Yes, you can. From our department website: “The B.A. in Dance thoroughly integrates learning to dance, learning to make dances, and critical interrogation of dance as a cultural practice.”

What this means relative to the audition, is that the major has a vast conception of what it means to dance and move, and deeply considers context, history, and culture. Our program is particularly sought by people who dance outside of class, which includes and embraces movement learned and done in social, cultural, and/or community settings.

Currently, the Dance major at UCLA has decided that all-video auditions for the supplemental evaluation is the most student-centered solution for the time being. Here is the area’s reasoning, in no particular order:

All-video auditions are the most accessible for the greatest number of students. As a public institution, we strive to remove as many barriers as we can to quality arts education, and video applications solve for financial, logistical, and health barriers for students who for those and other reasons, would struggle to attend a live audition.

During the Fall 2021 and 2022 cycles which were all remote due to COVID, the faculty found that seeing video audition material in the same moment as an applicant’s academic record and supplemental essays specific to dance and their interest in the program, felt more holistic to them and allowed them to more accurately assess a good fit for the curriculum from a diversity of artistic and academic angles. Additionally, seeing all of the applicants with the exact same admission content and presentation contributed to greater equity in the review, and reduced fatigue and concerns of implicit bias on the part of the reviewers because they had more time to evaluate.

The Dance faculty acknowledge that there is a perception in the performing arts around attending a live audition as an indication that you are “serious” about applying here, and that if you don’t attend a live audition, that somehow means you are less serious. We do not wish to create this assumption around our programs— if you apply, then we consider you to be a serious applicant. We also know that we are a highly selective program, with far more applicants than we have space for, and we want to be transparent about what we value in the admission process; showing up in person isn’t one of those things.

This was not an easy choice to make, as we all truly love to see talented, passionate, inspired young people in person, doing what they do best. And we also want to take any and all opportunities we can to be a part of positive change, hopefully make the admission process less burdensome for students, and enable the department to run an equitable, respectful, and comprehensive evaluation.

The Dance area supplemental review includes faculty, graduate/PhD candidates, and alumni to ensure a diversity of perspectives.

The Department Statement is where we learn the most about you as an artist citizen. We do also read the UC PIQs that you submitted with your general application, but your Department Statement for the Dance major is where you can communicate directly with the Dance evaluators with a shared vocabulary.

The Multimedia Self Portrait is place to introduce your creative identity more broadly. Assessment of artistic skill isn't the goal here, but to know more about our applicants' interests, aesthetics, and creative conversations. In the past, our applicants have shown film montages, photography, music, additional dance/movement that doesn't quite fit into the Choreo and Movement categories (ex. performance art), visual arts (ex. Painting/drawing), sculpture, costume design, makeup, set design, poetry, creative writing, etc. What you wish to share is entirely up to you. 

For the Choreography and Movement videos, they get their own section below...

Here are some past evaluator impressions and advice about the required Choreography and Movement videos:

Any surprises or even advantages to reviewing virtually?

“The most surprising experiences for me were the locations applicants chose for their two video clips. As a reviewer, I feel that I was invited into the "space" of the applicant's broader dancing "world." The video allowed me to get into a “visual” context of the applicant, which might be lacking in an in-person audition.”

“I preferred the virtual from the point of view of being able to see each student clearly.”

“It gives you more time to form your opinion; less rushed. And although we prefer meeting you in person in live auditions, we have found that our remote admissions process has been very successful and equitable.”

Differentiate between the two videos:

“Be particular about what you are showing in each of your videos. Try and differentiate clearly between the choreographic video and the movement video.”

“We want to see your range of skills, so it is best if you use both videos to highlight your different capabilities.”

“For the movement clip: we are looking for diverse movement approaches and experiences and applicants that focus on the body in the flow of movement engagement rather than showing off proficiency of a particular dance technique.”

“For the choreography clip: you can utilize the skills you possess in a particular technique but also try and go beyond those structures. Show us that you can create individuated pathways of movement expression.”

Stay within the allotted time limit:

“You can do a lot with the time given. We want to see your creativity and ability to think outside of the box, but within the time frame we give you. Remember, limitation begets creativity. You can fulfill the prompt in many creative ways.”

“Staying within the time guidelines tells us a lot about your basic understanding of how to follow directions and stick to a prompt.”

Other things to consider:

“I look for range, honesty, and confidence. In this context, I think of honesty as vulnerability and confidence as a mover and performer.”

“Does what you are presenting feel true to you? Are you showing a range of movement qualities? What are you curious and passionate about? Can you show us through movement?”

“We consider the movement you present to us. If you can incorporate elements of the space you are in, we are curious to see it. But ultimately, your facility for movement and composition can speak for you.”

“We are on your side and rooting for you as panelists. We want you to succeed and thrive. What would it be like to include any or all of these qualities into your audition? Curiosity, passion, confidence, focus, abandon, control, chaos, discipline, consideration, hunger, joy, grief, excitement, honor, bravery, fear, humor, mischief, surprise! Surprise yourself and you will probably surprise us :)”

We only have the major. If you would like to take classes in the Dance area, that is on a case-by-case basis by instructor consent (more about how to take classes as a non-major here). There are also many non-credit opportunities for dance through our student groups, and recreation classes.

Every year some of our applicants have injuries that make it difficult for them to dance to their fullest potential for the audition.

On behalf of the UCLA Dance community, we all understand how frustrating it is to be injured heading into any audition process, when the timeline is so short and is so consequential.

As far as UCLA Dance is concerned, we all encourage you to prioritize your long-term health. We have always taken the position that your ability to dance and move for as long as you can should be your focus. All of us know that pushing through on injuries can contribute to greater and more long-term damage, which would also affect your ability to dance far beyond this brief moment of college auditions. Taking the time to heal properly now is worth that investment.

If you have videos taken before your injury, you are welcome to use those for the supplement, and explain briefly in the application that they were not videos prepared specifically for the audition process, due to your being injured. You know your dancing best. How your current available media documentation lines up with the Choreography and Movement aspects of the video audition is going to be a place where you select the best fit.

Also remember, that your current ability to move your body is not everything that we are considering: your writing, academics, and community engagement are all important to us as well, so there are still many places within the application where other stars in your constellation can shine brightly.

We trust you and wish you the very best for your recovery.

The UCLA Department of World Arts and Cultures/Dance’s Hip Hop/Street Dance Summer Institute has no bearing on the formal admission process to the Dance major at UCLA. The department created this program for students who love Hip Hop dance and want to take their technical abilities to the next level.

There is no connection between the Dance major and the Spirit Squad. Both involve dance, but the scope, skills, and time commitments are completely distinct.

If you find that your interests in dance are primarily competition/industry, we invite you to look at the learning outcomes and course descriptions for the Dance major and see if they resonate with you.

If you are interested in the Dance major and also being on the Spirit Squad, we want to be upfront about the challenges you will encounter. Being on the Spirit Squad is essentially student-athlete status that requires at least 15-20 hours of time per week, including travel to away games. The Dance major also requires in-person attendance and long rehearsal hours. Because of scheduling incompatibility, virtually all students end up having to choose one over the other.

Here is more information about the Spirit Squad.