B.F.A. in Dance: Ballet Concentration

At the end of the freshman year, the ballet faculty invites students who, in the judgment of the faculty members, demonstrate potential for a career in classical ballet to join the ballet concentration. Students may accept or decline this invitation. Students may also request to be considered as candidates for the ballet concentration.

Ballet concentration status is probationary until the sophomore jury. The sophomore jury results determine concentration status for graduation.

In addition to meeting general degree requirements, all students in the ballet concentration are required to:

1. audition for all ballet repertory pieces presented by the Purchase Dance Company;
2. perform ballet repertory in major concerts;
3. take pointe, ballet partnering, and variations each semester;
4. qualify for the 3000-level ballet technique course in the final two years; and
5. maintain a minimum grade of B in ballet technique, pointe, ballet partnering, and variations courses.

Once accepted in the ballet concentration, students must change to the current ballet concentration advisor. Approval to continue in the ballet concentration may be determined at any time by the faculty, based on the student’s work ethic and improvement.

Freshman Year (provisional)
Students take all scheduled ballet classes, as well as Friday morning ballet class, pointe, and ballet partnering, and audition for all ballet repertory.

Sophomore Year (provisional)
Students in the ballet concentration take:

• weekly ballet classes as assigned, including two special two-hour classes designed to strengthen pointe work, variation, and/or men’s technique;
• weekly modern classes as assigned; and
• pointe and ballet partnering.

They also audition for all ballet repertory. After one semester or at the end of sophomore year, students in the ballet concentration may choose to return to the performance concentration. If students are approved and elect to remain in the ballet concentration, they will remain so through to graduation.

Junior Year
Students must qualify for level III ballet technique; take weekly ballet and modern classes as assigned, including two special two-hour classes, pointe, and ballet partnering; and audition for all ballet repertory.

Senior Year
Same as the junior year. Senior project repertory must be ballet.

Updates
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