Choosing a Professional Dance School

Having decided that you want to make dance your career, a logical step is to take up full-time training. With the wide range of schools and programmes available, it may not be easy to know what is best for you. But before you even start exploring the options, the first and foremost factor that you must consider is what you want to achieve in your dance career. It is important that you are clear about what your focus is, e.g. dancing, choreographing or teaching, your short-term plans and to some extent your long-term goals. Other factors such as your physical attributes, strengths and weaknesses and budget should also be taken into account.

For example, a student with less than ideal physical attributes for dance may wish to consider a dance programme with a stronger academic focus. If you want to be dancer, a conservatory with its strong focus on performance skills training may be more suitable. If you are unsure of what suits you best or uncertain about what you hope to achieve out of your dance training, consult your teacher or a mentor who can advise you on your current progress and future potential as well as give you recommendations on suitable types of training.

Selecting a Course and Institution

The internet is an excellent source to search for information on dance courses. Information and advertisements on schools and institutions are also available in dance magazines and periodicals such as Dance Magazine(US), Dance Australia, Dance Europe and so on. For overseas institutions, the student counselling centre at the respective high commissions and embassies will also be able to provide guidance and information to prospective students.

In assessing the programme, the course content is key – this should be in line with your career goals in dance and goes towards helping you achieve them. The area of studies should provide you with a good grounding that will prepare you for your desired career in dance. For example, if you want to be a contemporary dancer, the course should have a strong emphasis on contemporary dance technique and performance skills backed by a strong body-conditioning programme to enhance training.

In addition, performance and career development opportunities such as regular performance showcases and attachments to professional dance companies are beneficial to your development.

Professional dance training is highly specialized and it is not advisable to choose a course just because it is a renowned institution or simply because you like the country.

Financial Considerations

Are your parents able to support you in your studies, or you are able to seek financial assistance in the form of scholarships or bursaries? Do your sums thoroughly. Besides tuition fees, living expenses, purchase of books and materials, dancewear and additional elective courses could add up to a hefty amount.

Having your finances being taken care of is a vital consideration because it is quite impossible for dance students to take up part-time jobs as their training programmes usually leave them with limited time and energy to work. More crucially, dancers need to be well rested to fully benefit from their training.

Audition Process and Admission

Most institutions require prospective dance students to audition in person. This usually involves a technique class, an improvisation class for contemporary dance, performance of a short dance variation and an interview. There may be a few rounds of auditions. Certain schools may allow international students to audition by video and attend the final audition if shortlisted. For more tips on preparing for and handling live auditions, go to Auditions.

For video auditions, prospective students should ensure that the material shown in their video should follow the requirements stipulated by the school. Certain schools may require you to show certain exercises or movements. Ensure that the footage is clear so that the viewer can assess your dancing properly. It is not advisable to show an ensemble work unless you are the lead and can easily be differentiated from the rest of the cast.

You should also prepare a curriculum vitae that includes both your academic and dance qualifications as well as a relevant track record.

You are strongly advised to follow the application procedures closely and take note of application deadlines.

Other admission requirements may include a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the SAT Reasoning Test. For admission to tertiary institutions in countries such as Japan, France and Germany, students are expected to pass a language proficiency test.

Before Departure

For those going overseas, before you leave, ensure that you have the necessary documentation such as valid passport, student visa, medical clearance, statement of financial standing, travel documents, exit permit, etc.

For dancers pursuing training with a strong focus on performance, it is important to prepare yourselves physically and mentally for the demands of full-time training. Those who are not used to taking daily classes, as with many Singaporean students, may not be able to cope when they embark on a full-time course which often involve 3-4 dance classes everyday. To prepare for more intensive training, it would be useful to take more dance classes and perhaps take up body-conditioning classes such as pilates and yoga before you begin your full-time dance programme.

Contributed by Tan Sin Nah 28 November 2006