Dance Audition Guidelines

B.F.A. and B.A. Dance Auditions

B.F.A. and B.A. dance applicants are required to submit an academic application prior to scheduling a dance audition. Once the academic application is submitted, applicants can schedule an audition date via Point Park University's Accept'd homepage. You will need to create an account in Accept'd in order to upload dance materials and register for an audition date.

Artistic Audition Fee

A $115 artistic review fee is required for B.F.A. and B.A. dance applicants. Fee is paid upon completion of the artistic application process via Accept'd. Payment is non-refundable.

What to Expect on Audition Day

Print-friendly version of the Dance Audition Guidelines

On-campus audition day activities typically last from 8:30 a.m.- 2 p.m. Plan to spend your day on campus.
A confirmation email will be sent one week prior to audition day with approximate times and locations.
The audition is a class setting in which applicants demonstrate their ability in ballet, hip hop, jazz or modern dance.
Solo variations are not accepted.
Parents are NOT permitted to observe the audition class.
A campus tour, faculty Q&A session for auditioning students, and a parent/student Q&A session are included with the on-campus audition day.

What to Bring to Your Audition

Performance/training resume
Headshot (should not exceed 8x10 in size)
Full-body photograph for Ballet, Jazz or Modern concentration majors (see requirements below). Full-body photograph is optional for Hip Hop concentration majors.

Do NOT send these materials before your audition. All materials submitted to Point Park University are NON-RETURNABLE.

Photograph Requirements

Ballet, Jazz or Modern Concentration Majors
Female-Identifying/Non-Binary Candidates:

Photographs should be taken in first arabesque position.
Candidates interested in the ballet concentration should be on pointe.
Candidates interested in the jazz or modern concentrations should be on relevé.
Long hair should be secured in a bun.
Candidates should be dressed in a leotard and tights.
Photographs should not exceed 8x10 in size.

Male-Identifying/Non-Binary Candidates:

Photographs should be taken in first arabesque position.
Candidates should be dressed in full-length black tights, white shirt and black shoes.
Candidates interested in the hip hop dance concentration are required to provide a headshot. A movement photo is also accepted in addition to the headshot but not required.
Photographs should not exceed 8x10 in size.

Hip Hop Concentration Majors:

Candidates may share a movement photo, showing their personality, but not required. Headshots are required.

Audition Attire

Ballet Audition

Female-identifying/non-binary: A black leotard tailored in a fashion appropriate to classical ballet: full-length pink or flesh-toned footed tights, and pink or flesh-toned ballet shoes with ribbons and elastics sewn. Hair should be secured in a bun or twist.
Male-identifying/non-binary: A dance belt, full-length black, footed tights, a white, long or short sleeve leotard or form fitting white T-shirt, free of words, and black ballet shoes with elastics sewn. Hair should be groomed in a manner with classical ballet aesthetic. Hats, headbands, bandanas, etc., are not permitted.
Audition: Ballet slippers are required. Pink or flesh-tone tights must be worn under black leotard. Female-identifying/non-binary students auditioning for ballet are required to bring pointe shoes.
- *Pointe (female-identifying/non-binary): The pointe segment is only required for Ballet concentrations.
  - A black leotard tailored in a fashion appropriate to classical ballet: full-length pink or flesh-toned footed tights, and pink or flesh-toned pointe shoes with ribbons and elastics sewn. Hair should be secured in a bun or twist.
  - *The pointe segment of the audition is optional for Jazz and Modern concentrations.

Modern and Jazz Audition

Female-identifying/non-binary: A black leotard, full-length pink or flesh-toned footless tights; Hair should be secured in a bun or twist or up and away from face.
Male-identifying/non-binary: A dance belt, full-length black, footless tights, a white, long or short sleeve leotard or form fitting white T-shirt, free of words. Hair should be groomed. Hats, headbands, bandanas, etc., are not permitted.
Jazz shoes are optional for jazz portion of the audition.

Hip Hop Audition

Candidates should be in loose or form-fitted dance wear; sweats, leggings, basketball shorts, tanks, t-shirts.
Nothing restricting, too revealing and no jeans.
Hair is neat, secured back and off face. Appropriate footwear including comfortable tennis shoes, sneakers or similar shoes are required and preferably not worn outside.

Video Audition Requirements for Dance Applicants Unable to Attend an In-Person Audition

Prepare and record your audition according to the instruction provided in our demonstration video. Specific instructions for the required audition repertoire are presented in this demonstration video:

For Ballet, Modern and Jazz:

Your audition should be filmed as four separate pieces of media: Ballet, Modern, Jazz and Improvisation.
Please use the provided music resource list for your audition (see below).
There should not be a separate "slate" video, rather slates are to appear at the beginning of each section of your audition. The proper slate for each section should indicate your full name and the title of the section you are performing.

For Hip Hop

Your audition should be filmed as two separate pieces of media: Hip Hop combination and Freestyle/Improvisation.
Please use the provided music resource list for our audition.
There should not be a separate "slate" video, rather slates are to appear at the beginning of each section of your audition. The proper slate for each section should indicate your full name and the title of the section you are performing.

Audition videos and materials are to be submitted via Point Park University's Acceptd page.

Music Resource List

Ballet

Adagio: Adagio/Chopin Prelude in Db
Pirouette: Center Tendu/Guantanamera
Petit Allegro: Jeté/Drowsy Maggie
Echappe: Beats or Frappe/Nazareth: Sarambeque
Pirouette en pointe: Medium Tendu/De Falla: Danza de Gnomos
Tour en l'air: Grand Battement/Tango in Bb minor

Jazz

Fly Around, Cirque du Soleil

Modern

Section A: Momofassa, Geoff Bennett
Section B: Voodoo, Geoff Bennett

Hip Hop

Please check back for this information

Training Prior to the Audition

Dancers should currently be training at least 10 hours per week for a minimum of three years and must have a working knowledge and understanding of the following principles:

Proper placement specific to chosen genre or concentration
Coordination
Epaulement (body positions that create a sense of line connecting upper and lower body)
Weight shifting
Adaptability or Versatility
Musicality

Applicants should be proficient in their chosen concentration and have working knowledge in the other areas.

Audition Decisions

Admittance into the School of Dance is based on talent and potential as demonstrated in the audition. Applicants must be academically and artistically admitted into Point Park. Applicants WILL NOT receive their artistic decision until they have received an academic decision from the Office of Admissions. Once the academic decision has been processed, artistic results will be sent out.

Candidates will be notified by email and letter of their artistic admission and possible artistic achievement award as the academic and artistic decisions are made.

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Questions?

If you have any questions, please read our frequently asked questions or contact the Conservatory of Performing Arts at 412-392-3451 or via e-mail at conservatory@pointpark.edu. Office hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.