• Dance Magazine
  • Pointe Magazine
  • Dance Teacher
  • The Dance Edit
  • Events Calendar
  • College Guide
  • Newsletters

a college essay about dance

How to Incorporate Your Dance Experience in Your College Essays

a college essay about dance

Of the many moving parts of a college application, the essay might be the most daunting. But consider yourself luckier than other applicants, because your dance experiences can only help you craft a winning essay—whether or not you’re planning to pursue a dance major.

If You’re Going to Major

If you’re gunning for a highly focused dance program, you might think that the audition is the most important component of your application. But don’t neglect to express your dance goals clearly in a general admissions or scholarship essay, says Megan Slayter, chair and associate professor of dance at Western Michigan University. “Just like any department across any university, we’re looking for good grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure,” she says. “Beyond strong written communication skills, we’re looking for your sense of identity as a dancer—that you know who you are and who you want to be as an artist, and why you think we can help you achieve that.”

Cite specific aspects of the college’s dance department that excite you—unique artistic or research resources, or a particular emphasis in the dance major that intrigues. But don’t just tell a university what you think they want to hear. “Over-the-top language that compliments our school doesn’t tell me about you,” Slayter says. “I question the authenticity of a student who tells me, ‘This is the best dance department ever and I can’t imagine being anyplace else!'”

If You’re Not Going to Major

Even if you don’t plan to major in dance, your years of dedication in the studio can show an admissions department why you’d be a great addition to their student body. “Your experience in dance has shaped who you are,” Slayter says. “Dance is a unique voice you can share with an admissions officer to talk about overcoming adversity, working hard to achieve your goals, and sharing a part of yourself with others.”

If you choose to focus on dance in your admissions essay, consider who’s reading your words—usually, non-dancers in the admissions department—and take care to translate your dance life to the language of college life. “Dance builds leadership skills, communication, collaboration, and creativity,” Slayter says. “For example, think about any time you’ve had a large, traveling spatial pattern onstage and have had to figure out who’s crossing up- and downstage. That’s problem-solving!” Brainstorm the skills you’ve built onstage and in rehearsals, and use your essay to prove how those experiences have prepared you for a successful college career—in or out of the studio.

A version of this story appeared in the November 2017 issue of Dance Spirit with the title “Essay All Day.”

Mean Girls: The Musical. Photo by Joan Marcus, courtesy Boneau/Bryan-Brown.

Mean Girls the Movie, the Musical, the Movie-Musical

Timothée Chalamet as Willy Wonka in "Wonka".

How Christopher Gattelli Taught Timothée Chalamet to Tap in Wonka

Collage of dancers featured in Dance Magazine's 2025 "25 to Watch"

Introducing Dance Magazine’s 2024 “25 to Watch”

Still from Just Dance 2024.

Real Dancers, Really Dancing: The Making of Just Dance 2024

Essay on Dance

500 words essay on dance.

Dancer refers to a series of set of movement to music which we can either do alone or with a partner. Dancing helps us express our feelings and get active as well. If we look back at history, dance has been a part of our human history since the earliest records. Thus, an essay on dance will take us through it in detail.

essay on dance

My Hobby My Passion

Dance is my favourite hobby and I enjoy dancing a lot. I started dancing when I was five years old and when I got older; my parents enrolled me in dance classes to pursue this passion.

I cannot go a day without dance, that’s how much I love dancing. I tried many dance forms but discovered that I am most comfortable in Indian classical dance. Thus, I am learning Kathak from my dance teacher.

I aspire to become a renowned Kathak dancer so that I can represent this classical dance internationally. Dancing makes me feel happy and relaxed, thus I love to dance. I always participate in dance competitions at my school and have even won a few.

Dance became my passion from an early age. Listening to the beats of a dance number, I started to tap my feet and my parents recognized my talent for dance. Even when I am sad, I put on music to dance to vent out my feelings.

Thus, dance has been very therapeutic for me as well. In other words, it is not only an escape from the world but also a therapy for me.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Hidden Language of the Soul

Dance is also called the hidden language of the soul as we use it to express ourselves when words fall short. The joy which comes with dancing helps us get over our sorrow and adversity sometimes.

Moreover, it is simply a translator for our hearts. What is most important to remember is that dance is not supposed to be perfect. There is no right way of dancing, as long as your heart is happy, you can dance.

When we talk about dance, usually a professional dancer comes to our mind. But, this is where we go wrong. Dance is for anybody and everybody from a ballet dancer to the uncle dancing at a wedding .

It is what unites us and helps us come together to celebrate joy and express our feelings. Therefore, we must all dance without worrying if we are doing it right or not. It is essential to understand that when you let go of yourself in dance, you truly enjoy it only then.

Conclusion of the Essay on Dance

All in all, dance is something which anyone can do. There is no right way or wrong way to dance, there is just a dance. The only hard part is taking the first step, after that, everything becomes easier. So, we must always dance our heart out and let our body move to the rhythm of music freely.

FAQ of Essay on Dance

Question 1: Why is Dance important?

Answer 1: Dance teaches us the significance of movement and fitness in a variety of ways through a selection of disciplines. It helps us learn to coordinate muscles to move through proper positions. Moreover, it is a great activity to pursue at almost any age.

Question 2: What is dancing for you?

Answer 2: Dancing can enhance our muscle tone, strength, endurance and fitness. In addition, it is also a great way to meet new friends. Most importantly, it brings happiness to us and helps us relax and take a break from the monotony of life.

Customize your course in 30 seconds

Which class are you in.

tutor

  • Travelling Essay
  • Picnic Essay
  • Our Country Essay
  • My Parents Essay
  • Essay on Favourite Personality
  • Essay on Memorable Day of My Life
  • Essay on Knowledge is Power
  • Essay on Gurpurab
  • Essay on My Favourite Season
  • Essay on Types of Sports

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Download the App

Google Play

College Essay: Freedom Through Dance

Sydney Baudin

 I watched my dancers walk out from the wings, wearing the white costumes we carefully picked out, and onto the brightly lit stage, presenting themselves to the audience that was concealed by shadows. The dance that I have choreographed no longer belongs to me. My hands are shaky, my breathing is rapid, but I am not anxious or scared. Instead, I am excited because my long history in dance has given me the courage to be vulnerable and share parts of myself with the world.

  The beginning of my sophomore year was incredibly lonely. By some cruel twist of fate, I ended up without any of my friends in my classes. I ate lunch alone for almost two months. Each day, I hoped no one would look at me and see the shame written all over my face. The feeling of isolation was so consuming that I could not bring myself to tell anyone, which made me feel even more alone. Near the end of the year, my school dance teacher approached me about choreographing a piece of my own and teaching it to a group of dancers. This opportunity to choreograph granted me the chance to divulge my emotions, and share the stories that were vulnerable and personal to me through movement instead of words.

Ever since I began dancing at my local rec center at the age of 2, dance has empowered me to express myself. When I decided to take dance more seriously, I switched to a studio where I began to train in many styles, like ballet, tap, modern and jazz. Dance quickly became one of the most important things in my life. My studio was my second home and the friends I had made became my second family. The performing aspect of my studio was my favorite. This feature allowed me to share what I had learned and show off what I could do. These performances made me more confident in sharing myself with the world, and gave me a lesson in discipline and responsibility, lessons that would help me now with my choreography project.  

My creative process began with interweaving all the lessons I had learned in dance with the emotions and feelings I had experienced throughout that year. I had to find movements, lighting and formations that could convey a story of isolation and loneliness. There were auditions to run and choreography to teach, as well as taking charge of a large group of dancers by myself. Emotional work also needed to be done. I had to be honest with myself about what I had gone through and build up the strength to be vulnerable, not just with my audience but with myself, which was the hardest thing of all. What made it easier was the connection I had built with dance, knowing that I don’t always have to express what I’m feeling through words.

Before I knew it, I was standing in the wings, clenching and unclenching my fists, praying that the dance would go well. Throughout the performance I felt myself getting lost in the piece; the only thing that woke me was the sound of the audience’s applause. I knew I had succeeded in conveying my story. The process of confronting my emotions and translating them into choreography had paid off. My eyes were opened to the realization that I was so lucky to have found such courage and freedom of expression through dance. Even in my hardest moments, I will always have dance to turn to as a creative outlet, a way to express my emotions and an instrument to tell my story.

a college essay about dance

© 2024 ThreeSixty Journalism • Login

ThreeSixty Journalism,

a nonprofit program of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of St. Thomas, uses the principles of strong writing and reporting to help diverse Minnesota youth tell the stories of their lives and communities.

Free Dance Essay Examples & Topics

Dance has been a part of human civilization and culture for centuries. It is one of the best tools for entertainment and communication. What’s more, people choose it as a way of self-expression, a hobby, or an occupation. There are many types of dances. Some are well-known (tango, hip-hop, salsa, ballet), while others are less familiar to most people (kathak, kabuki, electronic dance).

When writing an essay about dance, you can write about any type if the assignment allows doing so. Due to the variety of dances, topic selection can take a long time. However, even after choosing the right idea, it is not always clear how to start your essay on it.

First of all, we recommend looking at the samples. You need to read some dance essay examples and pay attention to their structure. It also gives you an opportunity to polish or change the topic to write about.

Besides, our team has prepared a small guide on writing a dance essay. We have listed several ideas which will help you to write it as well.

How to Write a Dance Essay

If you need to write an essay on dance, it will probably be a narrative or descriptive one or even a critique of some sort. However, even the most creative academic papers have a rigid structure. So, you have to write a 5-paragraph essay. In this section, we will tell you how to do it.

To write an exemplary dance essay, you should follow these rules:

  • Developing a solid structure is your goal. It is vital for the reader’s understanding and evaluation of your essay. You’ll need an introduction with a thesis statement, 2-3 paragraphs with arguments and examples, and a conclusion. Creating a good outline will help you to stay focused and follow the structure. Here is how you can do it:
  • At first, read some background information about the style that interests you. Take some notes when you are watching a dance performance. Try to focus on small technical details as well as on your impression.
  • Decide what you are going to describe in your body paragraphs. Each of them should highlight one idea. Remember that the first sentence of a paragraph is a basis for the supportive sentences after it.
  • Write down a short summary of your central paragraphs. Focus on the main thoughts and keywords. It will help you to create the introduction and conclusion. Look at your notes once again to make sure you haven’t forgotten anything.
  • Descriptions are vital for your paper. Note everything you notice about the movements, choreography, music, costumes, scenery, props, and performance. Think about your personal response to what you see. Even if you write a narrative essay, you should focus on these aspects.

Provide your interpretation of the dance. Identify all the people whose performance you describe and use examples to support your assumptions. Connect what you’ve seen with your previous studies or experiences.

  • The style of your essay should be on point:
  • Use descriptive language. Action words should describe the qualities of the movements. Use vivid adjectives to describe the qualities of the details you notice.
  • Describe the actions in the present tense. But if you have chosen to write using past forms, don’t mix tense in the essay.
  • Follow the requirements of your educational institution. They may include a specific font, margins, and title pages. And don’t forget to write from the third-person perspective.
  • Check your grammar and spelling. Exclude repetitive sentences or phrases.
  • Leave the paper for a couple of hours and reread it. It should help to notice the possible flaws.

17 Amazing Dance Essay Topics

Having figured out the basic rules, we can move on to ideas for an essay on dancing. In this section, we have collected topics that you can use for inspiration or practice.

We suggest the following dance essay topics for your consideration:

  • Why is dance a form of art?
  • What makes a good dance?
  • National dances among African ethnicities.
  • How folk dance reflects the culture of a nation?
  • The history of hip-hop dance.
  • The importance of dance in my life.
  • The origin of Waltz and its significance.
  • The influence of modern dance on society.
  • The theory of seven movements in dancing.
  • The best dance performances in history.
  • The benefits of dancing for older people.
  • Teaching dance to young children is beneficial to their development.
  • Contemporary types of dance in Asian countries.
  • What are the disadvantages of a dancing career?
  • How does dance appreciation vary among different generations?
  • Dance as a way of socialization in high school and college.
  • How to critique a dance concert?

Thanks for reading till the end! Below you will find dance essay examples. Studying them will help you look at the topic from different angles and understand how to start writing your own paper.

85 Best Essay Examples on Dance

Benefits of dancing essay, what is dance: definition and genres, garba dance, its history and specifics: a traditional indian dance.

  • Words: 1129

History and Development of Dance

  • Words: 1231

Similarities between Ballet and Hip Hop

  • Words: 1223

Dance and Mathematics Relationship

African influence on brazilian music: the samba.

  • Words: 1642

Dancing and Singing as Kinds of Art

The ritual dance important elements, hip hop dance, traditional chinese lion dance and its styles.

  • Words: 1660

Tango: Origin, History, and Characteristics

  • Words: 1377

Swan Lake Choreographed by Matthew Bourne

Impact of the dance as education, history of samba in brazilian society: a traditional brazilian dance.

  • Words: 1243

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Its History

Jazz dance and its techniques, alvin ailey – an activist and american choreographer, dance analysis: social and cultural context, jazz social dance and impact on american culture.

  • Words: 1686

Capoeira Dance History and Popularity

  • Words: 1589

Contemporary Dance: Continuity and Inimitability

  • Words: 1414

Connections Between Dances from Different Cultures

Modern dance in the united states, dance elements in “swan lake” and “night journey” ballets, “rebellions in everynight life” by delgado and muñoz, the ballet “cave of the heart”, the “bellyache” dance by billie eilish, performance art: dance concept, how alvin ailey’s dances help with drug addiction.

  • Words: 1289

History of Dances in Ireland

Anna pavlova and dance culture in the united states, poi dance as cultural performance, belly dance: rewarding activity and an art form, african dance taught by rujeko dumbutshena, flamingo or flamenco dance, ballet, pavane, and bourée dances in praetorius’ “terpsichore”, dancing movement: review, music industry: celia cruz.

  • Words: 1458

Flamenco Music and Dance History: Spanish Carte-De-Visite Born in Andalusia

Loïe fuller: an american dancer and actor, enrico cecchetti’s influence on the russia ballet.

  • Words: 3538

Rudolf Nureyev as a Choreographer

American musical theatre and twyla tharp.

  • Words: 5536

The History of Hula: Art Analysis

  • Words: 1392

Classical Dance: Term Definition

History of capoeira in the brazilian community: social dance and form of martial arts.

  • Words: 1300

Space in Dance Theatre

Fukushima disaster in “falling out” dancing performance.

  • Words: 1110

Irish Tap Dancing in African American Culture

  • Words: 1168

Dancing: Choreographer Doris Humphrey

  • Words: 1104

Flamenco Dance and History of Passion

“the power of myth” and “lord of the dance” films, ballet pas de deux: dance and architecture exhibition, the age of romanticism: dances articles analysis, ballet and jazz dance: styles description, mikhail baryshnikov’s biography and input to ballet, les ballets jazz de montreal and zero in on, the giselle ballet at the war memorial opera house, the royal ballet dance in covent garden.

  • Words: 1402

Lindy Hop Dance: Development, Events, Figures

  • Words: 3036

The Grass Dance Cultural Importance

  • Words: 1085

Ballets: “Carmen” and “In the Upper Room”

Alvin ailey’ and alexander pushkin’ views on the modern dance.

  • Words: 1094

The CSN Fall Dance Concert

2008 beijing olympics performance, belly dancing: why the world knows little about it.

  • Words: 1629

Dancer Alvin Ailey: Techniques and Artistic Choices

Dance: alonzo king lines ballet.

  • Words: 1089

Chicano Folklore: Mexican Folk Dance

Mikhail baryshnikov’ dancing philosophy.

  • Words: 1112

The Dance Video “Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake 2”

Moon – solo dance by yang liping, dancing as a kind of art.

  • Words: 2761

Flash: A New Choreography

The way of geisha dance, dance education and culture.

  • Words: 4956

Miami Dance Project for Autistic Children

Ruth st. denis’s biography.

  • Words: 1111

Survey of contemporary dances

History of balinese dancing art.

  • Words: 1088

Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring

History and development of ballet, hip hop dancing: the remarkable black beat.

  • Words: 1617

Modern Dance by Jiri Kylian

Home — Application Essay — Nursing Schools — Dance: Lessons in Confidence and Perseverance

one pixel image

Dance: Lessons in Confidence and Perseverance

  • University: University of Rhode Island

About this sample

close

Words: 561 |

Published: Jul 18, 2018

Words: 561 | Pages: 1 | 3 min read

I dreamt of the crowd in the darkness, a single spotlight shining down on me as I graced the stage with my movement, a sparkling array of costumes, and the feeling of soothing, crisp air. From the moment I stepped into my first dance class, I knew that dance was what I wanted to do. Through hard work, patience, and perseverance I advanced through the different levels each year, eventually performing with a ballet company. Going to school in the morning, then training each afternoon: I quickly learned that ballet was not strictly a physical activity but a mental undertaking as well.

Say no to plagiarism.

Get a tailor-made essay on

'Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned'?

The most common illusion dancers harbor is their confidence in themselves, whether it be maintaining strong posture or the stunning smile they hold as they fly through the air. Little does the audience realize that dancers have thousands of thoughts running through their minds: what the next step is and what it will take to execute it, both physically and intellectually. While performing the Kitri variation, I was constantly thinking of the twenty pirouettes I had ahead of me and of how I would be able to make them travel across the stage. I quickly learned the 'fake it till you make it' method; that if you project confidence in what you're doing, others will believe in you, and eventually you will, too.

One of the most difficult things I had to face while training for dance was the struggle to be 'perfect.' I wanted each and every move to be the best it could and also to gain the praise of my teacher. To gain that praise, I would have to work for countless hours, even months to get it right. I remember my first pointe class, barely being able to stand on my toes, let alone dance across the room. I finally came to the realization that nothing will ever be 'perfect.' I had to have faith in what I was doing, and in myself. If you continually compare yourself to others you will only be putting yourself down, but if you compare yourself to where you were when you started, the growth is unbelievable.

Despite all the challenges I faced in the studio, performing the same steps over and over, trying to get it perfect, and building my confidence slowly, it was still the one place I felt the most like myself. As I stood at the barre doing tendu, all the worries and problems of the day vanished into the background. I could express myself in my movement or take on a new character, a princess or a slave. For just a few hours, I could be someone completely new.

Keep in mind: This is only a sample.

Get a custom paper now from our expert writers.

Though I eventually fell out of love with my dream of pursuing dance as a full career, the lessons I learned along the journey are ones I will keep with me throughout my life. Continuing to live through the stage with musical theater, I take on the persona of new characters with the same confidence I learned so well through dance. While developing a growing passion for leadership, I take the lessons of hard work, developing confidence, and aiming to do my best with me in every situation I face. No matter what 'stage' I face next, I know that I can use these skills to approach whatever challenge life may bring me.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

  • 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
  • Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

author

Verified writer

  • Expert in: Nursing Schools

writer

+ 122 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

boy

Are you interested in getting a customized paper?

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Nursing Schools

Above my fireplace is a framed 8x10 photograph of me before my first day of second grade. A half smile limps across my face, at the request of my mother of course. I’m dressed in a brand new white Old Navy tank top; the scratchy [...]

Everyone questions; everyone wonders and ponders the question of life, Answering why life and why to an occurrence, why to existence. Science answers questions, science tells us why, Or does it? Can science answer [...]

One literary work that I always find inspiring is Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken". In Frost's poem the speaker, on the verge of making a decision, symbolizes this decision by using a reference to one road forking into two. [...]

Although my areas of interest are broad, I am certain of my passion for creativity and design. My ability to think creatively is not only in the visual aesthetic of things, but in using innovative and unorthodox methods of [...]

When I was ten months old, I grabbed onto the coffee table and hauled myself up, arms shaking, fists clenched, knees wobbling; ten minutes later, much to my parents’ dismay, I was sprinting around the house, choppy bangs [...]

Why would you make a good candidate for our school? I maintain that if we all spoke before thinking and took action without leadership, communication and leadership could not exist. As a result of this observance, therefore, [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

  • Instructions Followed To The Letter
  • Deadlines Met At Every Stage
  • Unique And Plagiarism Free

a college essay about dance

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Duke University

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

a college essay about dance

How Competitive Dance Can Give Your College Applications an Edge

Do you know how to improve your profile for college applications.

See how your profile ranks among thousands of other students using CollegeVine. Calculate your chances at your dream schools and learn what areas you need to improve right now — it only takes 3 minutes and it's 100% free.

The value of strong extracurriculars on your college application cannot be understated. With selective colleges now receiving applications from far many more academically qualified applicants than they can accept, it is often extracurricular involvement that will set some students ahead of the rest. Presenting a profile of extracurriculars that speaks to your passions, drive, and initiative can be a critical piece of any application.

Some students think that extracurriculars must consist of school-recognized clubs or teams, and that independent interests or hobbies cannot count as an extracurricular activity, but this is not true. In reality, anything that you spend time pursuing on a regular basis outside of your required academic coursework can count as an extracurricular.

For many students, this means sports teams, art, and student government. For others it might mean debate club or math olympiad. And for thousands of students across the country, it means dance.

While some might think of dance as a sport and others might think of it as an art, how you perceive and present your participation in it will depend largely on your personal approach to it during your high school years. Some students will pursue competitions actively, while others will find other meaningful ways of participating. Regardless, one thing is certain. If you have spent significant time and energy pursuing dance during high school, your commitment and success should be highlighted on your college application.

To learn more about the many outlets for pursuing dance in high school, and the various ways in which you make sure that your avid pursuit of it shines through on your college application, keep reading.

How Might I Participate in Dance As a High School Student?

Although some people might think of dance as a hobby sometimes outgrown by the teen years, dance can in fact be a serious and rigorous pursuit. Some dancers even go on to make a career out of their dancing.

There are many different ways that you can participate in dance as a high school student. If you are taking lessons outside of school, you might join your dance studio’s competition team or at least participate in performances and recitals. If you are not participating in dance outside of school, you might join your school’s dance team, cheerleading squad, or drill team.

While there are obviously some significant differences between cheerleading or drill team and traditional dance, there are many more similarities. Many critical skills, such as rhythm, flexibility, strength, and even some of the steps and specific moves translate well between all three pursuits. If you are looking to put your dance skills to use but cannot find a dance team, consider a cheerleading team or drill team instead.

Finally, you might choose to pursue dance more casually. Perhaps you take night classes at the local community center, or you’re teaching yourself to dance salsa. These might not place you directly in the world of competitive dance, but they could still qualify you as a dancer and count as an important extracurricular activity on your college application. Later, we’ll discuss how you might pursue some of these less structured pursuits.

What Kinds of Dance Qualify As An Extracurricular?

If you’re a dancer, you already know that the varieties of dance styles and the ways in which dancers apply their craft are virtually endless. The same can be said for which varieties of dance qualify as an extracurricular.

You might be a classical ballerina, or you might prefer jazz, tap, or lyrical dance. Maybe you only dabbled casually in dance before joining the cheerleading or drill team. Or perhaps you are more involved in the performing arts, and you apply your singing, acting, and dancing skills on stage in theatrical productions.

The type of dance you pursue does not determine whether or not it qualifies as an extracurricular activity. Instead, the extent to which you pursue it, the amount of time you spend on it, the regularity with which you participate, and your passion for it are the real factors that will determine its importance on a college application.

For more about what types of specific activities should be included on a college application, see our post What Counts as an Extracurricular? . -->

How to Reinforce Dance As a Serious Endeavor on Your College Applications

Competitions.

Dance competitions exist at just about every scale imaginable. There are small, local competitions, sometimes held within a single studio, and there are huge international competitions held as large, annual events, taking over entire hotels and conference centers. If you’re interested in competitive dance, there is something to suit every level of involvement.

One thing that differentiates dance from other competitive events is that dance competitions are organized and conducted by independent competition production companies. This means that private companies are always the ones running the competitions and responsible for making the rules for each competition.

Because there is no national oversight or governing body, every competition will be slightly different. You need to be certain that you know the specific rules at each competition, so that you don’t unknowingly break one or enter your routine in the wrong category. There are usually rules governing time limits along with rules specific to dance styles (for example, no acrobatics allowed in ballet routines).

While there is no national governing body, there are smaller governing bodies that oversee dance competitions at certain levels. This is particularly true of high school dance competitions. In fact, the National Dance Team Championship is endorsed by the National Federation of State High School Associations, which is the same national service and administrative organization responsible for high school athletics and fine arts programs in speech, debate, theater, and music. In addition, many states have state-wide high school dance competitions.

At a dance competition, dance routines can be solos, small groups, or teams, but you will usually compete on behalf of a team, with your individual scores counting towards your team’s score. Each routine will be judged by a panel of judges, usually current and former dance professionals themselves.

If you participate in dance competitions consistently enough, you’ll find that there is a community of friends that forms in the dance competition circuit. Especially if you are traveling to out-of-state competitions, you will likely make friends with other competitors staying at the same hotels as your team, since there is often time to socialize between routines and before and after the daily competition schedule.

In addition, larger competitions usually include some fun, bonus activities. Some are social in nature, and others are rooted in dance. These usually include workshops, master classes, and banquets.

a college essay about dance

Discover your chances at hundreds of schools

Our free chancing engine takes into account your history, background, test scores, and extracurricular activities to show you your real chances of admission—and how to improve them.

If you are interested in pursuing dance competitively, here are a few top tier competitions to consider:

National Dance Team Championship

NDTC is the only national-level dance team championship that is endorsed by the National Federation of State High School Associations. It usually takes place at Disney World, and certain routines are aired live on ESPN. It is administered by Universal Dance Administration (UDA), which also runs dance camps along with multiple other dance competitions. 

NexStar National Talent Competition

The NexStar National Talent Competition is run by the Star Dance Alliance and features several national events throughout the country each year. It is also a feeder to the World Dance Championship and World Dance Pageant, both of which are open by invitation only.

Youth America Grand Prix

For more classical dancers, the Youth America Gran Prix calls itself “ the world’s largest global network of dance.” It holds workshops, scholarship auditions, master classes, and audition classes throughout the U.S. and abroad, and culminates in a the week-long New York Finals, where the world’s most promising dancers receive in-depth mentoring and increased scholarship, professional, and performance opportunities.

If dance competitions aren’t entirely your thing, there are other ways to exhibit your passion for and dedication to dance. Here are a few ways to get involved:

Teaching Dance

Teaching dance allows you to give back to your community, share your passion with others, and demonstrate important leadership skills.

You can volunteer to teach dance informally as a teaching assistant at your dance studio, or you could organize a more formal class through your local library, community center, or elementary school. You might teach a weekly class that meets over the course of a few months, or you might teach a single workshop once a month. Either way, you are participating in dance in a meaningful way and serving others at the same time, so it’s a win-win.

Start a Dance Club At Your School

Another way to pursue your passion for dance outside of competitions is by starting a non-competitive dance club at your school. You might focus on a particular style of dance and choreography, or you might study broader varieties. You could even start a cultural club geared towards a specific style of dance. 

Starting a club shows a real ability to take initiative, and it’s not as difficult as you might think. You can read more about the general process for starting your own club in our post, How to Start a Club in High School .

Organize a Talent Show

Talent shows are a great way to showcase talent in a safe, non-competitive environment. While some talent shows do have an element of competition, it’s not a necessity, and generally people participate because they want to perform, not because they want to win.

Organizing a talent show gives you the perfect opportunity to perform in front of others without the pressure of being judged and having your score impact the performance of your team. It also provides other students at your school with the same opportunity. Sometimes, students are too shy to share their talents that aren’t readily apparent in a traditional high school environment. Talent shows are a great way to coax hidden talents out from under the surface, and they are usually a fun experience for all involved.

To take your talent show a step further, you might even turn it into a fundraiser by selling tickets and donating the money to an important cause.   A local nonprofit supporting visual or performing arts would be a fitting and grateful recipient of any money raised.

Create an Online Portfolio

One final way to showcase your passion and success in dance is to create an online portfolio. You can use a blog platform with free templates to design it . Then, upload video clips of your performances and other relevant material, such as costume design or teaching experience. You can even upload an artist’s statement to highlight how dance has impacted your life and who you are today.

Then, when you list dance as an extracurricular activity on your college application, you can link to your online portfolio. Of course there is no guarantee that any of the admissions committee members will click through to view your work, but if it influences even one person’s opinion, it will have been worth it.

The world of dance can be confusing to navigate from a college admissions standpoint. It is not as closely tied with your high school activities as many other extracurriculars are, and if you choose to pursue it outside of dance competitions, you might feel as though you have little to show for the time and energy you’ve expended. By participating in competitions, teaching dance to others, or finding other ways to highlight your hard work, you’ll prove that your pursuit of dance is as serious and ambitious as any other extracurricular activity.

Looking for help navigating the road to college as a high school student? Download our  free guide for 9th graders  and our  free guide for 10th graders . Our guides go in-depth about subjects ranging from  academics ,  choosing courses ,  standardized tests ,  extracurricular activities ,  and much more !

Want access to expert college guidance — for free? When you create your free CollegeVine account, you will find out your real admissions chances, build a best-fit school list, learn how to improve your profile, and get your questions answered by experts and peers—all for free. Sign up for your CollegeVine account today to get a boost on your college journey.

For more information about extracurricular activities in high school, check out these posts:

  • Extracurricular Activities with Animals for High Schoolers
  • Extracurriculars for the Prospective BS/MD Student
  • Extracurricular Ideas for the Aspiring Journalist
  • How To Become President of Your High School Club    
  • Demonstrating Leadership as a High School Sports Captain
  • How to Start a Club in High School
  • Community Service Projects for Music Majors
  • A Beginner’s Guide to Starting Your Own Business In High School

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

a college essay about dance

  • Dance Magazine
  • Dance Spirit
  • Dance Teacher
  • The Dance Edit
  • Events Calendar
  • College Guide
  • Newsletters

A young woman with long, curly dark hair lies on a bed, using a laptop and writing in a notebook.

Translating Your Ballet Experience Into a Meaningful College Admissions Essay

a college essay about dance

If you’re hoping to major or minor in dance, crafting a stellar college application essay is an important part of that journey. But how can you write about your passion for ballet in a way that is meaningful to college admissions professionals—many of whom may not be dancers or artists themselves? First, recognize that “you are different in a good way,” says Brock Snyder, associate dean of high school academic programs at University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. “As a trained dancer, you have a piece of the puzzle that a lot of high-schoolers don’t have. Applying to colleges is not the time to be modest.”

Here are some other tips to help you set your essay apart.  

1. Know Why the Essay Matters

Have you been honing your technique and artistry to prepare for dance department auditions? At some schools, you must be admitted to the college or university as a whole before you can audition to join the dance program or be considered for dance scholarships. That means that the essay, as part of your primary application package, carries a lot of weight.

Three female ballet students stand en face in tendu derriere with their right leg in back. They hold their arms in demi-seconde position. They wear black leotards, pink tights and pink pointe shoes. Four other ballet dancers in the same dancewear stand behind them, observing.

How much weight, exactly? “It used to be that GPA mattered most, then test scores, and the essay would rank third or even fourth, after teacher recommendations,” says Snyder, who has been counseling prospective college students for 17 years, and high school dance students for 14 years. “Now, I’d say the essay is number two. That’s why it’s so important to put a lot of thought and care into it.”

“There are two main things we look for in an essay,” says Odessa Armstrong, an admissions counselor at Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland. “One: Can you write? The writing sample shows us if you’re ready to write at the college level. Two: Who are you, as a person? The other parts of your college application don’t tell us much about you. In the essay, you share in your own words who you are, and that helps us see if you’ll be a good fit in our community.”

2. Find the Right Story

In a college application essay, you’re aiming to tell a complete story in a relatively short word count. That said, “You have to dig deeper than ‘I started dancing when I was 6 and I remember my first pair of pointe shoes,’ ” says Snyder.

Elizabeth Ahearn, wearing a black turtleneck and yoga pants, leans forward to fix a female ballet student's hip alignment at barre while other dancers listen and watch. The dancers in class wear leotards and tights.

“A story has to have tension in it,” explains Perri Meeks, dean of the upper school at Brooklyn’s Poly Prep, which offers dance as part of its curriculum. Meeks previously worked in undergraduate admissions at Barnard College in New York City, as well as in graduate admissions at Columbia University’s Teachers College. “An essay that lists your resumé will never read as strongly as a more emotional or reflective piece. Why is ballet important to you? What are the values you’ve gotten from your practice of ballet? Have you developed certain skills, like discipline and focus? What friendships have you made? Was there a time you failed?”

Your essay could focus on something practical, like time management. You could talk about overcoming the odds to follow your dreams. You could discuss finding your way back to the stage after an injury or burnout. Or you could share what you learned from tackling a challenging role or entering a competition.

Whatever topic you choose, strive to include specific, rich details that are unique to your perspective and experience. “I love when writers can paint a picture,” Armstrong says. “Put me in that place, whether it’s the dance studio, a performance, or another setting. Use figurative language. Incorporate all of the senses. When I read an essay that is well-written and tells a story that captivates me, I’m excited.”

Put in the Work

At UNCSA, college essay prep starts the summer after junior year. “We encourage students to go on the common application and review the essay prompts, and then to go ahead and start outlining and drafting,” says Yasmine Bell, a guidance counselor for UNCSA’s high school academics program. Meeks recommends high school juniors and rising seniors jot down notes about what they did and how they felt. “Looking back a few months later, you can find common themes that might have a place in your essay,” she says. 

A male ballet teacher wearing jeans and a black T-shirt stands in first position in the center of a studio and does a cambré back. Three male students in white T-shirts, black tights and black ballet slippers stand him at the barre behind him, doing the same step.

When you have a complete draft, it’s time to get feedback. Show it to your dance teacher, your English teacher, your guidance counselor, your parents—anyone you trust to be honest with you about what’s working and what’s not. Ask for comments on your themes and the story you’re telling, as well as on the grammar and general flow of the essay. Then, be prepared to revise…and revise again. (And again.) “It’s okay if the finished product is different than what you conceived at the beginning,” Meeks says. “Give yourself time to explore your ideas and to find the best way to express them.”

The goal is to send out something that only you could write. The essay should be about your dance journey, and it should feel like it’s written in your authentic voice. “Your passion, your discipline, your commitment to your art—that will all be transferable to whatever you choose to do in the future,” Snyder says. The college essay is only the beginning.

a college essay about dance

Balancing College and Career: 3 Dancers, 3 Different Degree Paths

Jasmine Robinson is shown from the thigh up. She extends her right arm out to the side and rests her upturned left wrist on top of her head, looking out towards teh camera with a small smile. She wears a light purple sleeveless leotard and short black skirt, and extends her right leg out in a degagé in croisé devant. She dances in front of a sand-colored background.

Dreaming of Performing Professionally as a College Student? Here’s What You Need to Know

In a black box theater space, one man and four women sit in black chairs facing an audience of young ballet students sitting on the floor.

Watch: Pointe Live! Classes & Conversations With Sarah Lane, Adji Cissoko, Candy Tong and Cameron Catazaro

A large group of college-age, female dancers in various leotards, tights, skirts and pointe shoes pose in a large formation in front of floor-to-ceiling windows in a dance studio.

College Dance Companies Can Be a Fulfilling Alternative for Nondance Majors

a college essay about dance

Want to keep reading? Only Pointe+ members can view this story.

Get access to exclusive ballet content and ways to take your dancing to the next level.

All That Jazz logo for 2023

My Dance College Essay- Sophie Rego, class of ’21

leaps, turns and more

I have always had big dreams but felt too trapped by my own insecurities to let the fire in me escape. The day I became a dancer changed that forever. I took my first dance class at the age of twelve, while most of my peers had started lessons as soon as they could walk. Since then, I have been surrounded by the rhythm of tap shoes, the texture of smooth vinyl floors, and the sight of elegant ballerinas leaping from every corner of the room. My studio became my safe haven when I needed it most. My path to becoming a dancer was unconventional, but it taught me the power of following my passions, staying true to myself, and showed me what I am capable of when I dedicate myself to something I love.

My mom had always encouraged me to try dance, modeling, and acting. I was intrigued by the idea of performing, but I felt too trapped by my fears to try. It wasn’t until I found dance that I truly became a performer. My earliest memories of the dance world are of a style I have never danced: Irish Step. Growing up in a predominantly Irish community and attending a Catholic school, most of my friends were Irish and trained in Irish Dancing. I resented this for many years because I only viewed it as the reason my friends arrived late to my birthday parties. They always had the same excuse: “Sorry, we have dance.” At the same time, attending their competitions sparked my interest in dancing, but Irish Dancing didn’t feel like the right fit. Coming from a Brazilian background, I never felt like I would fit and I knew that I couldn’t check the boxes of the traditional Irish Step dancer. Additionally, their dance came with many restrictions and no room for creativity. I knew I had to find my own direction.

One evening, I stumbled upon a TV show called “Dance Moms.” I was mesmerized by a group of dancers practicing a combination. My eyes were opened to the world of dance as I had never seen it before. I discovered that dance could be about self-expression. The show ignited a fire in me, and I immersed myself in this new world. I was drawn in by the talent, love, and

diversity I saw. My mom and I searched for dance studios and we found ourselves at the front door of “All That Jazz Dance Studio.” We loved the sense of community and focus on the art of dance over competition. I finally felt that I had found “my thing,” my reason that ​I ​was late to a party, and there was no looking back.

My late start to dance put me at a disadvantage, but it fueled my passion and pushed me to work twice as hard to improve my skills. My teachers noticed me gaining flexibility, strength, and confidence, and I was chosen as a leader in performances. It wasn’t always easy: some of my life-long dancer friends didn’t take me seriously and made condescending comments. It was tempting to give up, but I learned to ignore them and focus on staying true to myself.

Dance is about self-expression. When I dance I am acting, portraying a character, and my studio lets me infuse acting into every performance. Dance has been an outlet for me to express myself and escape the reality of being a teenager. It will take a special skill set to succeed in the performing arts, and dance has prepared me for that. I have learned to overcome my fears, deal with rejection, and dance for myself and not for the external validation of awards. I believe that dance came into my life at the right moment, and I know that no matter what path I take I will always be a dancer.

Sophie Rego, class of 2021

Dance Studio Newton

Related Posts

dancers with Miss Ellen Frank in class

Elevate Your Dance Journey at All That Jazz Dance Studio in Newton

25th anniversary finale kickline

25th Anniversary Reflections

Miss Deb at Studio Owner University in Florida

I Did It! (aka lessons learned by Miss Deb at Studio Owner University)

Miss Deb at SOU in Orlando

Taking the leap

Dancers at first recital production class

Brand New! Recital Production Class- Bonding and Fun

Power Of Performance

Power of Performance… and Studio Showcase Week

All That Jazz recital and self-esteem

“Proud and Happy;” the importance of performing at the All That Jazz annual recitals

20th anniversary celebration

All That Jazz Dance Studio’s Origin Story

little dancers looking at the stage

From 2 year olds to high school seniors- All That Jazz has it all!

finale at All That Jazz recital

Miss Deb’s thank you for an unbelievable school year?

recital costumes pose

The excitement and anticipation of recital season

building self-esteem | Dance Studio Newton

Building Self-Esteem- our final highlighted Core Value

dancers on stage at outdoor recital

Inclusion – our fourth highlighted Core Value

ballet class at All That Jazz

Determination… in the days of Omicron

passion and fun core value of All That Jazz

Passion and Fun- our third highlighted Core Value

Dance Classes Newton

Teamwork – Our second highlighted Core Value

family core value at All That Jazz

Family- our first highlighted Core Value

finale at outdoor recital

We did it… the 2020-2021 school year was our best yet!

All That Jazz, graduating senior

Life after All That Jazz, from a recent graduate’s perspective

Long days, short years.

Scottish Rite Museum

Collaborating to create professional outdoor in-person recitals!

dance teachers of All That Jazz

Good news- our dance teachers are vaccinated!

ballet class at All That Jazz

One year later- Random Thoughts

Dance Classes Newton

Where is your child’s “Happy Place?”

ballet/tap class

Will you be an All That Jazz “Fan for Life?”

Voices Podcast

Podcast Interview with Miss Deb Vogel and Edie Pike, class of ’21

Class of 2020, All That Jazz

Class of 2020 video gift to Miss Deb Vogel, Director of All That Jazz

dance family

All That Jazz 2020 Holiday Padlet Card

Miss Deb Vogel, Director

“Family, Smile and Have Fun, and Passion” ~Miss Deb Vogel

Miss Erin, dance teacher at All That Jazz in Newton

“It just fits like a little dance family”- Miss Erin Janiszewski

Miss Lindsay at All That Jazz

“No Drama, no competition… just pure love of dance”- Miss Lindsay Andersen

Maeve, class of '21

“My favorite part of All That Jazz is the energy”- Maeve, class of ’21

Eli, class of '21, All That Jazz

“Community, Passionate, and Caring”- Eli, Class of ’21

Miss Samantha Mocle, Dance Faculty at All That Jazz

“There’s really something special about the two-way street relationships…”- Miss Samantha Mocle

a college essay about dance

“Because we are such a family here, I have learned to compete with myself”- Miss Becca Lozinsky

“inclusive, fun and family”- sophie, class of ’21.

a college essay about dance

Boston Parents Papers

a college essay about dance

“The All That Jazz kids are like no other”- Miss Heather Myers

a college essay about dance

Listen to a Facebook Live with Miss Deb & Edie, class of ’21!

a college essay about dance

Finding happiness and a sense of normalcy via kids dance classes

a college essay about dance

We are so grateful for our dance families, especially this year.

a college essay about dance

More than a dance studio. More like a family!

a college essay about dance

When the dance studio director becomes the dance student

Zoom recital

The spring of 2020: Teaching dance during a pandemic

a college essay about dance

A 2020 Graduating Senior’s Reflections

a college essay about dance

Which All That Jazz Dance Teacher are You Most Like?

a college essay about dance

All That Jazz Class of ’19: Dance lessons and more!

A Graduating Senior's Reflections

A Graduating Senior’s Reflections

a college essay about dance

Birthday Parties at All That Jazz Dance Studio in Newton

Dance classes near belmont, ma.

dance convention in Boston

Dance Conventions

a college essay about dance

Injury Prevention for Dancers, by Girl Fit PT

a college essay about dance

Happy Dancing Memories, by a Class of 2018 Graduate

a college essay about dance

Top ten tips for dance auditions in musicals:

a college essay about dance

The lessons I have learned at All That Jazz

dancers at all that jazz

Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Enroll Your Child at All That Jazz

a college essay about dance

What I will miss about All That Jazz in college next year

a college essay about dance

Why I choose to take dance class at All That Jazz Dance Studio

Dance Competitions

Dance Competitions? Not at All That Jazz Dance Studio!

We use cookies to enhance our website for you. Proceed if you agree to this policy or learn more about it.

  • Essay Database >
  • Essays Samples >
  • Essay Types >
  • College Essay Example

Dancing College Essays Samples For Students

136 samples of this type

No matter how high you rate your writing skills, it's always a worthy idea to check out a competently written College Essay example, especially when you're handling a sophisticated Dancing topic. This is exactly the case when WowEssays.com catalog of sample College Essays on Dancing will come in useful. Whether you need to brainstorm an original and meaningful Dancing College Essay topic or survey the paper's structure or formatting peculiarities, our samples will provide you with the necessary material.

Another activity area of our write my paper agency is providing practical writing assistance to students working on Dancing College Essays. Research help, editing, proofreading, formatting, plagiarism check, or even crafting fully original model Dancing papers upon your request – we can do that all! Place an order and buy a research paper now.

Example Of Belly Dancing Essay

[Class Title]

Free Essay About Art And Psychology

Dancing professionally essays example.

Don't waste your time searching for a sample.

Get your essay done by professional writers!

Just from $10/page

Film Review: La La Land --: A Sample Essay For Inspiration & Mimicking

A passionate revival of movie musical styles, mykhail baryshnikov essay, introduction, lesson 6 discussion forum essay sample, essay on dance, good example of jazz dance icons essay, jack cole (1911-1974).

Jack Cole is known as the Father of Jazz Dance Technique and Father of Theater Dance. Cole started out as a modern dancer but during the Great Depression he switched to the jazz style of dancing. He is famous for combining jazz steps with modern and ethnic dances. Some of his famous choreographies include “Man of La Mancha”, “There´s No Business Like Show Busines” and “Les Girls”.

Eugene Louis “Luigi” Faccuito (1925-2015)

Infected mushroom concert essay sample, infected mushroom concert, learn to craft essays on answers to the questions with this example, free essay on comparison and contrast between ballet and jazz, observation of human sexuality interactions at a night club essay samples, human sexuality behavior at the nightclub, diversity case study essay, expertly written essay on notable aspects in three werner herzog films: to follow, aguirre, stroszek and fitzcarraldo, example of essay on hip hop dance, good example of essay on cultural activity (college dance event), good example of essay on fisher assignment, artists and negotiations with the medium of photography essay examples, example of oklahoma musical essay, perfect model essay on sioux spirituality in the grass dancer, winter olympic sport. iceberg skating-ice dancing essays example, free essay on analyzing bollywood songs: deewangi deewangi in om shanti om, how does the body movement of dance performance differ from the ready-to-wear essay samples, olaudah equaino: a sample essay for inspiration & mimicking, olaudah equaino, the last books on earth: a top-quality essay for your inspiration.

Today, they were burning books. These were the last books on Earth, found in the house on the outskirts of the city. They were creating and, at the same time, listening to the Symphony of Fire, in which every note was a burned paper with empty words, written once by someone.

Does it really matter?

Emotional labor essay examples, hochschild’s reading, sample essay on the jazz age in cinema: the modernization of american dances, cultural product essay template for faster writing, chinese fan dance, the entire painting essay example, communication.

Introduction Gestalt psychology is built around the theory that the brain processes images and information in a holistic manner and creates self-organized juxtapositions. As per gestalt psychology, therefore, the ‘whole’ is invariably larger than ‘the sum of the parts’. Accordingly, the mind tries to make sense of images through the processes of ‘proximity’, ‘closure’, ‘figure-ground’, ‘common fate’, ‘similarity’ and ‘good continuation’ (Liquori, 2011). The principles of Gestalt can be best explained with a painting as an example.

Analysis of a Painting Using Gestalt Psychology

Good ballet essay example, the cultural importance of one of the native american dances essays example, the turkish cultural music development essay, facilitator, dance essay, katherine dunham: free sample essay to follow, good essay on fictional story (the story of alexia and chess), reflective essay (my experience as literally student and a writer), cultural event reviews essays example, rap/hip-hop music and the artists essays examples, good example of form, technique, structure of hip-hop dance essay, characteristics of african and european dance essay sample, example of essay on persuade someone (or some group) to go to college, importance of going through college, bebop essays example, free subjective experience of the rite of spring and 433 essay example, good essay on sacred music played in catholic mass and buddhist rite, example of shall we dance essay, the would-be gentleman by moliere essay sample, the would-be gentleman by moliere, beyond worlds essay samples, a documentary artist by jaime manrique, essay on the critical film review, essay on art questions, my wedding essay.

This  essay for free is for you to take as an example for your academic work. 

I have gone through various captivating episodes in my life but I do not think that there is any one that beats my wedding day. A wedding is a celebration that brings pleasure and joy to everyone involved including the family members and friends. My wedding took place on18 May, 2010. It was a delightful day and was characterized by the occasional peeking of the May sun. A cool breeze rustled in the atmosphere from the west giving a cooling effect to the wedding’s invitees as each took a seat on the gazebo walk’s on either side.

Essay On Journals

Saudi arabian national day, example of essay on the role of the narrator in the glass menagerie, example of not without laughter langston hughes essay, the reconciliation of opposites, essay on a weird relative, purpose to discover what it is like to be a bartender essay example, audience: general, comparing two different musical styles country and hip hop essay sample, example of essay on collegiate activities, collegiate activities.

While in college, many students involve themselves in different extracurricular activities since they form the key to personal development and play a pivotal role in collegiate activities. Involvement in extracurricular activities is not only for entertainment but for social and enjoyment purposes and above all, to gain and improve skills (Kuh, 1995).

All the executive members met 2 times a week, 3 hours per meeting, a total of 24 hours in a month.

Responsibilities

Essay about belonging, expertly written essay on ‘culture’ to follow, essay on music in cambodia, a-level essay on elderly sports for free use.

Password recovery email has been sent to [email protected]

Use your new password to log in

You are not register!

By clicking Register, you agree to our Terms of Service and that you have read our Privacy Policy .

Now you can download documents directly to your device!

Check your email! An email with your password has already been sent to you! Now you can download documents directly to your device.

or Use the QR code to Save this Paper to Your Phone

The sample is NOT original!

Short on a deadline?

Don't waste time. Get help with 11% off using code - GETWOWED

No, thanks! I'm fine with missing my deadline

  • How It Works
  • All Projects
  • Write my essay
  • Buy essay online
  • Custom coursework
  • Creative writing
  • Custom admission essay
  • College essay writers
  • IB extended essays
  • Buy speech online
  • Pay for essays
  • College papers
  • Do my homework
  • Write my paper
  • Custom dissertation
  • Buy research paper
  • Buy dissertation
  • Write my dissertation
  • Essay for cheap
  • Essays for sale
  • Non-plagiarized essays
  • Buy coursework
  • Term paper help
  • Buy assignment
  • Custom thesis
  • Custom research paper
  • College paper
  • Coursework writing
  • Edit my essay
  • Nurse essays
  • Business essays
  • Custom term paper
  • Buy college essays
  • Buy book report
  • Cheap custom essay
  • Argumentative essay
  • Assignment writing
  • Custom book report
  • Custom case study
  • Doctorate essay
  • Finance essay
  • Scholarship essays
  • Essay topics
  • Research paper topics
  • Top queries link

Dance Essay Examples

Sleeping Beauty is a classic tale, made most popular in its Disney animated version but also acclaimed on stage. The ballet is by Petipa and is performed in many opera houses across the world. The performance that I saw held many points of meaning for me as well as interesting...

602 words | 3 page(s)

The iconic fairytale of sleeping beauty has captured the imagination of many children worldwide since Charles Perrault wrote it. The story talks of a young beautiful princess who is cursed by a wicked witch to die through pricking her hands on the needle of a spindle. A fairy however reverses...

1101 words | 4 page(s)

The video that is the focus of this paper is on the dance called “Memory of a Lost Memory” performed by the Dallas Black Dance Troupe. The Troupe is on its 41st year of performance, and began the splinter group Encore (formerly known as DBDT II) for the purpose of...

605 words | 3 page(s)

The movements were flowy and had constant movement. The dancers, there being two of them, did fast changes in their movement to a strong strum of the guitar in the song, which added to the flow. The arms and legs were emphasized a lot to show the fluidity of the...

303 words | 2 page(s)

“Dan is the hidden language of the soul of the body,” Martha Graham once said. Dance is a part of a person’s culture and can reflect their age and beliefs. Dance may be a universal thing, but it can be very different for each person, depending on when they were...

972 words | 4 page(s)

The power of the dance to convey a message is an essential element in a world where the screen has replaced face to face contact. Dance and music are inseparably intertwined in their ability to express emotion in a way that words fall short. They can set the mood or...

701 words | 3 page(s)

Music is intriguing and requires artistic mastery of certain musical styles, instruments, melody, harmony and rhythm. The musical piece “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” is very unique because of the romantic ideals and style used by Tchaikovsky. The piece uses classical music style that was an expression of a...

860 words | 3 page(s)

Hindu philosophy assumes that the Universe is brought into existence through the manifestation of the dance. In Hindu tradition the Supreme Dancer is called Nataraja. The Hindu scriptures show that every god applies he/her own dance style. Lasya and Tandava are considered the major aspects of dance. 23 celestial beings...

506 words | 2 page(s)

The history of dancing began many centuries ago. Dancing has been part of societies as a social activity that people get involved in for different reasons. For every generation, there is always a motive and direction that people take in dance. Different dance styles have come along as people develop...

616 words | 3 page(s)

Dancing is an activity meant for pleasure and entails body movements summing up to a form of art. Step Afrika is one of the groups that enhance the art of dancing. Step Afrika group was founded by Brian Williams, a Howard University alumnus. Step Afrika was established in 1994 and...

935 words | 4 page(s)

It would not be a mistake to say that folk dance reflects the essence of a culture. It combines three authentic elements: music, dance, and costumes. While watching the performance of a folk dance group, one can make guesses about how this dance appeared, what kind of group activity shaped...

684 words | 3 page(s)

In 2011, the American soft drink company Dr. Pepper Snapple Group hit the nationwide streets to reintroduce one of their most famous brands of soda, SunDrop. When the first SunDrop commercial of the year hit the air, it introduced to us at first the SunDrop girl dancing around town to...

545 words | 2 page(s)

The flow of one’s movements and expressions outcomes in a certain chain of movements. When a person can convey the moves with the body, it is certainly a gift. Moreover, the fact of touching upon one’s feelings and abilities is the treasure of one’s skills. For me, a definition of...

329 words | 2 page(s)

The power of dance is utilized more than most people realize in mass media advertisements such as a Ford advertisement which ran in 2008 featuring human dancers who folded themselves into the shape of a car throughout the commercial. Although the company is working to sell viewers on their brand,...

986 words | 4 page(s)

Dance remains one of the most versatile and beautiful creations of human beings. While the definition, as discussed below, may vary among different people, there are several attributes of dance that are correlated and that we cannot ignore. This paper will be discussing the various viewpoints on dance. Among the...

343 words | 2 page(s)

The author of the article “Movement as dance” voices several interesting and rather provocative ideas regarding how a human body should develop and what the role of dancing is in our daily lives. The thesis of the article is the following: infants move constantly and do communicate with the help...

293 words | 1 page(s)

I believe that dance is an aesthetic expression of the body. Additionally, the body is aesthetically constituted to dance. Dance is human behavior which is purposeful and intentionally rhythmical involving body movement. Dancing has been performed in many cultures as a form of social interaction, spiritual performance, emotional expression and...

603 words | 3 page(s)

While it will be a challenge to get bums to come out and see the show "And The Soul Shall Dance," if the price is right and the marketing is done well, then it is possible to get homeless people in seats. One way to get the word out is...

388 words | 2 page(s)

Dancing is inherent in human nature. Even as we walk to school, talk to friends, or take a shower, we are experiencing life through the presence of our bodies in space. The writer of “A Journey Backward,” Leissa Dickinson, believes this statement to ring true. Getting in tune with our...

320 words | 2 page(s)

The vicissitudes and difficulties of childhood are some of the most common themes which writers choose for their material. It is usually considered that the experiences which we have when we are children will stay with us for out entire lives and that they will leave an indelible mark on...

799 words | 3 page(s)

The origin of belly dancing is steeped in controversial myths and theories, all trying to explain the people who first conceived the style of the belly dance. Several theories have been conjured, spanning from its origin as a religious dance whereby Egyptians used the dance when conducting religious rituals to...

945 words | 4 page(s)

The dance is one of the most human exhibitions of emotion and thoughts, transmitted through body language. According to Hanna, dance is “a nearly universal behavior with a history probably as old as humanity itself”. If one is to look at Stomp 4 video clip, one can see two different...

312 words | 2 page(s)

When I first encountered contra dance in Norman at the First Baptist Church family life center on Friday, November 7, 2014, I was not sure of what exact partnered folk dance style to choose. I learned this dance during my World Music class but did not think I would actually...

1253 words | 5 page(s)

The history of certain dance springs from cultural connection and is something that has influenced modern dance. This can be seen most especially with the group called Stomp. Stomp uses dance and beats to put together a comprehensive performance in which body slaps, dance moves, banging inanimate objects and yes...

496 words | 2 page(s)

In 1998, GAP utilized swing dancing in one its most innovative advertisements yet. The ad features a line of male and females dressed in loose fitting khakis. As the peppy swing music starts, one couple bursts into a fun swing dance only to be joined by another couple. The couples...

277 words | 1 page(s)

Have a team of vetted experts take you to the top, with professionally written papers in every area of study.

  • Education Lab

Student Voices | Questioning fate: My journey as a 15-year-old college student

Editor’s note: This essay is the first in a series of essays by local students about how they’re preparing for their futures and finding challenges and joy in the process. Learn more about these students and get updates at st.news/studentvoices2024 .

I’m a college sophomore, and I’m also 15. The combination of these two factors seems to shock most people, and I’ll admit at times it surprises me, too.

I got to this point quickly because my independent and persistent nature led me off the “traditional” path. Taking advantage of the opportunities to learn without limits has brought me to where I am today. But now, I am trying to find a place for that persistence.

During the pandemic, I finished nearly all the credits needed to graduate from virtual high school in Florida. I started community college in Oregon as a 14-year-old freshman in the fall of 2022. Like any freshman, I was nervous yet excited for the wealth of new opportunities that awaited me. 

I’ve since joined The Honors College at Shoreline Community College where I intended to major in clinical psychology, while also taking classes at Tacoma Community College. Now, I find myself at a crossroads: either continue the path I started at age 14, hoping to become a therapist — or diverge to pursue different passions.  

You might be wondering, as do many, how I ended up where I am. In short: I’ve been learning and telling stories since I could read. I love both creating and experiencing art in its many forms; I love learning the nuances of others’ life stories and finding the intricate ways we are intertwined as people. 

For much of my life, I’ve been praised for my ability to create goals and pursue them. When I was seven, my mom took me to The Cheesecake Factory to celebrate my completed milestone of reading 1,000 books. It’s fitting — I am now returning to my love for reading, writing, and all things creative not only as a hobbyist but as a budding professional. 

My little sister calls me the “why” kid of the family — I’m always questioning why things are the way they are, and trying to find solutions for complex problems. My desire to understand why people and social systems are the way they are initially drew me to a clinical psychology degree. But over the past few months I have begun to question that desire.  

I know I am good at helping others, but doing it professionally while issues like systemic inequity and world conflict exist seems taxing. I’m drawn to the possibilities of a career in journalism, communications, or international relations. The opportunity to improve people’s lives by amplifying their stories or advocating for them through my writing seems less emotionally draining than counseling them. And, I would still get to indulge my (slightly) nosy side. 

In addition to academic pursuits, I also enjoy artistic ones: poetry, music, drawing, dance. Especially dance — if a picture is worth a thousand words, a dance must be like a novel. While I consider writing to be one of my strongest forms of communication, dance allows me to connect with others in a way that words cannot. It also offers me a place to step back and introspect, minus the pressure of having answers.

My combined appreciation for, and understanding of, psychology and the arts has made me a more empathetic, well-rounded person. Sociology and self-directed research projects have taught me how to quantify behaviors, patterns, and people. But it is the steps I have taken to immerse myself in culture and fine art that have helped me learn to empathize with subjective experiences — things that inspire and disenchant people. I’ve often found it easy to put into words the complex feelings others can’t name and help guide them to a place of contentment. Now, I’m learning to do the same for myself.

The past two years felt like the transition between childhood innocence and semi-adult confidence. While 2022 marked the start of high school for many of my peers, it was the year I moved to Portland, which after growing up in a suburban Florida town felt like winning the cultural lottery. In the Pacific Northwest, I was exposed to people, art, food, and classes that broke the confines of conformity.

In my second term of college, I enrolled in a writing and critical thinking course that taught me how to ask questions and debate with an open mind. A few months later, I was chosen as Oregon’s youngest legislative intern to Rep. Thuy Tran. Working with Rep. Tran taught me the value of hard work and humility. Shortly before settling into my new life in Tacoma, I had one final Oregon adventure at The Oregonian’s High School Journalism Institute. There, I learned foundational interview, editing, and newsroom skills. 

These experiences have made me more self-aware, but also feel conflicted. The financial prospects of a career in journalism aren’t the highest, and international relations sounds stressful. I want so much from the world, but maybe the world isn’t yet ready to give it to me.

Sure, there have been many challenges along the way. But I am grateful for and proud of the opportunities I’ve created for myself so far. Maybe it would be easier to define an end goal or find a clear pattern to my life if our education system was set up to support nontraditional paths like mine. 

Between choosing a career, university, and managing my current school and extracurricular schedule, the possibilities feel endless. It’s bittersweet in a way; with so many opportunities before me, the hardest part is just picking the best ones. It’s hard to know exactly what my future will look like.

Though at times the future possibilities seem limitless and daunting, it is reassuring to me to remember that the same attributes — patience, humility, and determination — that led me to this point can also guide me to the next one.

Most Read Stories

  • Former Seahawk Richard Sherman arrested for suspicion of DUI
  • Renee Erickson's Lioness anchors this list of dozens of new Seattle restaurants
  • A decade after a Boeing 777 disappeared, planes still at risk of vanishing
  • MLB uniform fiasco stealing spotlight at Mariners camp, spring training
  • PNW tribal nations, states sign historic Columbia Basin agreement with U.S.
  • Newsletters
  • Account Activating this button will toggle the display of additional content Account Sign out

The Loss of Things I Took for Granted

Ten years into my college teaching career, students stopped being able to read effectively..

Recent years have seen successive waves of book bans in Republican-controlled states, aimed at pulling any text with “woke” themes from classrooms and library shelves. Though the results sometimes seem farcical, as with the banning of Art Spiegelman’s Maus due to its inclusion of “cuss words” and explicit rodent nudity, the book-banning agenda is no laughing matter. Motivated by bigotry, it has already done demonstrable harm and promises to do more. But at the same time, the appropriate response is, in principle, simple. Named individuals have advanced explicit policies with clear goals and outcomes, and we can replace those individuals with people who want to reverse those policies. That is already beginning to happen in many places, and I hope those successes will continue until every banned book is restored.

If and when that happens, however, we will not be able to declare victory quite yet. Defeating the open conspiracy to deprive students of physical access to books will do little to counteract the more diffuse confluence of forces that are depriving students of the skills needed to meaningfully engage with those books in the first place. As a college educator, I am confronted daily with the results of that conspiracy-without-conspirators. I have been teaching in small liberal arts colleges for over 15 years now, and in the past five years, it’s as though someone flipped a switch. For most of my career, I assigned around 30 pages of reading per class meeting as a baseline expectation—sometimes scaling up for purely expository readings or pulling back for more difficult texts. (No human being can read 30 pages of Hegel in one sitting, for example.) Now students are intimidated by anything over 10 pages and seem to walk away from readings of as little as 20 pages with no real understanding. Even smart and motivated students struggle to do more with written texts than extract decontextualized take-aways. Considerable class time is taken up simply establishing what happened in a story or the basic steps of an argument—skills I used to be able to take for granted.

Since this development very directly affects my ability to do my job as I understand it, I talk about it a lot. And when I talk about it with nonacademics, certain predictable responses inevitably arise, all questioning the reality of the trend I describe. Hasn’t every generation felt that the younger cohort is going to hell in a handbasket? Haven’t professors always complained that educators at earlier levels are not adequately equipping their students? And haven’t students from time immemorial skipped the readings?

The response of my fellow academics, however, reassures me that I’m not simply indulging in intergenerational grousing. Anecdotally, I have literally never met a professor who did not share my experience. Professors are also discussing the issue in academic trade publications , from a variety of perspectives. What we almost all seem to agree on is that we are facing new obstacles in structuring and delivering our courses, requiring us to ratchet down expectations in the face of a ratcheting down of preparation. Yes, there were always students who skipped the readings, but we are in new territory when even highly motivated honors students struggle to grasp the basic argument of a 20-page article. Yes, professors never feel satisfied that high school teachers have done enough, but not every generation of professors has had to deal with the fallout of No Child Left Behind and Common Core. Finally, yes, every generation thinks the younger generation is failing to make the grade— except for the current cohort of professors, who are by and large more invested in their students’ success and mental health and more responsive to student needs than any group of educators in human history. We are not complaining about our students. We are complaining about what has been taken from them.

If we ask what has caused this change, there are some obvious culprits. The first is the same thing that has taken away almost everyone’s ability to focus—the ubiquitous smartphone. Even as a career academic who studies the Quran in Arabic for fun, I have noticed my reading endurance flagging. I once found myself boasting at a faculty meeting that I had read through my entire hourlong train ride without looking at my phone. My colleagues agreed this was a major feat, one they had not achieved recently. Even if I rarely attain that high level of focus, though, I am able to “turn it on” when demanded, for instance to plow through a big novel during a holiday break. That’s because I was able to develop and practice those skills of extended concentration and attentive reading before the intervention of the smartphone. For children who were raised with smartphones, by contrast, that foundation is missing. It is probably no coincidence that the iPhone itself, originally released in 2007, is approaching college age, meaning that professors are increasingly dealing with students who would have become addicted to the dopamine hit of the omnipresent screen long before they were introduced to the more subtle pleasures of the page.

The second go-to explanation is the massive disruption of school closures during COVID-19. There is still some debate about the necessity of those measures, but what is not up for debate any longer is the very real learning loss that students suffered at every level. The impact will inevitably continue to be felt for the next decade or more, until the last cohort affected by the mass “pivot to online” finally graduates. I doubt that the pandemic closures were the decisive factor in themselves, however. Not only did the marked decline in reading resilience start before the pandemic, but the students I am seeing would have already been in high school during the school closures. Hence they would be better equipped to get something out of the online format and, more importantly, their basic reading competence would have already been established.

Less discussed than these broader cultural trends over which educators have little control are the major changes in reading pedagogy that have occurred in recent decades—some motivated by the ever-increasing demand to “teach to the test” and some by fads coming out of schools of education. In the latter category is the widely discussed decline in phonics education in favor of the “balanced literacy” approach advocated by education expert Lucy Calkins (who has more recently come to accept the need for more phonics instruction). I started to see the results of this ill-advised change several years ago, when students abruptly stopped attempting to sound out unfamiliar words and instead paused until they recognized the whole word as a unit. (In a recent class session, a smart, capable student was caught short by the word circumstances when reading a text out loud.) The result of this vibes-based literacy is that students never attain genuine fluency in reading. Even aside from the impact of smartphones, their experience of reading is constantly interrupted by their intentionally cultivated inability to process unfamiliar words.

For all the flaws of the balanced literacy method, it was presumably implemented by people who thought it would help. It is hard to see a similar motivation in the growing trend toward assigning students only the kind of short passages that can be included in a standardized test. Due in part to changes driven by the infamous Common Core standards , teachers now have to fight to assign their students longer readings, much less entire books, because those activities won’t feed directly into students getting higher test scores, which leads to schools getting more funding. The emphasis on standardized tests was always a distraction at best, but we have reached the point where it is actively cannibalizing students’ educational experience—an outcome no one intended or planned, and for which there is no possible justification.

We can’t go back in time and do the pandemic differently at this point, nor is there any realistic path to putting the smartphone genie back in the bottle. (Though I will note that we as a society do at least attempt to keep other addictive products out of the hands of children.) But I have to think that we can, at the very least, stop actively preventing young people from developing the ability to follow extended narratives and arguments in the classroom. Regardless of their profession or ultimate educational level, they will need those skills. The world is a complicated place. People—their histories and identities, their institutions and work processes, their fears and desires—are simply too complex to be captured in a worksheet with a paragraph and some reading comprehension questions. Large-scale prose writing is the best medium we have for capturing that complexity, and the education system should not be in the business of keeping students from learning how to engage effectively with it.

This is a matter not of snobbery, but of basic justice. I recognize that not everyone centers their lives on books as much as a humanities professor does. I think they’re missing out, but they’re adults and they can choose how to spend their time. What’s happening with the current generation is not that they are simply choosing TikTok over Jane Austen. They are being deprived of the ability to choose—for no real reason or benefit. We can and must stop perpetrating this crime on our young people.

comscore beacon

  • Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Guest Essay

Every FAFSA Delay Puts College Further Out of Reach

An illustration of a figure wearing a varsity jacket emblazoned with the words “Insufficient Funds.”

By Justin Draeger and Ted Mitchell

Mr. Draeger is president and C.E.O. of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. Mr. Mitchell is president of the American Council on Education and a former U.S. under secretary of education.

Each year, more than 17 million students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, hoping to secure the financial support they need to afford college. But this year, operational glitches and repeated delays in the U.S. Department of Education’s “Better FAFSA” rollout threaten to harm the very students and families that financial aid is intended to help. Despite promises of an easier, more straightforward application process, students and families so far have been met with glitches and delays, and still today, there are entire groups of students blocked from even completing the form.

The department notified schools on Jan. 30, the day that they were supposed to get detailed information to determine how much aid was available for each student, that schools would not receive that data until sometime in the first half of March, leaving colleges scrambling to determine how best to issue aid offers as soon as possible. Students may not receive financial aid offers until April and are typically expected to make a decision about where to attend college by May 1. The traditional “college decision day” simply may not work for students this year since many will not have had the time they need to consider all of their financial options.

This problematic rollout is causing more than just an administrative headache. For students — and even schools themselves — the ripple effect could be catastrophic. Federal financial aid programs were created to open the doors to higher education, bringing a dream within reach for some who would otherwise be unable to unlock that future. Those who can least afford to pay for college will be the most adversely affected.

Some students may be pressured into making one of the most significant financial decisions of their lives without having a complete picture of their options. Others may delay enrolling in college for another year, once the aid application process is running more smoothly. Or, worse yet, some students may become so frustrated by the complexity and confusion of this year’s financial aid process that they give up altogether, forgoing pursuit of a postsecondary degree or credential that would add to their earnings and provide all the other benefits that come with additional education.

Meanwhile, many colleges and universities are stuck in a holding pattern. Schools, state agencies and private scholarship providers rely on FAFSA data to determine how to distribute their own financial aid dollars. Without that information, financial aid offices can’t begin the work of putting together aid offers for students or even precise timelines about when students will receive them.

And without those aid offers, students can’t — really, shouldn’t — decide where to enroll. Financial aid offices are feeling pressure from students and families who are rightfully frustrated and confused as to why they haven’t been given any information on aid packages, as well as from institutional leaders who are eager to finalize their incoming class and budget for the year ahead.

Colleges and universities must now move to take corrective action, and fast. That is why we and other higher education association leaders are urging schools to extend financial aid and enrollment deadlines beyond the traditional May 1 date.

For years, students, families, college guidance and admissions professionals and researchers have known that the FAFSA was too complicated, lengthy and daunting, causing many qualified students to skip filling out the form and miss out on the aid they’re entitled to. In 2020, Congress ordered the Department of Education to overhaul the form by asking fewer questions and relying on technology to obtain key information already gathered by other federal agencies, such as the I.R.S.

Congress provided no additional funds to help roll out a new FAFSA. At the same time, Federal Student Aid, the office in the Department of Education responsible for the FAFSA, was working to revamp the student lending system while creating numerous new loan forgiveness efforts, including the expansive plan that was ultimately blocked by the Supreme Court last summer. Big ambitions and limited resources most likely contributed to the problems we’re seeing now.

Given these challenges, Congress granted the department an extra year to pull off this huge system overhaul. But even with a three-year development runway, when the 2024-25 FAFSA finally “soft launched” nearly three months later than usual on Dec. 30, 2023, it did so with very limited availability: less than an hour a day for the first couple of days. While the form is now available 24/7 and more than three million students have been able to complete it, some applicants in special family circumstances and those who make simple mistakes on the form still cannot log back in to correct and resubmit.

Moving forward, the Department of Education must meet its own timelines, putting aside blame and finger-pointing to provide the higher education community with better, continuing and more proactive communication about the FAFSA rollout. Colleges, financial aid offices, high school guidance counselors and millions of students simply cannot make plans around last-minute delays and surprises.

The responsibility to make sure that students and families get the information they need, when they need it, in time to make educated decisions about college cannot be delayed.

Justin Draeger is president and C.E.O. of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. Ted Mitchell is president of the American Council on Education and a former U.S. under secretary of education.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

Follow the New York Times Opinion section on Facebook , Instagram , TikTok , X and Threads .

a college essay about dance

Central College Athletics

dance team champions

General Information February 18, 2024

Central repeats as conference dance team champs

Squad sweeps jazz, hip-hop and pom divisions to roll to overall crown; three are all-conference.

All-conference dance team

Thanks for visiting !

The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy.

We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here.

Thank you for your support!

Her dance videos get millions of Insta views. Here's why she opened a North Jersey studio

a college essay about dance

Christina D’Adamo started dancing when she was four and she hasn't stopped turning since.

"I adore the way it makes me feel," she says. "The movement allows so many people to express themselves in ways that words cannot."

After years of training and competition, D’Adamo started teaching dance at a studio in Mahwah in 2019. But when that studio closed abruptly in 2023, D’Adamo had a decision to make.

D’Adamo had just graduated college and had plans to go to law school. But the chance to own her own studio was too good to pass up. "I ran with the opportunity at full speed and I am thankful that I did."

"I was very close with the previous owner," she says. "I was a dance teacher, but I also helped with the business end of things."

Although she had discussions about taking over one day, the time crunch with the upcoming competition schedule forced her to make a quick decision.

"We were going to the World Dance Championship the last week of July," she says. "If I didn't open by July 5, the girls wouldn't have been able to compete since all dancers need to be registered with a dance studio."

In addition to running Christina Dadamo Dance Academy, you can catch D’Adamo showing off her moves on Instagram — where she recently passed 100,000 followers and her videos get millions of views — and modeling, including New York-based dance company Capezio.

You started dancing at a young age. Where did you train?

I trained at a studio in Rockland County. Although it gave me a strong technical foundation, it made it extremely difficult for me to have confidence in myself as a dancer. I was constantly being doubted and put down by many instructors, which made me quickly question my capabilities and purpose in a sport I thought I loved so much. When that studio closed, my mom pushed me to find a new studio and amidst the fear of being in my junior year of high school and starting fresh in a brand new place, I decided to join Robyn Dangelo School of Dance in Wyckoff. That change made me fall in love with dance and made me feel so valued. I was not only encouraged daily but given so many amazing opportunities that have turned into memories I will never forget. I would not be where I am as a dancer without that positive teaching environment. I competed there and placed first at many competitions and won Worlds with that team in 2019, my last competition as a senior. 

What can you tell me about your time at Ramapo College?

After graduating high school in 2019, I went to Ramapo College where I studied pre-law and crime and justice studies. I fell in love with most of my classes and knew I had chosen the right major. This past May I graduated Summa Cum Laude and won the senior thesis award at the college. Almost immediately after graduating, however, I had an unexpected business opportunity to buy the dance studio where I was currently working.

It would be a lie to say I logically weighed my decision to become a business owner. I have always been an overthinker who enjoys weighing every option and carefully considering every choice I make. Therefore it was out of character for me to jump into owning my own company with no business experience with only three days' notice. My heart told me to do it without thinking. I ran full speed ahead and I have no regrets. It was the best decision I’ve ever made. 

Tell me about Christina Dadamo Dance Academy.

I’ve always had hopes of owning a studio but never thought it would happen so quickly. The studio is already a big success, growing more and more every day. With students ages 2-18+ and classes for every style and level, I am so proud of how far we’ve come in just six months of being open.

My mom and dad are my biggest supporters. I could not have done it without them, not only being great parents but also pushing me to be the best version of myself and seeing more in me than I have in myself. It was also an honor to be nominated and make it to the finals of this year's (201) Best of Bergen Community Choice Awards for the category of Best Dance School!

You also model. What brands have you worked with?

Being a social media influencer, I have partnered with around 1,500 brands. However, it was my dream to be able to get an opportunity to model for Capezio, one of the largest dance manufacturing brands. I was able to make that dream come true last year. 

How did you build your large social media following?

I started posting about two years ago. It started with some videos of myself turning or executing different dance moves, and before I knew it, my videos were getting millions of views and lots of public attention. My advice for anyone looking to start a social media account would be to post consistently, be true to yourself and your audience, and don’t take it too seriously. I believe social media is a gift and a curse at times, but is an amazing outlet to showcase talents and connect with the world. 

What does a typical day in your week look like?

I typically wake up a little later in the day, considering this is my first time not having to go to school. Our classes usually start around 3 p.m. when the kids get out of school. I will always try to get some office work done in the morning, such as planning for the business, ordering costumes, choreographing pieces and answering emails. Then I will switch over to working on some social media content. Whether that is filming, answering brand deals, or working on my partnerships. After that, it’s time for classes to start. I typically teach from 3 p.m. to around 9 p.m. By the time that is done, I’ll eat dinner, work on some more things for the business and repeat. 

What’s next?

Right now I’m super focused on my new business and am excited to build it up more and more over time. I can't wait to see where this new journey takes me.

Get to know Christina D’Adamo

  • Online: @Christina_dadamo_; @christina_dadamo_dance_academy; christinadadamodanceacademy.com
  • Born and raised in Suffern, N.Y.
  • Education: Ramapo College of New Jersey, class of '23 
  • Recognition & Awards: Graduated summa cum laude, won the World Dance Championship in 2019 with Wyckoff's Robyn Dangelo School of Dance; 1st place soloist at multiple regional and national dance competitions 
  • Future Aspirations: To grow as a person and grow my business. I can’t wait to attend local competitions with my team this coming season and hopefully make it to Worlds.

IMAGES

  1. Persuasive Essay On Dance

    a college essay about dance

  2. 😱 Dance college essay. Dance Essay Examples. 2022-10-17

    a college essay about dance

  3. Essay about Dance Critique Free Essay Example

    a college essay about dance

  4. Write an essay on music and dance in english

    a college essay about dance

  5. What Is Aerobic Dance Essay Example

    a college essay about dance

  6. 005 Essay Example Dance Essays On Danceconcert Critique Examples L

    a college essay about dance

VIDEO

  1. College performance 🤍 #dance #trending #youtubeshorts

  2. IMPROVE Your College Essay With These 30-SECOND Fixes

  3. College dance😂 #dance #ytviral #nagarajofficial89 #yashudarling #collegelife #viral #shorts

  4. #youtube

  5. College Students Rocking Performance in Campus

  6. College Day Dance Performance

COMMENTS

  1. How to Incorporate Your Dance Experience in Your College Essays

    That's problem-solving!". Brainstorm the skills you've built onstage and in rehearsals, and use your essay to prove how those experiences have prepared you for a successful college career—in or out of the studio. Dance Spirit with the title "Essay All Day.". Of the many moving parts of a college application, the essay might be the ...

  2. Essay on Dance in English for Students

    Essay on Dance 500 Words Essay On Dance Dancer refers to a series of set of movement to music which we can either do alone or with a partner. Dancing helps us express our feelings and get active as well. If we look back at history, dance has been a part of our human history since the earliest records.

  3. College Essay: Freedom Through Dance

    College Essay: Freedom Through Dance September 2023 Sydney Baudin College Essay, Summer Camp, Voices Sydney Baudin I watched my dancers walk out from the wings, wearing the white costumes we carefully picked out, and onto the brightly lit stage, presenting themselves to the audience that was concealed by shadows.

  4. Dance with Confidence: Embracing the Joy of Movement [Admission Essay

    There are many college essays about dance, but my will be the most non-trivial one. Welcome to Dancing for Terrible Dancers 101, taught by me, the world's worst dancer. Nope, this isn't an oxymoron; it's just me sharing what I've learned after finally coming to terms with the fact that I'm a terrible dancer.

  5. Dance College Essay Examples That Really Inspire

    Dance College Essays Samples For Students 395 samples of this type If you're seeking an applicable method to simplify writing a College Essay about Dance, WowEssays.com paper writing service just might be able to help you out.

  6. 149 Dance Topic Ideas to Write about & Essay Samples

    149 Dance Topics & Essay Examples Updated: Oct 26th, 2023 13 min Whether you're writing about the importance of dance, modern choreography, or weight loss benefits of dancing as a hobby, we can help. In this article, our team came up with some ideas of what to cover in your paper. We will write

  7. Essays on Dance

    1 About Dance Passion as Important Part of My Life 1 page / 509 words In this essay about dance passion, I will discuss the role of dancing in my life. Dancing has been a special part of my life since I was a little girl. I always loved dancing because it cheerfully fills my heart. Dance is a unique... Dance Recreation and Sports 2

  8. Free Dance Essay Examples & Topic Ideas

    85 Best Essay Examples on Dance Benefits of Dancing Essay 4 Dance is an art that refers to the movement of part of the body, some of the parts or the whole body while keeping rhythmical to music. Pages: 2 Words: 607 What Is Dance: Definition and Genres 3.7

  9. Dance: Lessons in Confidence and Perseverance

    Dance: Lessons in Confidence and Perseverance University: University of Rhode Island Words: 561 | Pages: 1 | 3 min read Published: Jul 18, 2018 I dreamt of the crowd in the darkness, a single spotlight shining down on me as I graced the stage with my movement, a sparkling array of costumes, and the feeling of soothing, crisp air.

  10. College Admissions Essay: How Dance Changed My Life

    College Admissions Essay: How Dance Changed My Life Satisfactory Essays 443 Words 2 Pages Open Document Dance is one of the major things that defines my identity and it is an interest that had become so meaningful, that without it my application would be incomplete.

  11. College Admissions Essay: The Art Of Dance

    College Admissions Essay: The Art Of Dance 811 Words 4 Pages My whole life has been of dirty mirrors, old ballet shoes, and ripped tights. I was 5 years old and a beginner at a dance academy. I didn't quite know what dance was when I got in, I thought it was just a place to spend time in and just enjoy the music they played.

  12. How Competitive Dance Can Give Your College Applications an Edge

    The type of dance you pursue does not determine whether or not it qualifies as an extracurricular activity. Instead, the extent to which you pursue it, the amount of time you spend on it, the regularity with which you participate, and your passion for it are the real factors that will determine its importance on a college application.

  13. The Power of Dance: How Dance Effects Mental and Emotional Health and

    Dance has taken form in several settings, all of which elicited powerful effects: live performance, parties, clubs, competition, religious ceremonies, and dance classes. In this study, dance took form in organized classes, formally taught by an instructor, in the style of a particular genre, involving technique, choreography, and improvisation. All

  14. Translating Your Ballet Experience Into a Meaningful College Admissions

    July 10, 2023 If you're hoping to major or minor in dance, crafting a stellar college application essay is an important part of that journey. But how can you write about your passion for ballet in a way that is meaningful to college admissions professionals—many of whom may not be dancers or artists themselves?

  15. Sophie Rego Class Of 21

    My Dance College Essay- Sophie Rego, class of '21 I have always had big dreams but felt too trapped by my own insecurities to let the fire in me escape. The day I became a dancer changed that forever. I took my first dance class at the age of twelve, while most of my peers had started lessons as soon as they could walk.

  16. 27 Outstanding College Essay Examples From Top Universities 2023

    This college essay tip is by Abigail McFee, Admissions Counselor for Tufts University and Tufts '17 graduate. 2. Write like a journalist. "Don't bury the lede!" The first few sentences must capture the reader's attention, provide a gist of the story, and give a sense of where the essay is heading.

  17. Dancing College Essay Examples That Really Inspire

    Dancing College Essays Samples For Students 136 samples of this type No matter how high you rate your writing skills, it's always a worthy idea to check out a competently written College Essay example, especially when you're handling a sophisticated Dancing topic.

  18. The Nature Of Dance

    Movement as Dance. 914 words | 4 page (s) Dance remains one of the most versatile and beautiful creations of human beings. While the definition, as discussed below, may vary among different people, there are several attributes of dance that are correlated and that we cannot ignore. This paper will be discussing the various viewpoints on dance.

  19. College Essay About Dance

    787 Words 4 Pages Open Document Analyze This Draft College Essay About Dance View Writing Issues File Edit Tools Settings Filter Results Many people value dance in a different way. When I say the word "dance", I do not mean the jumping up and down at a party; I mean ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary and the many other styles in this world.

  20. College Admissions Essay: How Dance Influenced My Life

    College Admissions Essay: How Music Changed My Life. Throughout my life there has been a greater emphasis on music and artistic talents rather than on physical attributes. I am not athletically inclined in the slightest, but music comes naturally and a love for it grew from my first and only piano teacher. She threw me my most secure life line ...

  21. Dance Essay Examples

    Dance Essay Examples - Sample College Essays Best Dance Essay Examples Samples Dance Let's Make Your Essay Go Away Dance Essay Examples "Sleeping Beauty" Ballet Reflection Sleeping Beauty is a classic tale, made most popular in its Disney animated version but also acclaimed on stage.

  22. College Essay About Dance

    454 Words 2 Pages Open Document Essay Sample Check Writing Quality Show More A lot of people have talents or skills. One of one my talents or skills is dance. My favorite types of dance is lyrical and ballet, I have class every Monday, and a recital every year. I like lyrical and ballet because they push your body to the limits.

  23. College Admission Essay: Dance

    College Admission Essay: Dance View Writing Issues File Tools Settings Filter Results As I walked through the doors, entering the studio, I set my bag down and took a deep breath that created a moment of relief and peace.

  24. Student Voices

    Editor's note: This essay is the first in a series of essays by local students about how they're preparing for their futures and finding challenges and joy in the process. Learn more about ...

  25. Literacy crisis in college students: Essay from a professor on students

    As a college educator, I am confronted daily with the results of that conspiracy-without-conspirators. I have been teaching in small liberal arts colleges for over 15 years now, and in the past ...

  26. Opinion

    Each year, more than 17 million students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, hoping to secure the financial support they need to afford college. But this year ...

  27. Central repeats as conference dance team champs

    WAVERLY—For the second consecutive year, Central College took the overall dance title at the American Rivers Cheer and Dance Championsips. Central swept the pom, jazz and hip-hop divisions in rolling to the crown. The champion is determined by averaging scores from the pom and jazz routines.

  28. Christina Dadamo Dance Academy: Here's how she almost didn't open

    After graduating high school in 2019, I went to Ramapo College where I studied pre-law and crime and justice studies. I fell in love with most of my classes and knew I had chosen the right major.