For Prospective Students Prospective FAQ's Do I need to audition for the Dept.? How can I take a tour of Barnard? Can I observe/participate in a dance class? How many dance studios are there? How big are the dance classes? Is there live accompaniment for dance classes? Are there more modern or ballet courses? Who can take a dance course?

For Potential Majors, Minors, and Concentrations Prospective FAQ's How do I register for dance courses? How many dance classes can I take per semester? How is my technique class level determined? How many dance majors are there? How many faculty members are there? Are there performance opportunities? Can I major in two departments? Does Barnard provide career counseling? What do dance majors do when they graduate? Can I audit a dance class?

 
Do I need to audition to participate in the Department of Dance?
No. Audition tapes that are sent to the Department of Dance or the Admissions Office will not be reviewed or returned. Admission to both Barnard and Columbia is primarily based on a student's academic standing. Once admitted, a student can take any dance course that is appropriate for their level.
 
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How can I take a tour of Barnard ?
Contact the Admissions Office at (212) 854-2014 or visit their website at http://www.barnard.edu/admiss
 
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Can I observe and/or participate in a dance class? How do I know what level I am?
Yes. Please consult the course schedule first.  A prospective may participate or observe in levels III, IV, V & VI in both ballet and modern, all Styles courses (African, Indian, Jazz, Spanish/Flamenco or Tap) and any academic course in session.  Once you know which course you would like to observe/participate in, please contact Katie Glasner
(kglasner@barnard.edu or 212.854.2952).  You'll want to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the beginning of the class at the department (second floor Barnard Annex) so that someone can direct you to the dressing room and/or classroom. 
If you are interested in Columbia University or the School of General Studies you should contact Lynn Garafola, lg97@columbia.edu ,(212) 854-9770. You must attend the entire class from beginning to end. If you are confused about what the proper level for you is please take in consideration that Level I courses are beginning dance courses for those who have never taken a dance class before while Level VI courses are pre-professional. So if you have been dancing you're whole life, you probably want to take/observe a Level V or Level VI class.
 
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How many dance studios are there?
The Department has three dance studios and dressing facilities on campus and additional studio space off campus. All studios have sprung, marley floors, equipped with stationary and portable barres, mirrors, and media systems.
 
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How big are the dance classes?
This is largely dependent on the size of both the studio and the course being taught. On average, there are 15-18 students per technique class. Lower Level courses (Modern I, Ballet I) tend to have the biggest population. Academic courses also range in class size: the Applied Anatomy for Human Movement course may have10-20 students, Dance in New York City course may have 18-50 students, Solo Repertory may have 8-10 students.

 
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Is there live accompaniment for dance courses?
Yes. All technique courses have live accompaniment. Gilles Obermayer acts as coordinator for the musicians. Richard Bennett, Robert Boston, Marlon Cherry, Jonathan Hancock, Tomoko Kawaguchi, Michael McFredrick, Gilles Obermayer, Ken Pierson, Jonathon Rich, Dred Scott, and Mangué Sylla provide live accompaniment for the students and the instructor.
 
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Are there more modern or ballet courses?
There are six levels of ballet and modern every semester. It is common for there to be more than one section of each level due to the high demand. The department does not work within one syllabus of a discipline (Vaganova, Cecchetti, Graham or Limón, for example). This allows the department to reflect the breadth of theory and practive in the dance world.
 
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Who can take a dance course?
The Department of Dance provides academic and technical studies in dance for undergraduates. All courses, except for Senior Seminar in Dance which is only open to Barnard majors, are open to Barnard College, Columbia College, the School of General Studies of Columbia University, and SEAS.

Note: As a rule, dance majors and minors have priority for admittance to all dance courses.
 
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How do I register for dance courses?
All registration is done online.
 
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How many dance courses can I take per semester?
You can take as many courses as will fit into your schedule.
 
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How is level determined in technique courses?
The first class of the semester serves as an audition/placement class. Individual professors determine whether students are the appropriate level for their course. Dance technique courses tend to be very popular so it is important to attend the first class of the semester.
 
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How many dance majors are there?
Approximately 2500 students take dance classes per week. There are approximately 50 majors and potential majors.
 
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How many faculty members are there?
There are 6 full-time, 31 part-time, and 3 full-time staff.
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Are there performance opportunities?
Absolutely. Please check the calendar page for a detailed description of major performances we do on and off campus.
 
 
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Can I major in two departments?
Yes. In fact, most dance majors are double majors.
 
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Does Barnard provide career counseling?
Yes. Visit the Office of Career Development for all current information and internship opportunities.
 
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What do dance majors do when they graduate?
Former dance majors become professional dancers, choreographers, doctors, teachers, professors, executives, art administrators, and everything else you could possibly imagine.
 
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Can I audit a dance course?
No. All dance courses must be taken for credit and students must be officially enrolled in them through the Office of the Registrar.
 
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