore, we do begin all new students in our 100-level technique courses.

2009 Auditions Dates
Friday, February 13, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009

All dance program auditions are held in the Noel Fine Arts Center, Dance Center Studios.
Detailed application information and materials are available at the links above.

All required application materials must be postmarked no later than February 6, 2009, or hand delivered to the Theatre & Dance Office, 161 Noel Fine Arts Center, by 4:30 p.m. that day. Completed applications will be accepted in advance of the deadline. Any applications received after this deadline will not be considered.

As part of the audition, all dance major and minor applicants are required to perform a one-minute solo that highlights performance skills. This solo can choreographed by the applicant or someone else. Applicants should provide any sound accompaniment (CD format). Please prepare to stay within the one-minute time limit. The solo may be excerpted and the music cut from an existing longer work, or you may prepare a solo that is intended as a one-minute dance.

Please note: the dance program does not accept videotaped auditions.

Admission into the dance major program is based on academic acceptance into UWSP, a completed dance program application, an interview with the dance faculty, and a successful dance audition. Prospective majors must place into a minimum of two of the following four courses: Dance 104: Modern IB, Dance 106: Ballet IB, Dance 212: Theatre Dance and Tap II, Dance 214: Jazz II.

Admission into the dance minor program is based on the same criteria as the major, but with placement into a minimum of one of the above courses.

Letters of Recommendation for New Students

Letters of recommendation should address your abilities to be successful in a university level dance program. We recommend that one letter be written by an academic teacher and one letter by a primary dance teacher.

Letters of Recommendation for In-House Dance Program Applicants  

For Department of Theatre & Dance students who are currently enrolled in a dance program course, one email reference from your program coordinator (i.e. Tim Howard or Steve Smith) will be sufficient.

For general students who are not yet Theatre & Dance majors or minors and who are currently enrolled in a dance program course, one email reference from someone in your major area will be sufficient.

For general in-house students NOT currently enrolled in a dance program course, two letters of recommendation are required.

Scholarships
A limited number of scholarships are awarded to qualified high school seniors accepted into the major program based on ability and potential in dance.

All scholarship awards will be applied directly to the cost of tuition: one half in the fall semester and one half in the spring semester. Scholarship recipients will be notified within two weeks following the February 29 audition.

We recommend that you not apply to our program if you are interested in pursuing a BFA degree or wish to study only one specific dance technique.

Audition Schedule, February 13, 20 &27, 2009

1. Be eligible for admission to UWSP in the fall of 2009. Preference will be given to those already admitted to UWSP;
2. Complete and submit all dance program application materials by February 6, 2009;
3. Have a strong background in two of the following: ballet, modern, jazz, or tap;
4. Participate in an interview with the dance faculty.

UWSP's Dance program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD). Visit their site for helpful information on preparing to enter a college dance program.