Tag: college

7 Mistakes Dancers Make When Choosing a College Program

Choosing a college dance program is a super-high-stakes decision: You’re trying to set yourself up for career success, and you’re making a huge financial commitment. So it’s no wonder the process feels rife with pitfalls. Here are the seven biggest mistakes dancers make in their quest for the perfect school. Skipping the Campus Visit This […]

Should You Minor in Dance? It's a Major Question.

Dance has always been a huge part of your life. But now that you’re about to head to college, you might be wondering: In order to feel fulfilled and successful, do you need to major in dance? The answer, of course, depends on the person. But for some, a dance minor is the best option. […]

Is Early Decision/Early Action the Right Choice for Your College Dance Career?

It’s that time of year for high school seniors: early decision/early action season. Your guidance counselor at school might have already recommended these options to you—but just as the college admissions process is more complicated for dancers overall, you’ll also need to think carefully before deciding whether or not you want to jump ahead of […]

Dancers: Want to Graduate College Early? Read This First.

Who among us hasn’t daydreamed about finishing college a semester or two ahead of the class? But as tempting as it may be to get started on your dance career ASAP, this isn’t a decision to take lightly. So DS had a dance department chair and an alumna who finished ahead of schedule lay out […]

This Ballerina Danced in a Professional Company AND Graduated from Harvard

For Harvard grad and professional ballerina, Liz Walker, school and dance were always separate. In high school, she studied at a private, all-girls school by day and trained at American Ballet Theatre’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School by night. At the same time she was auditioning for professional companies, she was applying to colleges. But when […]

Should Dancers Take a Gap Year Before College?

For many non-dancers, planning a post–high-school gap year can feel like a necessary step toward getting college-ready. For potential dance majors, though, taking a year off between high school and college might sound counterintuitive. After all, you’re essentially delaying your entry into dancing professionally. But a gap year can provide helpful experience, training, or personal […]