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Dance

MFA Dance

Important

As of summer 2020, the MFA in dance will begin a two-year hiatus to reorganize the program. New applicants for the MFA in dance for summer 2021 start are not being accepted. We anticipate our new admissions cycle beginning in fall 2021 for entry to the program in summer 2022. If you have questions or need more information please contact Colleen H. Klein, graduate programs coordinator.
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Prerequisites

Applicants for the MFA in dance must have an undergraduate BFA or BA degree in dance, or its equivalent, and five years of post-undergraduate professional experience in the dance field. Applicants with a bachelor’s degree in an area other than dance may be considered for the MFA if they have significant professional dance experience.

Audition Requirements

Live Audition Information

The live audition consists of a ballet barre (approximately one hour) followed by an hour-long modern dance class. Applicants are required to bring a headshot with them to the audition. All applicants are required to wear footless tights and leotards. Sweatpants, legwarmers, skirts or shoes should not be worn, except for ballet slippers for the ballet portion of your audition. After the audition, applicants will complete a short interview (approximately 15 minutes) with the director of the MFA dance program, Jeff Friedman.

Recorded Audition Information

In cases where extreme distance prohibits an in-person audition, permission may be obtained to submit a recorded video audition. To obtain permission, please indicate your preference on the Mason Gross supplemental application and email dance@mgsa.rutgers.edu If approved to submit a recorded audition, you will be sent a link to submit your recorded audition through an online platform called SlideRoom. We will only accept recorded auditions through this platform.

Recorded Audition Requirements

  1. Brief introduction (name, program you are applying to)
  2. Ballet
    • Barre – plie, tendu, degage, rond de jambe, frappe, grand battement
    • Center – tendu, adagio
    • Pirouette – in center and moving across the floor
    • Petit Allegro – small jumps
    • Grand Allegro – any combination of tour jete, pas de chat, etc.
  3. Modern
    • Center combinations – use of spine, curves, plies, footwork, and swing combinations
    • Center – full bodied movement combinations, including use of floor
    • Across the floor – locomotor movements including triplets, runs, jumps, jetes

Rutgers University Application

Deadline: Fall 2021 deadlines will be posted by September 1, 2020.

All applicants must complete and submit the Rutgers University Application. The university application requires the following:

  • $70 Rutgers application fee
  • University questionnaire
  • English proficiency test scores (international applicants)
  • Request for transcripts (completion of a bachelor’s degree at an accredited university is a required prerequisite)
    • Official transcripts must be sent from the Registrar’s office of the undergraduate institution where the bachelor’s degree was awarded.
      Transcripts can be sent:

      Via Mail:
      Administrative Services Building
      ATTN: Graduate & Professional Admissions
      65 Davidson Road
      Piscataway, New Jersey 08854

      Via Email: E-transcripts@gradadm.rutgers.edu

Mason Gross Supplemental Application

Five business days after submitting the Rutgers University application, applicants will be emailed a link to submit the Mason Gross supplemental application.

  • $40 dance audition fee
  • Dance questionnaire
  • Dance audition date selection
  • Choreography sample
    • Include three samples of creative works, limited to 12 minutes maximum, including solo, small, and large group work, if possible.
  • Writing sample
    • The writing sample can consist of academic writing (published or unpublished), journalism (substantial critique or essay on creative or other work), or other writing genres.
  • Three letters of recommendation

Learn about the MFA Dance Program