DANCE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION/AUDITION PROCEDURES

The information on this webpage is for students applying to enter St. Olaf in the fall of 2012.

This webpage contains information important to the dance scholarship application process. Please read it carefully prior to completing your application.

St. Olaf dance scholarships are merit-based scholarships that are awarded to students with exceptional dance talent. Students also may qualify for additional need-based aid, in which case the dance scholarship becomes part of the student's financial aid package.

Awards of $4,000 - $8,000 per year are open to dance majors and non-dance majors. These are renewable scholarships that require continued participation in one of the dance companies and recommendation of the dance faculty. It is potentially a $32,000 4-year scholarship.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES FOR STUDENTS APPLYING TO ST. OLAF TO ENTER FALL OF 2012:

Complete the ONLINE APPLICATION. Your dance scholarship application must be received by the deadline (February 24, 2012) Dance scholarship applicants must apply and be admitted to the college before any merit scholarship can be awarded.

Once logged on to the online application system, you will be guided through the various steps. Your completed application will include:

  • ONLINE APPLICATION FORM --NOTE! If you have already started a common application (or one of the other St. Olaf Fine Arts applications), you are a RETURNING visitor and NOT a new visitor and you may log in with the credentials emailed to you previously. Once into the system you will be provided with several application options. Be sure to choose the option called "2012 Dance". If you have any problems completing the application, please call or email Gwen Daniels (507-786-3248 or danielsg@stolaf.edu
  • Dance résumé
  • One letter of recommendation from your dance teacher. Your teacher will be able to send this electronically, or you can ask them to mail their letter to St. Olaf College Dance Dept, 1520 St. Olaf Ave, Northfield, MN 55057.
  • Registration for a dance scholarship audition on either October 21, 2011 or March 2, 2012, 2:00-4:00 PM.
  • If you are unable to attend one of the dance scholarship auditions, you must upload a video of a performance and/or choreography. The video may contain recent performances, class work, and/or work choreographed. Please identify which dancer you are.
  • NOTE: You must either attend an audition or upload a video of your work in order to be considered for a scholarship.

A note about your dance résumé:

Your dance résumé should include the following information

  • Description of your private study for the past three years. Include teachers' names and dates of study
  • Outline of performance experiences in the past four years. Include school, church, community and regional performances
  • List of honors or awards
  • Other information that you feel is helpful or relevant to your application

A note about auditions:

We offer two dates for auditions (Oct. 21, 2011 or March 2, 2012). You may choose whichever date is most convenient for you. Your application materials need to be complete and submitted one week prior to the audition you plan to attend. If you are attending the March 2 audition, we have events scheduled all day long so please join us for the whole day! See schedule of events. You should have received an invitation and registration form in your email.

Dancers coming for the audition do not need to prepare any material. You will be taking a movement class where you will be asked to demonstrate good, clear alignment and your ability to learn new material and perform it in small groups. You may also be asked to improvise with other students. Please come dressed in dance clothes (so we can see you move), and you will be dancing in bare feet. There will be a space available for warm up starting at 1:00.

If you are unable to attend an audition, please upload a video of a current performance and/or a sample of your choreography (both preferred).

 

PROGRAM TIMELINE

Oct. 14, 2011
Dance scholarship application deadline (if you are attending the Oct. 21 audition)

Oct. 21, 2011
First Dance Scholarship audition on campus. (Space available for warm up starting at 1:00 PM) Please come to the Dance Department Main Office in Dittmann Center (room 200) to check in by 1:45.

Jan. 15, 2012
Your completed St. Olaf College Application for Admission must be on file in the Admissions Office

Feb. 24, 2012
Dance scholarship application deadline (if you are attending the March 2 audition)

March 2, 2012
Second Dance Scholarship audition on campus. (Space available for warm up starting at 1:00 PM) Please come to the Dance Department Main Office in Dittmann Center (room 200) to check in by 1:45. There are special events scheduled all day long so please join us for the whole day! See schedule of events.

Mid-March, 2012
Scholarship results are mailed

May 1, 2012
National Candidate Reply date (date by which all students must respond to offers of college admission and to scholarship awards.)

 

If you have questions about the scholarships, please contact:

Gwen Daniels
Academic Administrative Assistant
St. Olaf Dance Department
danielsg@stolaf.edu
507-786-3248