What to look at on college tours!
Make the most of your tour time.
College dance programs look amazing online. Beautiful photos, impressive faculty bios, stunning theaters, quirky corners.... But once you step on campus, your job is not to evaluate how perfect a place is but it’s to notice how you feel and fit in a department and take note of the details that will come into play later when you compare options. You are looking for a school where you can grow!
As a dancer, you will spend more hours in studios and performance spaces than almost anywhere else on campus. What you see (and ask about) on a tour can tell you a lot about what daily life will actually feel like.
Here’s what to look for when you’re touring college dance programs.
Start with the Studios: Quantity, Access, and Reality
Dance departments vary widely in their facilities. Some have multiple studios with generous access; others are tight on space.
When touring, look at:
How many studios the department has
How often they’re booked
Whether there’s a posted studio schedule you can view
If a schedule is visible, notice:
How much time is taken by technique classes?
How much is reserved for faculty rehearsals?
How much time is left for student rehearsal?
Student rehearsal time is often the lowest priority. Ask where else students rehearse or whether it’s a constant challenge to find rehearsal time/spaces. For instance, if dancers sometimes rehearse in a group fitness studio in the student center that may sound great. Whereas if dancers say they often have to rehearse on the concrete floor of a dorm basement, that might not sound so great.
Floor Quality Matters More Than Pretty Studios
You do not need a gorgeous, state-of-the-art studio for a strong education (but it’s nice!)
You do need:
Sprung floors
Floors in good condition
Spaces that feel cared for and safe
Clean floors, especially for forms that are studied barefoot or rolling around on the floor
You’ll be dancing on these floors for many hours every week, and floor quality and cleanliness affects your body, longevity, and injury risk.
Don’t be afraid to ask:
Are the floors sprung?
When were they last updated?
How often are they cleaned?
Look at Performance Spaces, Not Just Studios
Where performances happen tells you a lot about what a program values.
Notice:
Where faculty concerts are performed?
Where student concerts take place?
Where do class showings or informances happen?
Are there multiple performance venues on campus?
These are some examples of performing spaces:
Department theaters
Studios that convert to black-box spaces
Main campus performing arts centers
Partnerships with municipal or city venues
At Dance & College Counseling we love when students get a huge variety of performance opportunities, so we don’t just value dancing on one perfect proscenium stage. We hope you get that experience but we also love to see you performing lec/dems at local schools, making creative set ups of a Black Box, doing site-specific work, performing at the local opera house, or doing studio “informances.”
Think About Performance Opportunities (and Technical Experience)
If you’re interested in:
Choreography
Production
Technical theater
Or work-study opportunities
Ask:
How involved are students in lighting, sound, stage management, or production?
Are there opportunities to learn technical skills alongside dancing?
For some dancers, this experience becomes part of their major, minor, or future career path.
Notice the “In-Between” Spaces
Some of the most important parts of your college experience won’t happen in class.
Look for student hangout or lounge spaces, lockers or changing areas, and informal gathering spots.
Even small things matter. You can ask:
Is there a student lounge?
Do dancers bring their lunches or go to the cafeteria?
Is there a place to sit, stretch, or rest between classes?
These spaces often shape community more than formal programming. It might not be the reason you choose or don’t choose a program, but it’s something to be aware of.
Notice Coming and Going Options
Get a sense of how dancers come and go from the department.
Are dancers:
Walking across campus?
Taking a bus from another campus/site?
Living nearby?
Is it safe to walk around or an area where you have to be thoughtful about when you leave and not being alone?
There’s no right or wrong here either, but noticing can help you consider what you want your college experience to be like. When considering safety, note that the Clery Act requires that each year colleges and universities disclose campus crime statistics, security policies, and emergency information to the public in an easily accessible manner.
Ask About Body Care and Support Services
College dance is physically demanding, and support varies widely by school.
Ask:
Is there a Pilates or conditioning facility?
Are physical therapy services connected to the department?
Or do dancers use a general sports medicine facility?
None of these are deal-breakers but knowing what’s available helps you plan and advocate for yourself.
Trust What It Feels Like
Facilities don’t have to be perfect but they do need to be valued by a department.
What matters is whether:
The spaces feel functional
You can imagine yourself working there daily
The environment supports your body and your growth
Sometimes a program with fewer resources—but more access and care—will serve you better than a brand new one.
Final Thought: Tours Are About Fit, Not Judgment
You’re not there to rank schools. While you’ll eventually have choices to make, at Dance And College Counseling we want you to go on tours and visits and rule some schools in and some schools out. Don’t worry about ranking your possibilities. We hate the term “dream school” and want you to have lots of possible options.
You’re there to ask yourself:
Can I do my work here? Can I grow here? Can I stay healthy here?
Keep a journal of your impressions of each school you see, trust us you’ll want to have something written down to reflect on in a few months.