Incoming Status: Freshmen
Area of Interest: Dance
Entry Semester Available: Fall 2009
Application Deadline: February 20, 2009
IMPORTANT: Audition requests will not be taken by phone. You must request a preferred live audition date through your myPurchase account approximately one to two weeks after you submit your application.
Note: International Applicants must follow the international application instructions.
Note: Students who have not reached their academic potential because of limited financial resources and inadequate academic preparation should review the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) at Purchase College.
Step 1: Submit your completed application by (Date TBD)
Send the completed application (after it is reviewed by your guidance counselor), a check for $40 (payable to "SUNY APC"), and your Official Transcripts to:
SUNY Applications Processing Center
State University Plaza
PO Box 22007
Albany, New York 12201-2007
Note: International Students need to mail the completed application to the Office of Admissions at Purchase College. International Students should review the international application instructions.
Step 2: Request for official High School transcripts or GED scores, and SAT or ACT scores.
Have scores sent to Albany with your application or sent directly to:
Office of Admissions
Purchase College
735 Anderson Hill Road
Purchase, NY 10577-1400
Step 3: Submit your supplemental information requirements
1) Dance Résumé
2) One (1) artistic letter of recommendation
3) Dance Photo (a full body shot in leotard and tights in first arabesque is preferred)
Send directly to:
Office of Admissions/ Dance Materials
Purchase College
735 Anderson Hill Road
Purchase, NY 10577-1400
The deadline to submit your dance material is ten (10) days prior to the scheduled audition date.
- Deadline is January 5, 2009 for the Baltimore audition
- Deadline is January 12, 2009 for the Chicago audition
- Deadline is January 16, 2009 for the Los Angeles & St. Petersburg auditions
- Deadline is January 26, 2009 for the February 6, 2009 on-campus audition
- Deadline is February 2, 2009 for the February 14, 2009 on-campus audition
- Deadline is February 9, 2009 for the February 20, 2009 on-campus audition
- Deadline is February 23, 2009 for the March 6, 2009 on-campus audition
Step 4: Dance audition in person
See schedule of dates below. It is imperative that you schedule an audition online using your myPurchase account. You will not be able to schedule an audition unless you apply to Purchase College. The Conservatory of Dance will confirm your audition date by e-mail within two (2) weeks of your online request.
The Dance Audition
Acceptance to the Conservatory of Dance is based primarily on your dance audition, demonstrating:
1. Prior training and the ability to demonstrate an advanced knowledge of modern and/or classical ballet techniques
2. Talent and potential as a performer
3. Musicality
4. Good physical proportions in a healthy body that is injury free.
The dance audition consists of a ballet class and modern combinations in the center and across the floor. Following class, the audition panel will call back the dancers who will present their solos in the afternoon. In some instances, the faculty will interview a student following the audition. The schedule is adhered to as much as possible; however, the number of people in any given audition, the weather, or other extenuating circumstances may cause changes. Please plan to spend a full day at Purchase College.
Solo Performance
Following class each dancer should be prepared to present a 90-second solo performance in classical ballet or modern dance. Please do not present a difficult pointe solo in order to show your interest in ballet. The Conservatory of Dance prefers to see you in a work that shows you at your best. Note the following carefully, as no exceptions will be made.
Your music should be on a CD (with your name clearly printed on the label) or on an iPod. The Conservatory of Dance will provide an iPod compatible CD player.
Choreography may be by you or another person.
If your dance exceeds 90 seconds, you will be asked to stop. We are primarily interested in your performance and movement ability.
Be prepared to introduce your dance: title, choreographer, composer and any additional information you wish us to know.
The audition studio has a marley floor.
No costumes are permitted.
Audition Dates
On Campus
FRI 2/6/09 9am - 4pm
SAT 2/14/09 9am - 4pm
FRI 2/20/09 9am - 4pm
FRI 3/6/09 9am – 4pm
Regional Locations
1:00-4:00pm
Chicago,
12:30-4:00pm
Los Angeles,
2:00-6:00pm
St. Petersburg,
1:00-4:00pm
Sample On-Campus Audition Day Schedule
9:15 - 10:00 Registration
1. Complete the audition form
2. Pay the $60 audition fee (check payable to Purchase College) if not previously mailed
3. Receive your audition number
10:00 - 10:30 Parents meet with the Dean of Dance/Auditionees warm up
10:30 - 12:30 Dance Audition
12:30 - 1:30 Lunch break, List of requested solo performers posted.
1:30 Audition performances, presented in order of registration, followed by a interview.
Dance applicants are invited to attend the BFA Dance Senior Project Performances in the Dance Theatre Lab at 8:00 PM on the evening of your audition. Dancers should sign-up for two (2) complimentary tickets when registering in the morning.
Class Audition by Video/DVD
Deadline to submit a Class Audition by Video/DVD is March 6, 2009.
Only Candidates living outside the Continental United States may send a class audition Video/DVD rather than audition in person. (This includes other countries and Hawaii, Alaska or Puerto Rico)
The Class Audition Video/DVD should include:
Introduction: State your name, dance training, and present your solo: title, composer, choreographer and any additional information you want us to know.
Ballet Class: Present barre work, center work (adagio, allegro and pirouette combinations) and across the floor combinations. You do not need to repeat exercises on two sides.
Modern Class: Present warm up exercises, center work including backwork, and across the floor combinations.
Solo: 90 seconds maximum. Submit Class Audition Video/DVD with the $60.00 audition fee payable to Purchase College.
REMINDER: The audition fee is seperate and in addition to the SUNY application fee of $40.00. Both fees are required and must be paid seperately.
We do prefer VHS tapes over home made DVDs because the technique of home recording will often not play on other machines.
Injury Policy
If you get injured prior to your scheduled audition date, you will be able to reschedule your audition to a further date. If your recovery period goes beyond our last audition date (March 6, 2009), you may be exceptionally granted an extension. Please contact the Conservatory of Dance in either case.
Audition Attire
Women black leotard, with white, tan or pink tights, ballet shoes, hair neatly secured (no pony tails), no jewelry.
Men white T-shirt, dance belt, black tights with white socks or black tights with feet, and black or white shoes.
Note: Since ballet shoes are required for ballet work and modern work is barefoot, tights should be easily adjustable (stirrup tights or tights with foot seams split).
After the audition you are free to depart, unless you have been asked to stay for an interview.
Admission Decisions
Applicants auditioning on February 6 & 14, 2009 will be notified of their admission status within three weeks of the February 14, 2009 audition, if their application is complete, and they have paid their audition fee.
Applicants auditioning on February 20 & March 6, 2009 will be notified of their admission status within three weeks of the March 6, 2009 audition, if their application is complete, and they have paid their audition fee.
For additional information about the Dance program, visit the Purchase College Conservatory of Dance Website.
For directions to Purchase College, please click here.
Apply Online