Participation Grants & Auditions

Grants and scholarships are available for eligible members of the Dance Program, and auditions are required to determine placement. Prospective students may schedule an audition online or by contacting the Director of Dance, dance@sacredheart.edu.

In-Person Auditions

In-person auditions are held in the dance studio spaces at the Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts in the Academic Center. In-person auditions include a general dance class focused on technique exercises in the center, across the floor progressions and improvisation. Following the dance class, students will present a 2-minute solo in a style of dance they feel best showcases their strengths as a dancer. Class will be conducted bare foot.

• Headshot & Dance Résumé
• Music file on a device that can connect to Bluetooth
• Appropriate shoes for solo presentation. (For example: tap shoes, sneakers, pointe shoes)

Video Auditions

We strongly encourage all to audition in person, as it's the best way for the dance faculty and staff at SHU to get to know prospective students. Video auditions are accepted to ensure that any dancer can be considered for acceptance, regardless of ability to attend an in-person audition. If you are a current Sacred Heart student, you must attend an in-person audition.

Please note that an official visit to SHU may be required for acceptance into Sacred Heart University. Video submissions are reviewed for both acceptance into the dance program and scholarship consideration. All program acceptance and scholarship considerations are contingent upon admissions and financial aid eligibility.

Video Audition Requirements

• Full name, city/state where you reside
• Headshot & Dance Résumé (include in email submission)
• 2-minute solo presentation
• Filming of the 3 video tutorials below. Dance auditions should be filmed:
  • Horizontally with clear viewing quality with clear sound
  • Shot no more than six months prior to submission
  • In a space that is spacious, clean, unencumbered by objects or furniture. We highly encourage one of the following spaces be used to film your dance audition:
    • Dance Studio
    • School Gym
    • Auditorium/Stage
  • These locations are not appropriate for filming of dance auditions:
    • Bedroom
    • Living room
    • Parking lot
    • Kitchen
    • Basement (unless it is a dedicated dance or yoga studio space)

TikTok dance videos are not accepted.

Video Tutorials

Pirouettes

Across the floor

Improvisation

For the Improvisation, improvise 30-60 seconds based on the following prompt: Use of levels, high, medium and low including floorwork or an inversion of choice, a moment of sustained/smooth movement and a moment of percussive/sharp movement.

The video demonstration provided of improv is used to assist in showing you what a phrase of improv can look like. Do not copy or learn the improv demonstrated in the video.

The dancer should choose their own music for the improvisation or choose to do the improvisation in silence.

For your solo, choose one of the following styles of dance:

• Ballet
• Contemporary
• Jazz
• Theatre Jazz
• Tap
• Modern
• Hip Hop
• Irish Step Dance