Auditions & Admissions
MFA and MA Studio and Related Studies Audition Information for Fall 2025 Admission
During the 2024-2025 academic year, the School of Dance will offer in-person auditions for our MFA and MA Studio and Related Studies (MA/SRS) programs in our Montgomery Hall location on the campus of Florida State University. To initiate this process, please begin by completing the School of Dance Graduate Audition Application below. Please note that the application requires a resume with links to video of the applicant performing a two-minute solo and two work samples highlighting the applicant’s dance research interest. The solo is intended to showcase the applicant’s unique skill and artistry as a performer and choreographer, and it can be in whichever style the applicant chooses. Dancers auditioning for the MFA and MA/SRS are expected to choreograph their own original two-minute solos, and they will be required to perform these solos onsite during the in-person audition (see sample audition schedule below).
Two work samples should highlight the applicant’s research interests in choreography, performance, dance on film, teaching, or other. Applicants should provide a maximum of three videos in total (i.e., 1 solo + 2 work samples). Applicants are encouraged to include a brief statement at the beginning of each video in which they discuss the content of the video, specifically addressing the genre/style and their relevant training and experience. Applicants are also required to upload a resume within the audition application specifically highlighting dance training and creative experience. The videos requested above should be uploaded to forums such as Youtube or Vimeo, and links to these videos must be provided in the applicant’s resume. Please be sure the video links provided in your resume open properly prior to submission.
Please be advised that the School of Dance Graduate Audition Application is separate from the university application. Admission to the university is authorized by the FSU Office of Admissions, and all prospective MFA and MA/SRS applicants must submit the FSU graduate application in addition to the School of Dance Graduate Audition Application by January 8. The university’s graduate application and all relevant information can be found on the FSU Graduate School’s website (link provided below).
Please note that the FSU graduate application requires the following materials: 1) a statement of purpose (this is a 1-2 page letter in which you articulate your motivation for attending our program), 2) a writing sample (an essay, an academic or narrative paper, an article, or other writing assignment), 3) three letters of recommendation composed on official institutional letterhead, 4) official college/university transcripts, and 5) a resume/CV (the resume/CV must be uploaded both in the university application and the audition application). Our program does not require the GRE nor any other graduate admissions examination.
MFA and MA/SRS Audition Date and Application Deadline:
- Application deadline: January 8, 2025
- On-site audition: January 17, 2025
In order to be considered for admission to our program, it is imperative that both the audition application and the university graduate application (along with all required materials) are received by the deadline indicated above. Applicants will travel to Tallahassee to attend the one-day audition. We will provide applicants with all relevant information prior to the audition.
Summary of Required MFA and MA/SRS Audition Application Materials:
- Link to video of the applicant performing an original two-minute solo (applicants will also perform this two-minute solo onsite during the in-person audition).
- Two work samples highlighting the applicant’s research interest in choreography, performance, dance on film, teaching, or other (two separate video links).
- A resume highlighting dance training and experience (include video links in resume).
- A photo of the applicant (either headshot or full-body).
- Submission of the School of Dance Graduate Audition Application (with resume) and the FSU graduate application along with all required application materials by January 8, 2025, for the January 17 audition.
For applicants interested in our MFA Returning Professional track https://dance.fsu.edu/programs/mfa-dance-returning/ please note that Returning Professional eligibility will be determined by the School of Dance faculty upon the applicant’s acceptance to the MFA program.
Sample Schedule for MFA and MA/SRS Auditions
Upon arrival check in with the Dance Office – 202A Montgomery Hall
- 8:30AM – 9:00AM Check-in with Dr. Jeff Bray (Room 202A)
- 9:00AM – 10:00AM Welcome and Building Tour
- 10:30AM – 11:50AM Technique Class
- 11:50AM – 12:30PM Lunch Break
- 12:30PM – 1:30PM Creative Project work session
- 1:30PM – 3:30PM Creative Project showings and discussion
- 3:30PM – 4:30PM Information session on graduate programs
Parking:
Please follow this link to learn about visitor parking options on campus, including locations, hourly rates, and daily permits: https://transportation.fsu.edu/visitors
Applications:
School of Dance Graduate Audition Application (for MFA and MA/SRS only):
School of Dance Graduate Audition Application
Link to the FSU Graduate School (Office of Graduate Admissions):
https://gradschool.fsu.edu/admissions/graduate-admissions
For questions regarding the application or the admissions process, please contact Dr. Jeff Bray, jbray@fsu.edu
BFA Audition Information for Fall 2025 Admission
For questions regarding the application, the admissions process, the BFA out-of-state tuition waiver for non-Florida residents, or if you are a current FSU student interested in auditioning for our program, please contact Dr. Jeff Bray, jbray@fsu.edu
BFA Application
During the 2024-2025 academic year, the School of Dance will offer three in-person auditions for our BFA program. To initiate this process, please begin by completing the FSU undergraduate application found on the FSU Office of Admissions website (link provided below) and select Dance as your intended major, or apply to FSU through the Common App and select dance as your intended major. The FSU application portal will open on August 1, 2024. After submitting the FSU application, you will have access to the Application Status Check portal, and you will be prompted to complete the Dance Supplemental Application. In the Dance Supplemental Application, you will select one of the three in-person auditions, and you will be asked to provide basic information about yourself, upload a resume, and upload a photo (either a headshot or full-body photo). The resume should specifically highlight dance training and experience, and it should include a statement of career goals.
University Application Deadlines and Admissions Decision Release Dates:
Early Action (Florida Students Only)
Application Deadline: October 15, 2024
Materials Deadline: October 22, 2024
Additional Test Score Deadline: December 1, 2024
Decision Release Date: December 12, 2024
Regular Decision (All Students)
Application Deadline: December 1, 2024
Materials Deadline: December 8, 2024
Additional Test Score Deadline: January 1, 2025
Decision Release Date: February 13, 2025
Rolling Decision (All Students)
Application Deadline: March 1, 2025
Materials Deadline: March 8, 2025
Additional Test Score Deadline: March 8, 2025
Decision Release Date: Released on a rolling basis in early April.
Please note that in addition to the university deadlines listed above, applicants must also meet the School of Dance deadlines listed below for the audition option selected. Additionally, admissions decision release is contingent on the availability of audition results. For example, if an applicant meets the university’s Early Action deadline of October 15, and they attend the January 15 audition, then they will not receive dance decisions on December 12, etc. Although the university will accept applications until March 1, 2025, the School of Dance will not consider any application submitted after January 8, 2025 (for the January 15 and February 12 auditions).
BFA Auditions
Applicants will be required to travel to Tallahassee to attend a full day (8am-4:30pm) of onsite audition activities in the School of Dance located in Montgomery Hall on the campus of Florida State University. The day will begin with an information session, and applicants will proceed to take classes in ballet, contemporary, and improvisation. The audition will conclude with the performance of solos.
BFA Audition Dates and Application Deadlines:
(Please note that the auditions are limited to a certain number of applicants per audition. Each audition date will be closed upon reaching maximum capacity).
November 20, 2024: All application materials must be submitted by November 12, 2024.
January 15, 2025: All application materials must be submitted by January 8, 2025.
February 12, 2025: All application materials must be submitted by January 8, 2025.
Important Information for BFA Auditions:
- Observers are NOT permitted during the actual audition classes.
- Proper dancewear is expected for auditions.
For ballet:
- Women: close-fitting appropriate dancewear, ballet slippers and/or pointe shoes.
- Men: close-fitting appropriate dancewear and ballet shoes.
For contemporary dance and improvisation:
- Women: close-fitting appropriate dancewear and bare feet.
- Men: close-fitting appropriate dancewear and bare feet.
Applicants are required to prepare and perform a solo.
- For Freshman/Sophomore dancers auditioning for the BFA program, the choreography for the solo may be their own or by someone else; Junior/Senior transfer applicants must be prepared to perform their own choreography.
- Applicants should bring an audio device with 3.55mm audio jack (music for the solo).
- Solos should be 1-2 minutes in length.
All applicants auditioning for our program must sign a liability waiver releasing the School of Dance and FSU from liability should the applicant be injured during the audition. If the applicant is not 18 years of age or older, a parent or legal guardian must be present to sign on the applicant’s behalf.
Sample Schedule for BFA Auditions:
8:00AM-8:30AM Audition check-in (main lobby of Montgomery Hall)
8:30AM-9:00AM BFA Information session for applicants and family members
9:00AM-1:00PM Dance Building Tours
9:20AM-10:50AM Group 1 Audition Technique Class (ballet, contemporary, improvisation)
11:00AM-12:30PM Group 2 Audition Technique Class (ballet, contemporary, improvisation)
11:00AM-1:30PM Lunch Break
1:30PM-4:30PM BFA Applicant Solos
Parking:
Please follow this link to learn about visitor parking options on campus, including locations, hourly rates, and daily permits: https://transportation.fsu.edu/visitors
Summary of Required BFA Audition Application Materials:
- A resume highlighting dance training, experience, and a statement of career goals.
- A photo of the applicant (either headshot or full-body).
- Submission of the FSU undergraduate application with the corresponding Dance Supplemental Application materials requested above by the appropriate deadline for the audition option selected.
Link to FSU Office of Admissions:
For questions regarding the application or the admissions process, please contact Dr. Jeff Bray, jbray@fsu.edu