Admissions Procedure: Our dual admissions process requires an audition for the Department and completion of University Admissions Office application procedures by the appropriate deadlines.
Audition Dates & Forms:
Required for admission to all dance programs; 2012-13 audition dates are as follows:
Friday, November 2, 2012 10:00 am
Friday, January 25, 2013 9:00 am and 2:00 pm
Friday, February 22, 2013 9:00 am and 2:00 pm
Forms and information are available from the Dance Department,
Cathy Maclutsky, cmaclutsky@dance.umass.edu, (413) 545-6064
Please download, fill out and send back the Dance Audition Registration form.
Click on your Dance Audition Registration form preferred format: Microsoft Word file or Acrobat Reader pdf file
Audition Procedure:
Before the audition begins, current dance majors will be on hand to show videotapes of past concerts and to answer any questions you may have about the program. Each dancer will have a brief interview with one of the faculty members who are on the adjudicating panel as well. For the audition, you should wear footless tights and a leotard. Leg warmers are not permitted nor are outer garments that prevent a clear view of your body.
Bring ballet slippers and jazz shoes if you have them. Please do not wear jewelry or watches. Auditions are in the form of a class based on the idioms of ballet, jazz, and modern dance. In addition, dancers will be asked to present a one-minute solo in any idiom. This excerpt should demonstrate performance ability, and should not exceed the one-minute time limit. Cassette or CD equipment will be available. If you use a cassette tape, please have the tape cued up and ready to start. The audition process lasts approx. 2 ½ to 3 hours.
If you can not attend any of our scheduled auditions, you are welcome to submit a videotape/DVD audition for consideration. Please include the Registration/Profile form and your essay with the video; all of these are necessary for us to consider your video. All video auditions should ideally include a ballet barre, a modern dance locomotor work across the floor, and a jazz pattern in the center. If you have not studied ballet, include a warm-up sequence in either modern or jazz. Please also include a solo of one minute maximum in any idiom that demonstrates your performing abilities. In order for the faculty to evaluate video auditions with accuracy we ask that you not wear loose clothing or costumes. Ideally, barre and warm-up exercises should be video taped from the side (profile view) and center patterns and the solo from the front. Please call us if you have any questions. We will inform you after we receive the video of our decision on your acceptance as a major on the basis of your video audition.
We encourage and welcome visits by prospective students and their families and can arrange meetings with faculty and students, attendance at classes and rehearsals, and tours. Please contact the Department at 413-545-6064 in advance to schedule an appointment. Please see the Contact Us/Visit Us page for links to directions to campus and downloadable maps.
Undergraduate Admissions Office :
University Admissions Center
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA 01003
Tel. (413) 545-0222
Dance Program:
Director of Dance Admissions
11 Totman Building
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, MA 01003
Tel. (413) 545-6064
Email: cmaclutsky@dance.umass.edu
Undergraduate dance majors are eligible for a number of tuition or
partial-tuition waiver scholarships. These are awarded on the basis of talent.
All students are considered for scholarships as part of the audition process.
No special application or appearance is required. Click to visit the UMass Amherst
Financial Aid Services web page or download forms.
Students are also eligible for University-wide financial aid programs based on financial need.
These programs consist of scholarships and grants, loans, and work-study employment.
To be considered, a student must file the Federal Financial Aid Form by the appropriate deadline,
indicating the University of Massachusetts Amherst as recipient of the report.
Financial aid applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible, beginning January 1,
and to be certain that the completed Federal Financial Aid Form is postmarked no later than the
published deadline; failure to meet this deadline results in the denial of financial aid.
