Applying To The Undergraduate Program in Dance

IMPORTANT DATES
UCI Undergraduate Application Period:
October 1st - December 2nd

AUDITION DATES FOR FALL 2025:
Saturday, January 25, 2025

OR

Saturday, February 8, 2025

To apply for admission to the UCI Dance Department, first visit the UCI Admissions website for complete details on application procedures and fees.  You must apply online to the University of California by December 2nd.

In addition to submitting your application to the UC Admissions Office, you must complete a dance audition in order to be considered for the program. The department will hold two audition dates and applicants are required to register and attend ONE date. A registration link will be emailed to you after you have submitted your University of California application as a UC Irvine Dance major. It is important that you register for one audition date by January 2, 2025. Check your spam folder if you have not received the invitation to register by December 10th. Look out for additional email correspondence as your audition date approaches. You may email dance@uci.edu for assistance or questions. 

No other materials, including resumes, photos, or letters of recommendation are required, nor will be accepted.

AUDITION PROCESS

UCI is committed to the health and well-being of all faculty, students, and visitors. The Department of Dance highly advises all participants to refrain from making travel arrangements until confirmation is received via email. The Department of Dance will not be responsible for trip cancellations.

Applicants will have two date options for a live audition, choose only ONE date: 

Saturday, January 25, 2025

OR

Saturday, February 8, 2025

Auditions will be in-person. Participants are expected to be available ALL DAY throughout the duration of the event; no exceptions or accommodations will be made. All applicants must participate in all portions of the audition in order to be considered. Breaks will be staggered throughout the day. Dancers are reminded to please bring their own snacks/food and water to have while on campus.

AUDITION DETAILS:
For all technique portions (Ballet, Modern/Contemporary, Jazz, Hip-Hop), all dancers shall wear fitted dance clothes so the entire body is easily visible, and shoes shall be appropriate for each genre. Hair shall not distract from the visible movement of the dancer nor impede their movement in any way. Please see examples below:

PLEASE NOTE: Dancers WILL NOT be given a break to change between techniques. Dancers may change their outfits if time permits; however, it is not necessary.

Parent/Supporter Information Session:

Information will be offered in-person the day of the audition at 8:30 am. This is a presentation followed by a Q&A session led by Kelli Sharp, Dance Department Chair, and Amy Kim, Director of Student Affairs for the Claire Trevor School of the Arts. It will also include current Dance majors to respond to questions about student life in the Dance Department and University.

Please direct all inquiries to dance@uci.edu

Incoming Freshmen Students

As well as satisfying University of California subject requirements for undergraduate admission (consult the UCI General Catalogue for details), applicants to the Dance department must demonstrate technical accomplishment and creative promise to succeed in the major. You are encouraged to develop abilities in one or more dance techniques such as ballet, modern/contemporary, jazz, hip hop and ethnic dance forms. The department holds annual entrance auditions for potential freshmen during winter quarter prior to acceptance to the Dance Department in the ensuing fall quarter. Additionally, placement examinations are required of all entering dance majors. Placement examinations are given during Welcome Week in fall quarter and determines which levels of ballet, modern/contemporary, jazz and hip hop classes the student will take.

See the  UCI General Catalogue curriculum details.

Transfer Students

Ideal lower-division preparation for transfer consists of coursework that blends University of California admission requirements, degree requirements of the school and major of your choice, and the general education plan best suited to your interests and goals. Design your schedule to accomplish the following:

1. Satisfy general University of California requirements for admission as a transfer student. You may find more information on the University of California Transfer website.

2. Work toward completing your general education requirements. For students majoring in Dance, it is useful to complete your general education courses prior to transfer by way of the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) if you are transferring from a California community college. Completion of general education courses will allow you to focus on the courses required for your major once you transfer here.

3. Work toward meeting the lower-division requirements of your school and major. If you plan to transfer to UCI in your junior year to major in Dance, we recommend that you take the courses listed below prior to transfer:

• An approved one-year sequence in English composition
• Basic training in ballet, jazz, and modern dance technique

4. If courses in the following areas are available at your college, completing them will afford you additional strong preparation for the Dance major at UCI:

• One course in music for dancers
• One course in injury prevention
• One course in Improvisation and Introduction to Choreography
• One year of Dance History

5. All transfer students must attend the entrance audition in the winter prior to acceptance to the Dance major in the ensuing fall quarter. After admission, transfer students must also participate in the placement auditions during welcome week in the fall. This placement level will determine the minimum number of years it will take to complete departmental requirements for the Dance major.

6. To ensure that you are taking the appropriate courses to facilitate your transfer to the UCI Dance Department, work closely with your college counselor, or contact the UCI Office of Admissions.

Photo by Rose Eichenbaum