On a Friday afternoon on the last day of May, Donna Faye Burchfield was sitting on her deck in Philadelphia when a newspaper notification popped up on her friend’s phone: University of the Arts, where Burchfield had been dean of the School of Dance since 2010, was closing its doors in a week—for good. Were […]
Last Friday, the University of the Arts in Philadelphia announced it would be shutting down as of June 7. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that a steep drop in enrollment left the nearly 150-year-old school in such a deep financial crisis that the accrediting agency abruptly withdrew its charter. Many students and faculty found out through the Inquirer’s coverage, and only got […]
College professors, ballet masters, and studio faculty know that a summer intensive is one of the best ways students can try a program before committing year-round. Intensives are also one of the best recruiting methods dance educators can use to find new students. “Try before you buy,” is what Diane Bedford, clinical associate professor at […]
As a young dancer, New York native Chanel Holland trained with multiple prestigious companies, including The Ailey School, Koresh Dance Company, and University of the Arts, but she struggled when attending classical ballet auditions in her early years as a professional. “I wouldn’t get past barre because they couldn’t see past my color, or my […]
Applying for a college dance program can feel like a guessing game. Should you highlight all your competition titles and awards? How important are your academic grades? And how should you act in the audition? Here’s advice from admissions officers from some of the top dance programs in the country about how to make your […]