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 Taylor Krebuszewski.

  • Students will be asked to provide a headshot & dance resume at the time of audition. 
  • Students should come prepared with music for their solo on either a phone or laptop, as well as appropriate dance attire and shoes for their solo type. 
  • Depending on the audition day, students may attend a general movement dance class followed by the presentation of a solo. 
  • If no class is offered on that day, student will be asked to present a solo dance in any style which best demonstrates their greatest perceived strength as a dancer. 
  • The solo should be approximately 2 minutes in length. If time allows, students are welcome to present more than one solo if they wish to demonstrate multiple styles.
  • When preparing your audition solo or submitting your video for Irish Dance Ensemble – The Claddagh Dancers, please note that we prefer the piece you perform to be a hard shoe dance, as the assessment is based on rhythm, control and form.

If you have questions or are not available for any of the open audition slots, please reach out to Taylor Krebuszewski.

Video Submission Guidelines

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 for all programs to ensure that any dancer can be considered for acceptance, regardless of ability to attend an in-person audition.

Please note that an official visit to SHU may be required for acceptance into Sacred Heart University. Note: 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.

What to Include:

Please speak clearly into your recording device and include:

  • The date you are recording your audition
  • Your full name, the city and/or country where you reside
  • The undergraduate degree program for which you are applying at SHU
  • The style of work you will perform and the choreographer credit
  • A solo dance (approximately 2 minutes in length) in any style that best reflects your greatest perceived strengths as a dancer. (Prospective students that wish to be considered for the SHU Dance Company must demonstrate both classical ballet and contemporary dance styles in the video.)

Footage Must Be:

  • Relevant to the SHU dance program of interest (Company, Ensemble, Irish Dance, Hip Hop Production)
  • Shot no more than six months prior to submission
  • Of clear viewing quality

How to Upload

  • Go to YouTube.com
  • Select the "Create" button. Then select "Upload Video" from the submenu
  • Select your video on your computer
  • Edit your video "details" (title, description, thumbnail). If you scroll down, the "edit" screen will ask a few questions. Check anything that applies to you or ignore it if it's N/A. Make sure you select "not made for kids"
  • If you move along the editing options, you can skip "video elements" and move on to "visibility". Chose the "unlisted" option
  • Wait until your video is finished uploading and processing, then select"done"
  • This will take you to your "youtube creator studio". Find your audition video and select "get shareable link"
  • Send your link via email to dance@sacredheart.edu

If you would like to use one of our virtual dance audition lessons below as your solo audition submission, please feel free to do so.