Most colleges offer auditions both at their home site and in a variety of cities throughout the United States.  It is highly recommended that students audition in person when at all possible. Dance programs vary greatly from school to school.  Some programs specialize in one form of dance without excluding others, while some schools concentrate on one discipline.  Students are advised to thoroughly research dance programs to determine if a particular school answers their needs and aspirations.

General Questions to Ask
Does the school have a liberal arts emphasis or conservatory training?
What degrees does the school offer?  Are there degrees/programs in arts management, dance theory, dance education, dance therapy, dance and technology, or film and video?
What is the size of the student body?
How many dance majors/minors are there in the department?
Does the school have a graduate program?  Do graduate assistants teach?
What kinds of technique are offered?  How many technique classes are required/offered per week?  How many levels of technique are offered?
What is the ratio of academic requirements to studio hours?
What is the student/teacher ratio?
Are there any honors programs in dance?
Do students study pedagogy?  Do they get first-hand experience by assisting classes?
Are there grants available for travel, choreographic projects, or research?
Are there any internship programs available?
Are there any summer dance programs in the vicinity?
Does the school participate in the American College Dance Festival Association?
How many guest artists does the program bring to the school?
Does the school offer the opportunity to meet and connect with dance professionals other than faculty?
What are the opportunities to view dance in the area?
Who are the alumni of the program?  Where have they gone, and how are they doing?
(Is this what you want to do?)
How selective is the dance program?  How many apply and how many are accepted?
What are the GPA requirements for acceptance?  What standardized tests are required?

Questions to Ask About Facilities and Student Services
Are the studios clean, spacious and ventilated?
Do class numbers reflect the studio size?
What is the surface you will be dancing on (marley, wood, concrete)?
Are the floors sprung so dancers will not sustain injuries?
Are dance classes accompanied by live music?
Is the atmosphere conducive to optimum learning?
Is there access to good medical personnel, physical therapists, nutritionists, etc.?
What kinds of on-campus organizations and student services are available?
How much individual attention do students receive?

Questions to Ask About Performance and Choreography
What are the performing opportunities?  How many performances are there per year?  What venues are there?
Who choreographs/directs these performances?
What types of dance are presented—modern, ballet, jazz, etc.?
Are new works and premieres commissioned?
Is there a company affiliation?
Is the music live or recorded?
Are students allowed to perform outside of school?
Are students encouraged and supported to create new works?
Is there an annual student choreography concert and/or workshop?
Are interdisciplinary projects encouraged?
Are there opportunities to work backstage?
Are there opportunities for learning set, costume, and /or lighting design?

Auditioning
When attending an audition, students must come prepared to take a ballet or a modern dance class, or both, and in some instances perform a variation.  Some schools ask for a photo and a resume. 

Students auditioning should come fully prepared to dance and have all that they need to make a neat impression.  This would include:
•       plain leotard and tights
•       appropriate shoes (ballet, pointe, jazz)
•       Hair should be pinned up securely (if hair is too short to be tied back, pins or bandannas to keep the hair out of the face should be worn)

Items that should not be worn:
•       parachute pants
•       bulky leg warmers
•       big sweat shirts