» Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Everyone who wants to major in Dance must submit a pre-screening audition video. Select applicants will be invited to an online Zoom session to meet faculty and current students, view student work, and participate in a Q & A. If you are invited to a Zoom session, you will be notified via e-mail and have an option to choose from a variety of dates. These invitations are only sent after review of your pre-screening audition video upload.

Yes. Chapman provides Academic Merit Awards to students who qualify based on their academic achievements. The Department of Dance has a limited number of Talent Awards for incoming first-year and transfer students.

To be eligible, you must list dance as your first-choice major on your application. The audition for entrance, whether in person or by video, serves as the basis for Talent Award consideration. If you receive an award, you’ll be notified about it when you get your financial aid package, or shortly thereafter.

As a dance-major applicant, you’ll be evaluated on your dance technique, performance quality and artistry. 

We will assess your strength, coordination, flexibility, ease of movement, use of dynamics and appropriate use of facial and full-body expressive qualities required by the choreography. The faculty also considers the interview and all written application materials in their decision.

In addition to dance criteria, the Office of Admission also reviews your grades, letter of recommendation and test scores (if you provide them).

All dance majors begin in the Bachelor of Arts program. The BA program provides a comprehensive education in dance technique and training and is also the track for a dance major who wants to double-major in another discipline or gain a more broad-based education.

The BFA program is for those who want more intense dance training. It begins in the junior year and requires additional technique, performance, choreography and elective courses. You can audition for the BFA program in the spring of your sophomore year.

Several! You can check our event calendar for upcoming dance events. 

In the fall semester, the Department of Dance produces:

• Fall Faculty Dance Concert: choreographed by Chapman faculty and guest artists.
• Masters at Chapman: includes intimate master classes and performances with world-renowned artists.

In the spring semester, the Department of Dance produces:

• Works in Progress: two separate concerts for first-time choreographers.
• Concert Intime: features junior choreographers.
• Spring Dance Concert: features senior choreographers.
• BFA Dance Showcase: senior capstone project with a public performance.

Yes! Students have worked with Ido Tadmor, Pilobolus and Complexions Contemporary Ballet Company on choreographic residencies.

They also have had master classes with dancers from:

• Hubbard Street
• Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
• The cast of La La Land 
• Cirque du Soleil^®
• Batsheva Dance Company
• Pilobolus
• Complexions Contemporary Ballet Company
• Syncopated Ladies
• Micaela Taylor
• and many more!

Yes. All dance majors are eligible to audition for all Department of Dance productions.

Dance majors who receive a Talent Award are required to audition for all productions.

Some productions are open to dance minors and other non-dance majors:

• The Department of Dance spring student-choreographed concerts
• The Chapman Dance Alliance concert
• Masters at Chapman

We do not have a mandate against professional work while enrolled at Chapman. However, there are strict class-attendance policies in all dance classes and your grades are affected by attendance.

If you have an opportunity to work professionally while in school and this work interferes with academic requirements, consider a leave of absence. We also encourage you to use summer and winter breaks to work professionally.

• You’ll get superior training in technique and performance combined with exceptional academics. 
• Chapman has one of the few university dance programs that offers equal numbers of courses in ballet, modern and jazz dance, along with tap, hip-hop, ballroom, yoga and conditioning.
• We focus on choreography in our program, and young choreographers are closely mentored throughout their creative process.
• The Department of Dance supports Chapman’s emphasis on personalized education by helping you find your strengths and passion in dance. 
• We exclusively focus on undergraduate education and every year provide multiple opportunities for performance, choreography and research, as well as leadership and participation in student dance organizations.
• You’ll get career support and guidance from your own full-time performing arts career advisor.