Dance Program Placement, Scholarship Auditions, & FAQ’s
All students must take a placement class prior to enrolling in a dance technique class above the 100 level. Students entering as dance majors may audition for a dance scholarship. Recipients of dance scholarships will receive a contract of expectations including the expectation to register for technique and repertoire classes every semester. Participation in faculty and guest choreography and/or as a company member of the Gainesville Ballet Company is required. Dance scholarships are part of the total aid package and will be announced by the Office of Financial Aid.
Auditions include a ballet technique class, modern dance and jazz dance center combinations, and an improvisation problem. An interview is part of the audition process. Interviews are held after the audition class. If the student is unable to attend any of the audition dates, it is possible to audition by video ( for information). However, an audition in person is preferred.
The completedDance Program Placement and Scholarship Audition Formand a full-body photo of the applicant in dance clothing performing first arabesque should be submittedprior to the audition. The photo is for the purpose of audition identification only; please do not use a performance picture in costume or make-up.
We strongly encouraged you to visit the campus before making a final college decision. Schedule a tour to see the campus, visit with an Admissions Specialist, meet a dance faculty member, talk with a current dance major, and find a home for your next extraordinary experience! Contact an Admissions Specialist at or call 770.534.6100 or 1.800.252.5119.
Do I need to audition for acceptance into the Dance Program?
Students may enter as a dance major without an audition but will have to take a placement class prior to enrolling in dance techniques. At the time of the sophomore review, students will be encouraged to continue in the major or pursue other opportunities depending on the student’s progress at the time of the review.
Can I get a dance scholarship?
Students entering as dance majors may audition for a dance scholarship. Auditions are held three times a year. Please check the dance website athttp://www.brenau.edu/home/?page_id=1410or emailfor dates. Students receiving dance scholarships will receive a contract of expectations including the expectation to register for technique and repertory classes every semester and participation in faculty and guest choreography and/or participation as a company member of the Gainesville Ballet Company. Dance scholarships are part of the total aid package offered by the university Office of Financial Aid.
How do I know what level dance classes I will enroll in?
Anyone may register for basic dance classes at the 100 level. Entering dance majors or trained dancers who wish to take more advanced classes, must take a placement class prior to registering. You may take one of the scholarship audition classes listed above or take the dance placement class that is offered the day before registration in August. The purpose of this class is to make sure we get you into the class that will benefit you the most.
How much dance experience should I have before auditioning?
Most dancers arrive at an intermediate level in concert dance forms with an understanding of ballet terminology, body positions, dance class progression, and the stylistic differences between ballet, modern, and jazz dance. Students with little or no dance training in concert dance may enter Brenau University in the Department of Dance. These students will be placed in 100 level and advised about the dance major on an individual basis.
How should I dress for a scholarship audition or placement class?
Women should wear pink tights and a black leotard. Men should wear black tights, dance belt and a white, form fitting shirt. Bring ballet slippers, pointe shoes (if you have previous experience in pointe work) and jazz oxfords or dance sneakers. Hair should be neatly fastened away from the face.Tights should be footless or convertible so that you can also dance barefoot. No large or dangling jewelry should be worn; watches and bracelets should be removed, and rings that protrude should be taken off. Do not wear baggy, torn, dirty, or stained clothing. Be neat and professional in your dress.
What should I expect at a scholarship audition or placement class?
Dancers should arrive at LEAST twenty minutes prior to the audition to check in and prepare their bodies.The class/audition will be a ballet barre followed by ballet centre. If you are currently dancing en pointe, please bring your pointe shoes. It is okay if you are not en pointe. After the pointe, you will dance barefoot for a modern combination and then finish the dance portion with a jazz combination (jazz oxfords or dance sneakers are recommended).
Following the dance section, you will have an interview with a faculty member.
What dance techniques does Brenau Dance offer?
Brenau Dance Program is based in Western concert dance training. We offer several levels of ballet, modern and jazz dance technique. Two levels of tap dance are offered during various semesters. We also sponsor master classes in other forms of dance including hip-hop and various world dance offerings.
Will I have a chance to perform at Brenau?
The Dance Program produces two to three full concerts and an informal showcase each year. Evening of Dance and the Senior Thesis concerts are student choreographed. The student choreographers invite dancers and hold open auditions for all dancers enrolled in dance technique classes. The faculty choreographers choose selected dancers to perform in the Faculty Concert. The showcase concert is a performance by the students enrolled in the Dance Composition I class. Students who are at an advanced level of ballet may be invited to join the Gainesville Ballet Company. This independent company is housed at Brenau and produces an annual Nutcracker in December and an annual spring performance.
What are Brenau dance graduates doing?
Brenau dance majors are involved in many areas of the dance world. Brenau alumni are or have performed with Dallas Black Dance Theater, Disney World, Sesame Street (national tour), Zoetic Dance Ensemble, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, True Blood, Brookes & Company, Ruth Mitchell Dance Theater, Sideways Dance Theater and Dallas Black Dance Theater II. Some alumni own successful dance studios, and others have gone on to be artistic directors and associate artistic directors of studios. Alumna Brooke Denoes opened the American Academy of Dance in Paris with the help of an Annenburg grant. Several alumni have attended graduate schools receiving M.F.A. degrees in dance.Alumna Madia Cooper is an Assistant Professor at Middle Tennessee State University. Several of our Dance Education majors have or now direct dance programs in public and private schools throughout the southeast, including Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.