Dance Audition Instructions

Dance Department Admission

An audition is required to be considered for admission to the Dance program at Cornish College of the Arts. The audition gauges your potential for success in the Dance Program. Previous dance training is required for admission.

When and Where to Audition

We offer auditions on campus and in several locations around the country. Due to the popularity of the Dance program at Cornish and the limited number of spaces available for new students each year, you are encouraged to audition in person. If you cannot, you may audition by DVD. Please schedule your audition or send your DVD as early as possible and no later than March 15.

All on-campus auditions take place in the Cornish Dance studios located in Kerry Hall. The main on-campus audition date is held in mid-February. Off-campus auditions are held at various times during the year, typically
in these locations: Interlochen, Chicago, Minneapolis, Dallas, Houston, Denver, Riverside and San Francisco.

Early Auditions and Open House

For those students who would prefer to audition early the Dance Department hosts Early Auditions on November 17, 2011 and a Dance Department Open House on November 18, 2011.

The Audition

• You will participate in both a ballet and a modern technique class at an intermediate level.
• You will be observed and evaluated by a member of the Dance Faculty on the basis of previous technical training, alignment, core support, expressive phrasing, and individual artistic potential.
• For audition classes you should wear a form-fitting leotard and tights. For ballet classes, wear soft ballet shoes (no pointe work is required). For modern classes, be prepared to dance with bare feet.
• On-campus auditions may also include a short interview discussing your training, experience, goals and interest in Cornish. Transfer credits can also be discussed at this time.

DVD Auditions

The Dance faculty strongly encourages you to make every effort to audition in person. It is to your benefit. However, if distance prevents you from auditioning in person, you may send in a DVD audition.

Your DVD should be 10–20 minutes long. It should demonstrate your technical level and ability in ballet and modern dance. If possible, you should be filmed in your current dance class. The recorded image should show your entire body

The ballet portion should be 5–10 minutes in length. Please perform several barre exercises (plies, tendus, ronds de jambes, développés, grand battements) and center floor combinations including adagio, pirouette, petit allegro and grand allegro. If possible, the camera should be focused on the side of the body during the barre in order to record alignment.

The modern portion should be 5–10 minutes in length. Perform typical modern warm-up exercises demon­strat­ing use of the spine; at least some of these exercises should be performed in a standing position. The recording should also include center and across the floor combinations that demonstrate use of space.

If you have choreographic experience, you are invited to include samples of your choreography in addition to the ballet and modern exercises.

Upon admission, you will be placed in technique levels for your first semester on the basis of this audition.

If you choose to audition by DVD two letters of recom­mendation are required, one of which must be from a current dance instructor. These letters should accompany your DVD (sealed in envelopes and signed on the outside by the person who wrote the recommendation), or your references may send the letters directly to the Office of Admission.

On Campus Audition Dates

November 17, 2012
February 20, 2012
March 27, 2012

Off Campus Audition Dates

Riverside, CA
March 4, 2012

San Francisco, CA
March 18, 2012