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Master of Fine Arts in Dance
Overview
Admissions and Program Requirements
How to Apply
Curriculum Requirements
Other Resources at Michigan
Financial Aid Links
Overview
Our Master of Fine Arts degree is a two-year, 60 credit-hour program,
conferred by the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies.
The focus of the M.F.A. at Michigan is choreography and performance, complemented by an array of scholarly studies in dance history and theory, dance and technology, and world dance. The program welcomes
recent dance graduates and returning professionals.
The Master of Fine Arts degree allows students to further pursue and hone their choreographic talents while continuing rigorous dance training, culminating in a "Thesis Concert" entirely choreographed and produced by the graduate students. After the concert, documentation of the entire process is submitted for department approval.
We offer a fully-funded package for 3-4 MFA students each year in the form of Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) appointments through the Rackham School of Graduate Studies, tuition fellowships, and a $12,000 stipend. Students usually have a combination of GSI and fellowship funding.
As a graduate student you will be assigned a faculty member to mentor your artistic development. We have a small dance program in terms of student numbers but you can expect to enjoy the many rich resources afforded by a premiere research institution such as the University of Michigan. As both a choreographer and dancer, you can take advantage of such resources as trained and disciplined dancers, rehearsal space, and peer, faculty and guest artist feedback.
Production resources include a $1,200 - $1,500 stipend that can be utilized in presenting your final Thesis Concert during the last semester of your degree work. We also support your research with a Summer Research Grant which is offered for the period between your first and second year. You will also have opportunities to collaborate with other artists, composers, set and costume designers, writers, photographers and film/video makers.
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Admissions and Program Requirements
Admission to the M.F.A. program
must begin with an application to the Rackham School of Graduate
Studies. The deadline to receive your application is
January 1 . Admission is by
audition and interview, and careful screening of the admission
requirements below. Applications are considered for the Fall Term only; we do not consider students mid-year.
Previous Degree Requirements: Applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale from an accredited or University of Michigan approved institution. Applicants with degrees in other disciplines will occasionally be considered for admission, provided there is accompanying evidence of professional dance achievement.
Audition: Admission to the graduate program is by audition and interview. Detailed information concerning the audition will be sent to you after your application has been received. An on-site audition is required for admission. (Recorded auditions may be accepted from applicants who live outside the continental United States. Such applicants may also qualify for funding to bring them to Ann Arbor. Please contact the Department Administrator by email at saramin@umich.edu.)
The audition dates for the 2008 Admission season are January 18 and February 22, 2008. For the audition, applicants interview with faculty, attend classes (ballet and modern) and perform a 2 minute solo work (must be choreographed by the applicant). All applicants must complete a Request for Audition/Interview Form which is part of the application and can be completed online (see below).
International applicants: all international applicants must submit a recent score on the TOEFL exam. The minimum score required by the School for the computer-based test is 250, or 600 for the paper-based test. International students from certain countries must be screened for tuberculosis. Screening will be offered free on campus. See http://www.uhs.umich.edu/tbscreen or send an email to tbscreen@umich.edu for more information.
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How to Apply:
- Submit the Rackham Graduate Application.
- Send two writing samples to the Dance Department (address listed below)
- Writing sample 1 must be a 1-2 page "Statement of Purpose" describing your philosophy about dance, your goals and why you have chosen to further your dance studies at the University of Michigan.
- Writing sample 2 must be a previously completed research or term paper (5-10 pages.) This paper does not have to be dance related.
- Send 3 letters of recommendation from knowledgeable professionals in the field to the Dance Department. The forms for your references are part of the application or can be downloaded from the Rackham Admissions webpage (link above).
- Provide 2 sets of official academic transcripts/records. Official documents must be provided from the institution. It is your responsibility to request the release of any records from the institutions involved. (If you expect to receive a degree between the time of your application and the time of your enrollment in the University of Michigan, you will be asked to submit an additional transcript after your degree is posted.)
- One set should be mailed to the Dance Department and the second to Rackham Graduate School Admissions.
Where to Mail Your Transcripts:
Department of Dance
University of Michigan
1310 N. University Court
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2217
Rackham Graduate School Admissions
Attn: Transcripts
915 E. Washington Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1070
Note: All credentials submitted for admission consideration become the property of the University of Michigan and will not be returned in original or copy form.
- Send a DVD or videotape that includes examples of your solo and group choreography, and clips from a class that demonstrate your teaching skills. Please send all examples to the Dance Department. These must be postmarked by January 1 .
- Submit recent TOEFL exam scores (international applicants only).
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Curriculum Requirements
- Dance Technique (16 credit hours)
- 10 credit hours of Advanced Modern Technique;
- 6 credit hours of Advanced Ballet Technique
- Dance Composition (6 credit hours)
- Cultural Concepts of Dance
(2 credit hours)
- Advanced Projects (2 credit hours)
- Advanced Movement Improvisation (2 credit hours)
- Advanced Choreographic Studio (2 credit hours)
- Graduate Seminar (2 credit hours)
- Practice in Teaching (2 credit hours)
- Other Required Dance Courses (6 credit hours)
- 2 credit hours of Advanced Dance Production
- 4 credit hours of Dance Repertory
- Electives (10 credit hours)
- Cognate (4 credit hours)
- Must be courses from outside the Dance Department. Other School of Music, Theatre & Dance courses are acceptable.
- Two graduate-level courses of at least two hours credit each in a cognate field
- M.F.A. Thesis Concert and written documentation/thesis (6 credit hours)
The total credit hours for graduation are a minimum of 60 semester hours.
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Other Resources at Michigan
There are two dance companies under the department umbrella: University Dance Company and the Ann Arbor Dance Works. Both companies invite guest artists to regularly choreograph. Most recently we've had dances by Merce Cunningham, Donald McKayle, Carlos Orta, Lar Lubovitch, Alonzo King and Doug Varone as a part of the repertory. There are numerous other opportunities to perform and choreograph, both in the department and in the community, with local dance collectives, regional dance companies, and musical theater productions. Both companies collaborate with University Productions, the excellent in-house concert production team.
The University of Michigan has an excellent window into professional dance, with many nationally and internationally known companies arriving annually to campus (this past academic year we were hosts to Suzanne Farrell Ballet, the Miami City Ballet and the Lyon Opera Ballet). There are also master classes, lecture/demonstrations, pre and post performance events and artist interviews in conjunction with these company appearances. There is always something exciting and unexpected to look forward to in every Ann Arbor dance season.
Financial Aid Links
More Information on Rackham Fellowships
General Financial Aid Information
If you need further information, please email Sara Grosky at saramin@umich.edu.
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