Audition Information

Audition Information

To become a dance major or minor, you must audition into the program. Auditions are held in the Linda Crum Hemmelgarn Dance Studio, 106 Warner building. The Warner building is between the Bowen Field House and the REC IM building on campus.

You will need to return the completed Audition Form and either the Dance Major Application Form or the Dance Minor Form to Joanna McNamara, prior to the audition date (Joanna McNamara, 318-S Porter, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, Michigan, 48197 or FAX: 734.487.2024). If you do not submit these completed forms prior to the audition date, it will be necessary for you to confirm your intent to audition by sending Dr. Joanna McNamara an email prior to the audition date, at jmcnamara@emich.edu.

Frequently asked questions about dance auditions:

1) What do I wear to the audition?
Conservative dance attire is requested. Leotards, tights (that are either footless or convertible), and unitards are all appropriate. No baggy clothing, jazz pants, skirts, or any other clothing that obscures the body lines. Women with longer hair should attach their hair to their head in a secure up-do (bun, twist, etc).

2) What kind of shoes do I need to bring with me?
You will need to bring ballet slippers, jazz shoes, and have access to bare feet for the modern portion of the audition. No pointes shoes or tap shoes are needed.

3) The audition consists of what types of dance?
The audition begins with an intermediate level ballet barre followed by a center pirouette combination. Then, you will be given a modern combination and possible improvisation for the modern portion. The audition will conclude with a classical jazz combination.

4) Do I need to prepare anything ahead of time for the audition?
No. You just need to keep training in your regular weekly dance technique classes. We will give you all the steps and combinations that you will have to do in the audition itself. Of course, you need to make sure your paperwork is filled out and properly sent into the Music and Dance Office prior to the audition.

5) What if I have never had any dance training, can I still be a dance major or minor?
No. We are assuming that you have been training in dance prior to attending EMU and have, at the minimum, intermediate proficiency in ballet and jazz and beginning level proficiency in modern dance. If you are a beginner, we do offer a large range of non-major classes in ballet, modern, jazz, tap, hip-hop, and pilates for all students who just want to study dance during the college years. Some of these beginner level courses count for general education credit as well. Dance majors/minors take different, higher-level technique classes.

6) Do you place all incoming majors/minors in the same technique level?
At the audition, you will be assessed as to whether you will be accepted as a major/minor and what technique level would be appropriate for you. We offer four levels of major/minor technique levels in ballet and modern. Students are placed into technique classes according to their ability level; so all students progress in the appropriate technique classes.

7) Do I need to know what dance major track I want to do at the audition time?
No. Many students have an idea of which track (pre-dance therapy, studio management and performance) but it is not required. Many students switch tracks or declare tracks upon embarking on the dance major. It is not uncommon for students to switch tracks multiple times before deciding what is best for them. Sometimes it is best to attend dance classes at EMU for a while before deciding.

8) What if I cannot come to one of the audition days but I still want to audition?
You will need to contact a dance faculty member to set up an alternative audition dates/times. Alternative dates/times are typically Monday through Thursday during our regular major/minor technique level classes. You will be taking a full 1.5 hour ballet class and a full 1.5 hour modern class alongside our current dance major/minors. Dance faculty who are teaching those courses will be assessing you in the audition.

9) What about dance scholarships? Do I have to do anything special if I want to be considered?
All students who audition for dance major/minor status are automatically considered for scholarships. Dance faculty choose outstanding students in the auditions to recommend for dance scholarships. Students are then individually contacted after the audition notifying them if they are offered a scholarship. To qualify for a scholarship, students must be incoming students who intend to be dance majors. There are no scholarships for dance minors at this time.

10) When do I get the audition results?
Students will be mailed a letter within two weeks of the audition notifying them of their acceptance status and if accepted, what dance technique courses they have been placed into. Students must bring that acceptance letter with them for any university advising sessions. Incoming dance majors/minors are only required to register for the courses stated on the acceptance letter.

11) Do I get an advisor after I am accepted as a dance major/minor?
Not right away. Incoming dance majors/minors are required to register for the courses stated on the acceptance letter and then, fill out the rest of the schedule with general education courses. If students are transfer students will only two years at EMU till graduation, then, you need to contact a dance faculty member who can advise you on a one time only basis. After students arrive on campus and are officially enrolled the dance program, then all students are assigned a permanent dance faculty advisor who meets each semester face-to-face with the major/minor student until the student graduates. Dance major/minor students are seen by tenured or tenure-track faculty only for their advising and 100% of our students receive individual advising sessions every semester.