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Bachelor's in Musical Theatre [Dance] (BFA)

Do you aspire to a career telling stories and expressing yourself through dance? Learn from our outstanding faculty of accomplished musical theatre artists, mentors and educators, and train today for your career tomorrow.
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Location: Chicago
Start Term: Fall
Program Type: Major

Students guaranteed onstage performance credit while they are at CCPA — more time onstage means more training for your future career in the theatre. Faculty comprised of full-time professors as well as many active theatre professionals who lend their unique talents and expertise to the Conservatory. At CCPA, our students learn from and work alongside Chicago's very best, and a low student/faculty ratio results in focused study tailored to each student's needs. CCPA is located in the heart of downtown Chicago, steps away from the city's bustling theatre district and Tony award-winning Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Lookingglass Theatre Company, and Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. Outstanding internship program provides CCPA's students placements at some of Chicago's best theatres; upperclassmen in good standing allowed to audition for productions outside of CCPA.

Expectations & Requirements

Sample Courses

The BFA in Musical Theatre with dance emphasis is a pre-professional degree program designed to develop a strong foundation in the skills required for a career as a musical theatre performer, focusing particularly on the discipline of dance. The dance emphasis program is a unique blend of musical theatre disciplines for the dancer with training in acting, voice and intensive dance studies in ballet, jazz, modern, tap and musical theatre dance styles. Students in the dance emphasis program will receive specialized training in dance pedagogy, kinesiology and injury prevention. Dance emphasis students are eligible for casting in musical productions on the mainstage as well as our blackbox productions.

View Program Requirements

More Opportunities

Performance Opportunities

All students receive performance opportunities throughout their studies. Students in good academic standing are also able to audition for opportunities outside of the Conservatory with approval.

Testimonials

"I am thrilled to be the Head of our Musical Theatre Dance Concentration program. It's unique and one of a kind as it's geared towards graduating students who not only dance, but sing and act as well. A true 'triple threat' program. I love teaching and mentoring this generation of hard working, disciplined, and passionate young artists!"

Jane Lanier
Head of Musical Theatre-Dance, Roosevelt University
Admission

Audition Information

All theatre applicants must audition in person; video auditions are not admissible. After submitting the Performing Arts application, applicants will be emailed information on how to schedule their audition through GetAcceptd.com.

Date & Locations


On Campus Auditions

CCPA Dance Studios, 218 South Wabash Ave, 3rd Floor Dance Studios, Chicago, IL 60604

January 28, 2017
February 4, 2017
February 18, 2017

National Unified Auditions

*Students auditioning at the Unified Auditions will still schedule their auditions individually with each school they plan to audition for

January 21-22, 2017

New York City: Pearl Studios, 500 8th Avenue, New York, NY 10018

February 6-9, 2017

Chicago: CCPA will not be holding our Chicago Unified auditions at the Palmer House Hilton.  Please see CCPA’s Chicago Unified locations below.

Audition: Roosevelt University, Auditorium Building, 430 S Michigan Ave, 2nd Floor Congress Lounge, Chicago, IL 60605

Dance Call: CCPA Dance Studios, 218 South Wabash Ave, 3rd Floor Dance Studios, Chicago, IL 60604

*All Musical Theatre applicants attending Chicago Unified Auditions must participate in a dance call in Chicago on February 5. This is the day before auditions officially begin.

February 11-12, 2017

Los Angeles: Westin Los Angeles Airport, 5400 West Century Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90045

Note: Transfer applicants to the Musical Theatre program auditioning in Chicago must take a brief music theory assessment on the day of their audition.  Those attending Chicago Unified Auditions must complete the assessment on February 5th.

Audition Requirements

Audition (10-15 min): One monologue from a contemporary play (not to exceed two minutes) and 32 bars of a song from the standard musical theatre repertoire.  Do not bring more than 32 bars. Characters should be close to your age.  All pieces should be performed from memory.  All Musical Theatre applicants will begin their audition with a short vocal evaluation/warm-up.  

*You must sing with recorded accompaniment.  Please bring this recorded accompaniment with you on a mobile device such as a phone or mp3 player.  We will provide a speaker and auxiliary input cable to plug your device into a speaker.  Recordings should not contain any lead vocals.

Dance Call (1 hour):  The dance call will begin with a short ballet sequence.  Then, your group will be taught a dance in the jazz style and once learned, asked to perform this dance sequence in progressively smaller groups. Please be sure to bring ballet flats, jazz shoes, and hard soled character shoes (men)/heeled character shoes (women).  Clothing should be form-fitting while allowing for freedom of movement.

If you have any questions, please contact the CCPA Office of Enrollment at ccpaadmissions@roosevelt.edu.

Learn more about CCPA admission
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