Students who wish to pursue either the BFA degree in dance performance or the BFA degree in dance education are required to audition for entrance into the dance program as intended majors. Students are invited to visit the university before submitting their application to observe and/or dance with a regularly scheduled dance class. Technique classes meet Monday through Thursday. Visits on Monday or Tuesday are preferable.

The audition will consist of an orientation, a technique class, a writing session and a small group interview. Also, applicants need to be prepared to present a one-minute solo choreographed in the style of their choice, if requested by the dance faculty.

The number of students for each audition session is limited, and sessions are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact the School by phone at 252-328-6390 or via email at jarmanka@ecu.edu to ascertain space availability for the audition date of your choice.

See below for audition dates and specific information on the audition process. An application form is available for printing from our web site. Please follow the guidelines carefully. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

All incoming intended dance majors will be considered for scholarship when they audition for entrance into the program, however they are encouraged to seek financial aid from other sources. Current students may apply for a dance scholarship each Spring.

In addition to taking classes in ballet, modern and jazz, dance majors take courses in improvisation, composition, choreography, dance history, and theatre. They may also take regular elective courses in pointe and tap, and in partnering and ballroom as offered.

All intended dance majors must pass an examination by a dance faculty jury in the Spring of their freshman year. They must attain a minimum grade of C in all required dance classes, and must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.

Dance performance majors are required to audition for regular mainstage dance concerts and senior concerts. Dance education majors are strongly encouraged to audition for all dance performances. Auditioning for other performances is encouraged.

Performance majors are required to perform in at least one School faculty- or guest-choreographed mainstage dance concert and either an additional mainstage dance concert, an ECU/Loessin Playhouse musical theatre production, or other performance experience determined as equivalent by the dance faculty.

Audition for the Dance Program
The dance program of ECU's School of Theatre and Dance requires an audition for all entering freshmen and transfer students to be accepted as intended dance majors. Students are admitted to the program in the fall semester only. The two audition dates for the next academic year are Saturday, January 30, 2010 and Saturday, March 27, 2010. The January 30 audition date corresponds with Dance 2010, our faculty and guest choreographed mainstage dance concert, which runs January 28-February 2.  For tickets, call the School of Theatre and Dance box office at 252-328-6829.

Students are strongly encouraged to secure admission to ECU before their audition date (www.ecu.edu/admissions/). Contact the ECU Admissions Office for deadlines for admission via the above email address or call 252-328-6133.

While all students auditioning are automatically considered for a dance scholarship, we encourage prospective students to pursue other sources of financial aid. Scholarship decisions for incoming students and our current students are made in mid-April.

The Pre-Audition Process

The number of students for each audition session is limited, and sessions are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Prior to submitting an application, contact the School by phone at 252-328-6390 or via email atjarmanka@ecu.edu to ascertain space availability for the audition date of your choice.  Print out and complete the application above, and mail it to the ECU School of Theatre and Dance. Include a current headshot with your application. (A non-professional photograph is fine, but it must show the applicant’s face clearly.) Students will receive e-mail confirmation of their audition date, following receipt of their complete application.

The Audition

Orientation:

During the orientation, auditionees and their families will have an opportunity to meet the dance faculty and to hear an overview of our School’s educational philosophy, and the requirements of the BFA degrees in both dance performance and dance education. A brief question and answer period will follow the presentation.

Technique:

The ECU dance audition consists of a ballet barre, and center and/or traveling combinations in ballet, modern and jazz, and an improvisation. Faculty evaluators will look for dancers’ alignment, strength, flexibility, and their ability to learn, execute and perform exercises and combinations. Attention will be placed on rhythm, musicality, spatial awareness, and expressiveness. Students need not be concerned if their improvisational experience is limited; they should approach this experience with an open mind and a willingness to explore new ways of moving.

Solo:

Be prepared to perform a choreographed one-minute solo in the style of choice, if requested by the faculty.

Note: Both women and men should wear dance attire that allows us to see your form.

Writing:
Students will write for 15-20 minutes on selected topics in dance.

Interview:

We are looking for dance majors who are self-motivated, possess a passion for the art of dance and have a basic understanding of the rigor of dance as a profession. In the interview faculty members will talk with small groups of 5-6 students. Prospective students will be asked to express their career aspirations during this session.

Schedule (subject to change):

• 9:30 AM - Welcome and sign-in, Messick Theatre Arts Center main entrance
• 9:45 AM - Orientation for auditionees and family members. (Other portions of the auditions are closed to the family.)
• 10:15 AM - Students prepare for class; warm-up on their own, Studio Theatre
• 10:30 AM-12:00 PM  - Audition class, Studio 114 and Studio Theatre
• 12:00 PM - Lunch Break
• 1:00 PM-2:30 PM - Writing and Interview process, Room 110
• 2:30PM-Solo Dances (if requested)

Audition by video/DVD:

It is preferable and to the prospective student’s distinct advantage to participate in an on-campus audition, so that the applicant can be seen in person and can meet the dance faculty. However, if extreme distance precludes the on-campus audition, the dance faculty can consider an audition by video/DVD.

To be considered for audition by video/DVD, you must contact Patti Weeks, Dance Faculty Coordinator at weeksp@ecu.edu explaining the reason for you request. If your request is approved, submit a completed application with your headshot, a one-page essay on how you became interested in dance and why you are choosing dance as a career, and a video or DVD clearly labeled with your name, mailing and email address.  It should include the following: the applicant in practice clothes executing a ballet barre, with pliés, tendus, dégagés, rond de jambes, développés and grand battements; a center petit allegro and grand allegro with pirouettes en dehors and en dedans; a center or traveling modern combination; and a center or traveling classic jazz combination. Optional inclusion: a one-minute solo choreographed in the style of applicant’s choice. The deadline for submission is March 15. Materials in submissions will not be returned.

Decisions:             

We will notify all prospective students of our decisions within three weeks of the last on-campus audition. Students accepted as intended dance majors must notify the School of Theatre and Dance at jarmanka@ecu.edu of their commitment to pursue a dance major at ECU within two weeks of receiving their notification from us. Names will be removed from the acceptance list for failure to meet the absolute deadline of May 1.

Note: ECU reserves the right to cancel and reschedule auditions, or make other arrangements with an applicant. If weather prohibits an audition from being held, the cancellation notice will be posted on our website's home page.