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 (danceinfo@brenau.edu for information). However, an audition in person is
preferred.
The completed Dance Program Placement and Scholarship Audition Form and a full-body
photo of the applicant in dance clothing performing first arabesque should be submitted prior 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 admissions@brenau.edu 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
at http://www.brenau.edu/home/?page_id=1410 or email danceinfo@brenau.edu for 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.