Here’s Where to Start your Dancer’s College Search
Starting the College Dance Search: What Parents Should Ask their Dancers First
Starting the college search as a dancer—especially for students considering a dance major or a double major—can feel overwhelming. The landscape of college dance programs is wide, nuanced, and anything but one-size-fits-all.
Whether your dancer is just beginning to explore possibilities or actively preparing for auditions, the most helpful place to start is not with school names—but with the right questions. Below are the core conversations we guide families through in college counseling for dancers.
1. Does Your Dancer Want to Major in Dance?
One of the first and most important questions is whether your dancer wants to pursue a dance major, and what kind of program would best support them.
A BA or BFA in Dance typically involves a significant time commitment—often multiple hours of training each day—which shapes the entire college experience. Majoring in dance is an incredible way to connect deeply with other artists and intellectual inquiry and with the college experience widely.
Key distinctions to explore:
Conservatory-style programs: Highly intensive, performance-driven, often limited academic flexibility
University-based departments: Many R1/R2 universities have dance majors that include strong training, challenging dance academics, and opportunities for a wide array of secondary areas of study.
Liberal arts programs: Dance departments in liberal arts colleges are often richly integrated with the college community offering opportunities for intensive dance study, secondary areas of focus, and collaborative opportunities across campus.
BA/BS vs. BFA: don’t get too hung up on this distinction. We’ll drill down on it together but in terms of training, these days both degrees can include intensive training and both often allow double major or minors—it’s much more program specific than degree name.
Questions to ask:
How much time does your dancer want to spend dancing each day?
Do they want space for another academic interest?
Are they energized by intensity—or seeking balance?
These answers are especially important for dancers considering a double major in college. At Dance And College Counseling we work closely with dancers and their families to find the best fit and the best strategy for engaging in college as a dancer.
2. Dance Major, Minor, or Extracurricular?
If you finished step #1 kind of unsure, remember that not every dancer wants—or needs—to major in dance to have a fulfilling college experience.
Many students thrive by:
Minoring in dance
Participating in department ensembles
Joining student-run dance clubs
Sometimes we work with a dancer who has trained so consistently through their life and wants to be sure they have the option to dance, but don’t feel called to major in dance. This is especially relevant when a student is pursing another field that doesn’t allow much room for double majoring, for instance direct-entry nursing programs or engineering programs. In these cases, we help dancers identify and asses the quality of adjunctive dance opportunities.
A Note on College Dance Teams
Dance teams typically exist outside academic dance departments and function more like athletic programs.
Important distinctions:
Recruitment may involve scouting, clinics, or invitation-based auditions
The focus is often on athleticism and performance style
This is a separate pathway from academic dance training
Understanding these options early helps families avoid mismatched expectations later in the process. At Dance And… we don’t work with dancers on a dance team path, but we love watching y’all!!
3. Take a Close Look at Training to Date
Before building a college list, it’s essential to assess where your dancer is right now.
Helpful steps include:
Honest technique evaluations from trusted teachers
Clear feedback about readiness for college-level training
Watching college dance program social media to understand expectations, aesthetics, and culture
This step is about making strategic, informed choices that support long-term growth. At Dance And College Counseling we begin each process with a technique evaluation, to give families honest feedback about readiness for college programs and areas to focus on to prepare for auditions.
4. Consider Including Programs that don’t Audition for Entry.
Not all college dance programs require auditions.
Some excellent programs offer open enrollment, allowing students to:
Continue dancing without high-pressure auditions
Maintain balance with demanding academic majors
Explore dance while double majoring or pre-professional in another field
These programs can be excellent fits for dancers who:
Want to keep dancing but not at a conservatory pace
Value flexibility, mental health, and academic exploration
Care about community and connection and access to dance
Audition-free does not mean low quality—it reflects a different educational model and a distinct values-set of the department. Many programs that don’t audition for acceptance, do offer scholarship auditions on “dance day” and this is a good way to assess for fit.
5. Watch for College Dance Auditions and Recruitment Events
During senior year, multi-school audition and recruitment events can be valuable tools.
Common examples include:
CNADM
Dancewave
Boca Ballet Theatre
Revel Dance Convention
NYCDA
These events often bring together:
College dance faculty and recruiters
Program representatives auditioning or pre-screening
They can be efficient ways to be seen by multiple programs—especially when budget is a top concern. However, whenever possible we recommend deeply researching and auditioning directly for your top choices.
Auditioning on campus:
Demonstrates serious interest (for some colleges this gives an admissions boost to the academic review)
Gives your dancer a true feel for the department
Gives faculty ample opportunity to see your dancer, your dancer won’t get lost in the crowd in an on-campus audition even in the ones without a pre-screen.
6. What College Environment Makes Sense—Academically and Financially?
This is one of the most important—and most overlooked—questions in the college dance search.
While it’s true:
Dance scholarships are often limited
A dance degree does not guarantee a specific career outcome
Total cost of attendance matters, especially for dancers pursuing a double major
At the same time, college can offer:
Structured, consistent training
Mentorship and artistic development
Time to grow before entering the professional world
Space to clarify long-term goals
AND in-depth study and preparation for a variety of aligned careers
For some dancers, college is additional training. For others, college is a place to gather tools, clarity, and confidence to combine intensive dance training with additional areas of study preparing dancers for a variety of careers.
Building a College List That Actually Fits Your Dancer
One of our favorite things to do in college counseling for dancers is our List Builder package.
With List Builder, we help your dancer:
Identify programs that align with their training, interests, and goals
Balance stretch, target, and likely schools
Do a bit of career counseling to identify secondary areas of study
Explore both dance and double-major-friendly options
Create a list that feels exciting, realistic, and empowering
Help families understand dance majors
Instead of defaulting to the most visible or competitive programs, List Builder focuses on finding schools where your dancer can thrive—artistically, academically, and personally.
How College Counseling for Dancers Supports the Process
Navigating auditions, applications, academics, and finances simultaneously is complex—especially for dancers considering multiple pathways.
College counseling for dancers helps families:
Understand differences between programs beyond rankings
Build personalized college lists
Strategize auditions and application timelines
Balance ambition with sustainability
There is no single “best” path!! There really many ways to be a dancer.