Professional Semester

Broadway Dance Center, the ultimate home for professional dancers in New York City, is proud to present The Professional Semester at BDC, an exciting new program designed for the aspiring professional dancer.

This four-month course is the ideal option for well-trained dancers looking to launch their professional careers. Whether you are a graduate of a university dance program, a current student looking to spend a semester dancing in the field, a recent high school graduate hoping to broach the dance industry, or a currently working professional looking for an intensive course to hone your skills, The Professional Semester offers the pragmatic coursework you need to establish yourself as a working dancer.

Our comprehensive syllabus includes multi-disciplinary technique classes, practical seminars to educate you on the industry, mock auditions to provide real-world experience, and numerous networking opportunities to secure your footing as a working artist.

We encourage you to apply for this elite program that will transform you from dance student to dance professional.

Check out the successes of previous Professional Semester dancers:

Corey O'BrienCorey O’Brien
Corey’s graduating the program with an offer to dance on a prestigious cruise liner – a great gig for a young dancer. Corey tells us that the audition panel congratulated him on his professionally prepared résumé, a skill he’d learned during the program! Smooth seas to you, Corey!		 Emily CookEmily Cook
During their orientation week the students of our Fall 2010 had the opportunity to attend a closed audition here at BDC to dance for Madonna at her clothing line launch, and Emily was selected! She was also picked from our students to appear in Dance Spirit magazine during her program. She’s also landed a role in the international tour of The Music Man, and she just got engaged, too! Congratulations to Emily.
Rachel SpadaforaRachel Spadafora
During the program we were able to invite our students to a closed audition for Kanye West, and Rachel was chosen to dance with the megastar on Saturday Night Live. She was also picked to be a featured “bride” for a photo shoot with Bride magazine. Great work, Rachel!		 Stacey SherieStacey Sherie
As a result of being seen at the closing mock audition and at the holiday showcase, Stacey was offered representation with not one but TWO dance agencies. Congrats, Stacey!

Program Information

BDC has sought the input of countless industry professionals in crafting this powerful program. The seminars, master classes, mock auditions, performance opportunities, and faculty mentoring are designed to maximize your time at BDC and offer you every tool and skill you’ll need to succeed.

Below we’ve listed some of the elements that make up this remarkable course.

  • Fall and Spring Terms, starting Fall 2010 Kelli
    For Summer training, please consider our Summer Intern Program
  • Program also includes weekly seminar, master class, mock audition, or concentration-based closed class. These classes are held on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings from 9-10:30am; should you be accepted please plan to leave these times open.
  • Concentrated week of Orientation activities, including Placement Class with Faculty Panel, Injury Prevention Seminar, and more
  • Students take twelve classes weekly from our incomparable schedule of over 250 weekly classes
  • Weekly seminars addressing every aspect of professionalism
  • Master classes and mock auditions, including singing and acting training, commercial and video training and more
  • Networking opportunities with multiple dance agencies, casting agents, and faculty members
  • Performance opportunities
  • By audition, some students will have the opportunity to assist the Radio City Rockettes
  • Free rehearsal space
  • Faculty Mentoring
  • Individual schedule advising
  • Program concludes with showcase finale at local Manhattan theater for an audience including NYC dance industry professionals
  • Students should also ensure that they have adequate financial resources to support their studies during the semester – please defer your application to the following semester if you need more time to amass these funds.

Application Procedure

BDC offers rolling admissions. You will be notified of acceptance within three weeks after receipt of your completed application.

Age limits: 18-27

Each application packet must be submitted with the following materials — incomplete applications will not be considered:

  1. Completed application form including short-answer essay questions
    (Download the application form here)
    Travis
  2. Dance résumé
  3. Work résumé
  4. Two letters of recommendation
  5. Headshot or portrait photo
  6. Personal Statement of 50 words or less
  7. Two minute DVD recording or YouTube URL (please email link to ProSemester@bwydance.com). While BDC is proud to honor various disciplines, ballet is a required component of the course — please demonstrate your technical training or aptitude by displaying one minute of straightforward center ballet-based work (tombé, pas de bourré, glissade, assemblé, tendu fourth, pirouette, land fourth; and a grand jeté or saut de chat for example). The second minute should display your best personal style.
  8. $50 Application Fee payable to Broadway Dance Center (check, money order, Visa or MasterCard)

Please submit all forms and payment to:
By postal mail:

Broadway Dance Center
Attn: Professional Semester
322 West 45th Street, 3rd Floor
New York, New York 10036, USA

By Email:
Scan and email all documents to ProSemester@bwydance.com. Program coordinators will notify you via email upon receipt of your application — please write valid email address clearly on application form.

Tuition

Tuition for The Professional Semester is $3,475, which includes all classes, seminars, Master Classes, performance opportunities, and counseling sessions.

In order to succeed in the program, students must arrive with the necessary funds to support their living expenses during the semester. Part-time work is acceptable but we strongly advise against trying to work full-time while participating in the program.

If you choose to take additional classes beyond your mandatory 12 per week, you may do so at a reduced class rate, or may extend your work hours in exchange for discounted classes.

Once you are accepted into the program, a deposit of $1737.50 (half tuition) is due within 30 days of acceptance to secure your spot: the balance is due upon starting the program.

There are no refunds once you have begun the program.

Additional Information

While we cannot provide housing during your stay, we are happy to suggest reliable and safe ways of securing accommodation – please email ProSemester@bwydance.com for information.

In some cases the BDC Professional Semester may be accepted for college credit – please contact us for a list of universities that grant credit for the program, or speak to the Dance Department representative at your school.

This program is only available for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens (Green Card holders).
International Students, please consider our International Student Visa Program (ISVP).

 

Program News

dsFall 2010 Pro Semester Student Emily Cook appears in the December issue of Dance Spirit Magazine!

 

Emily Cook