{"id":206147,"date":"2018-05-11T13:50:17","date_gmt":"2018-05-11T17:50:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/theatre-and-dance\/?page_id=206147"},"modified":"2026-03-25T15:39:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T19:39:08","slug":"admission-ba-dance-education","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/theatre-and-dance\/admission\/admission-ba-dance-education\/","title":{"rendered":"Admission to BA Dance Education"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"prpl-drawer\"><div class=\"prpl-drawer-header\">Major-Specific Guidelines<\/div><div class=\"prpl-drawer-content\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Admission to BA Dance<\/span><\/p>\n<p>To be considered for admission to the BA DANCE MAJOR, students should first submit an<a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/apply\"> online application<\/a> to Montclair State University, then proceed to the Audition Preparation section of this website for audition guidelines.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The University application will request the documents below from all dance applicants:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">$65 Application fee<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">$65 Audition fee\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Transcripts<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Resume of dance experience<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Personal Statement<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Full body dance pose of any kind showing line, form, and expression<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Two letters of recommendation<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> * One from an academic teacher<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> * One from a dance professional\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">Please have the dance professional email the letter to <a rel=\"noopener\" href=\"mailto:msuadm@montclair.edu\" target=\"_blank\">msuadm@montclair.edu<\/a> so it can be uploaded to your portal. Include Subject: Dance Recommendation\/Candidate Name.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pre-screen Video (See details under Audition Preparation)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>For Incoming Freshmen and Transfer Applicants\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Upload and view materials at<a href=\"http:\/\/apply.montclair.edu\/apply\"> apply.montclair.edu\/apply.<\/a> Pre-screen videos will not be viewed and information regarding the audition outcome will not be processed until all materials are complete.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Activate<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> your Montclair State Account through the email from The Office of Undergraduate Admissions with the subject line: <\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Thank you for Applying to Montclair State!<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Check<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">your inbox for an email from The Office of Undergraduate Admissions with the subject line: <\/span><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Information about your Montclair State Dance Audition. <\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This email will guide you through uploading your pre-screen video and registering for an audition.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>For Incoming Freshmen and Transfer Applicants Auditioning Through a Partner Organization<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In 2025-2026 our Partner Organizations include <\/span><strong>Revel Dance Convention (FL), NYDCA (NY &amp; AZ), Dancewave\/DTCB (NY),<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">and <\/span><strong>Booker T. Washington College Showcase (TX).<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you are auditioning through one of these partner organizations, you are <\/span><strong>not<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> required to submit a pre-screen video, however, you <\/span><strong>are<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> required to submit all of the other materials listed above to complete your University application. After your audition with the partner organization has taken place and you have applied to the University, you will receive an email from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions with the result.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">How to Apply:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Participate<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">or plan to participate in an audition through a partner organization.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Register 1<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">with the Partner Organization.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Register 2*<a href=\"http:\/\/apply.montclair.edu\/portal\/dance\"> \u00a0here<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong> and<\/strong> choose the partner organization audition event \u2013 even if you have already auditioned. Registering for the partner organization audition event through our website allows us to connect your audition result to your University Application. If you have auditioned through a partner organization, your audition result will not be posted unless you have also registered through the Montclair State University website.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>For Current Montclair State Students \u2013 Change of Major<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For Montclair State Students currently enrolled who wish to change their major to Dance, you must first email our Dance Admissions Coordinator Christina Paolucci (<\/span><a href=\"mailto:paoluccic@montclair.edu\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>paoluccic@montclair.edu<\/strong><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">)<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> and request the necessary form. \u00a0 Then, you will need to upload the following items to the form:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Montclair State transcripts<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Resume of dance experience<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Personal Statement<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Full body dance pose of any kind showing line, form, and expression<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Two letters of recommendation\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">One from an academic teacher<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">One from a dance professional\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pre-screen Video (See details under Audition Preparation)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you have any questions about the audition process, please contact our Dance Admissions Coordinator, Christina Paolucci at <\/span><a href=\"mailto:paoluccic@montclair.edu\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">paoluccic@montclair.edu<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"prpl-drawer\"><div class=\"prpl-drawer-header\">Audition Preparation<\/div><div class=\"prpl-drawer-content\">\n<p><strong>Pre-screen Video Submission to determine if the applicant moves forward to a full audition.<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0A 2-3 minute solo in the modern or contemporary genre. The solo may be videoed in a studio or outdoors, or it could be from a performance. The footage must be recent \u2013 within the past six months.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Video Introduction Guidelines:<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">At the start of the video, identify the following either as text or as a spoken introduction.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Applicant\u2019s name and state<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Choreographer(s) of the piece<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There is an option to submit a second 2-3 minute video in a different genre (tap, hip hop, ballet, flamenco, etc) This is not required, but if submitted, make sure to follow the introduction guidelines. There is a separate link in the registration form.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For all submissions: We can only accept YOUTUBE or VIMEO links through the registration portal. We can not receive video links by email or documents with a link.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Video Attire:<\/strong> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Make sure to wear clothing that allows adjudicators to see you and your movement clearly. Avoid dark colors on a dark background; oversized, thick, or loose clothing that obscures movement; and hairstyles that cover the face.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Note: Pre-screens will only be reviewed if all materials are complete. This includes a letter of recommendation from a dance professional and an academic teacher.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Full Audition after Pre-screen<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">After the dance faculty reviews the <\/span><strong>pre-screen<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> video submission and other materials, applicants will be notified if they are being invited, or not, to attend the <\/span><strong>full audition<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Applicants invited to a full audition will stay at Montclair State for the entire audition session, moving through each section of the audition process. About 3-5 days before the audition date, applicants will receive an email from Christina Paolucci with any updates and detailed information about the audition, including the link to send one\u2019s solo music.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Our faculty will be looking for the following criteria:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Generous collaboration with other people<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fluidity of movement within personal space and through space<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Clear body articulation<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Use of momentum to power movement<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Curiosity and tenacity<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Rhythmic acuity<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Spatial awareness<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Clear point of view and opinions in writing and\/or the interview<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Expression in dance practice \u2014 this may be through dynamics, line, face, etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Authenticity in personal expression<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Transcripts with a GPA of 3.0+<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Please note that ballet remains an important part of our dance training curriculum, even though it is not part of the audition process.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>In-Person Audition Day Schedule:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The in-person audition days will last from 1:00 pm \u2013 approximately 6:00 pm. The audition will consist of:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Information session and opportunity to meet with current dance majors<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Contemporary Class<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Group Improvisation\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Solo Performance\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The audition solo is to be 1 minute in length and must be in the modern\/contemporary genre. It does not have to be the exact one you sent in for the pre-screen process. Wear the shoes, or socks in which it was choreographed. Identify the choreographer, or if it is self-choreographed. <\/span><strong>NOTE: Please do not include any &#8220;no hand&#8221; gymnastic-style movements such as aerials, and backflips.<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Group Interviews<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Virtual Audition Day Schedule:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The virtual audition day will last from 1:45 pm \u2013 approximately 5:30 pm EST. The Zoom link and virtual audition instructions will be sent by email from Christina Paolucci about 3 \u2013 5 days before the audition.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Information session and opportunity to meet with current dance majors\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Contemporary Class<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Improvisation session<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Group Interviews<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You may view your required items at any time and upload materials at<a href=\"http:\/\/apply.montclair.edu\/apply\"> apply.montclair.edu\/apply.<\/a> You must first activate your Montclair State account through the email you received from Undergraduate Admissions with the subject line: <em>Thank you for Applying to Montclair State!<\/em>, if you have not already done so.<\/p>\n<p>If you have any questions about your audition process please contact Christina Paolucci at<a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/theatre-and-dance\/admission\/admission-bfa-dance\/paoluccic@montclair.edu\"> paoluccic@montclair.edu.<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"prpl-drawer\"><div class=\"prpl-drawer-header\">Scholarship Opportunities<\/div><div class=\"prpl-drawer-content\"><\/div><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>We provide generous artistic merit, academic merit, and need-based scholarships to in-state and out-of-state students.<\/li>\n<li>Students are awarded artistic merit scholarships based on their audition.<\/li>\n<li>Students with a 3.0+ GPA are considered for academic merit aid in varying amounts based on the strength of their high school record.<\/li>\n<li>No separate application is required for consideration for merit and artistic scholarships, and the applicants will be notified soon after their acceptance to the University.<\/li>\n<li>Additionally, need-based housing grants and additional funding are determined based on an evaluation of the FAFSA form.<\/li>\n<li>There are other scholarships administered through the College of the Arts that students may apply for in the Spring semester each year.<\/li>\n<li>Audition by the end of January for a stronger opportunity for an artistic merit scholarship.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"prpl-drawer\"><div class=\"prpl-drawer-header\">Contacts<\/div><div class=\"prpl-drawer-content\">\n<p><strong>For more information, contact:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Elizabeth McPherson<br \/>\n<em>Director of Dance Division<\/em><br \/>\n<a href=\"mailto:mcphersone@montclair.edu\">mcphersone@montclair.edu<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Susan Pope<br \/>\n<em>Coordinator, BA Dance<\/em><br \/>\n<a href=\"mailto:popes@montclair.edu\">popes@montclair.edu<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Maxine Steinman<br \/>\n<em>Program Coordinator, BFA Dance<\/em><br \/>\n<a href=\"mailto:steinmanm@montclair.edu\">steinmanm@montclair.edu<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Christina Paolucci<br \/>\n<em>Admissions Coordinator, Dance<\/em><br \/>\n<a href=\"mailto:paoluccic@montclair.edu\">paoluccic@montclair.edu<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":210397,"parent":164,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-206147","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/theatre-and-dance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/206147","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/theatre-and-dance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/theatre-and-dance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/theatre-and-dance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/theatre-and-dance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=206147"}],"version-history":[{"count":69,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/theatre-and-dance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/206147\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":210261,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/theatre-and-dance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/206147\/revisions\/210261"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/theatre-and-dance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/164"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/theatre-and-dance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/210397"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/theatre-and-dance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=206147"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}