Auditions in Dance

Important Dates

UC Irvine Undergraduate Application Period: October 1 – November 30, 2026

Prescreen Audition Deadline: December 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time

Prescreen Results Released By: January 8, 2027

In-Person Audition Dates (by invitation only):

• Saturday, January 23, 2027
• Saturday, February 6, 2027

To apply for admission to the UC Irvine Department of Dance, first visit the UC Irvine Admissions website for complete details on application procedures and fees. You must submit your University of California application by November 30, 2026.

In addition to submitting your UC application, all applicants must complete a required prescreen audition to be considered for admission to the Dance major.

Incoming First-Year Students

As well as satisfying University of California subject requirements for undergraduate admission (consult the UCI General Catalogue for details), applicants to the Department of Dance must demonstrate technical accomplishment and creative promise.

Students are encouraged to develop abilities in one or more dance techniques, including ballet, modern/contemporary, jazz, hip-hop, and ethnic dance forms.

Applicants must successfully complete the prescreen audition process and, if selected, participate in an in-person audition during Winter Quarter prior to admission to the Dance major.

Additionally, all incoming Dance majors must complete placement examinations for selected techniques during Welcome Week.

See the UCI General Catalogue for curriculum details.

Transfer Students

Ideal lower-division preparation for transfer consists of coursework that blends University of California admission requirements, degree requirements of the school and major of your choice, and the general education plan best suited to your interests and goals.

We recommend that transfer students:

• Satisfy University of California transfer admission requirements.
• Complete as much general education coursework as possible, including IGETC if transferring from a California community college.
• Complete lower-division preparation including:
  • One year of English composition
  • Basic training in ballet, jazz, and modern dance

Consider additional coursework in:

• Music for dancers
• Injury prevention
• Improvisation and choreography
• Dance history

All transfer applicants must submit a prescreen audition and, if invited, attend an in-person audition during the winter prior to admission. Following admission, transfer students must also participate in placement auditions for selected techniques during Welcome Week. Placement results may affect the minimum time required to complete departmental degree requirements.

To ensure appropriate transfer preparation, work closely with your current college counselor or contact the UCI Office of Admissions.

Prescreen Auditions

All Dance applicants are required to submit a prescreen audition via prerecorded video. Applicants who successfully pass the prescreen audition will be invited to participate in a second-round, in-person audition at UC Irvine.

Submission Instructions

Review the prescreen audition instructions below.

Video: Submit one continuous video that includes all sections. See the Video Requirements section below for detailed instructions.

Location: Choose a well-lit dance studio or open room with safe flooring.

Genre Order: Introduction, Jazz, Ballet, Hip-Hop, Modern/Contemporary.

Hosting: Upload to YouTube or Vimeo and submit the link via Slate.

Access: The video must be public or unlisted. Do not require a password.

Length: Total duration must not exceed 3 minutes.

Deadline: Submissions are due by December 15, 2026. No exceptions.

If we are unable to access your video, your prescreen audition will be considered incomplete and cannot be reviewed.

Dress and Footwear by Genre

Jazz

• Fitted dance clothes
• Shoes: bare feet or soft-soled jazz shoes

Ballet

• Solid-colored leotard and tights, or unitard
• Tights must be full length (no shorts or skirts)
• Shoes: ballet slippers

Hip-Hop

• Free choice of typical Hip-Hop genre attire
• Please do not wear clothing with any labels, pictures, or slogans
• Shoes: sneakers

Modern/Contemporary

• Fitted dance clothes
• Shoes: bare feet or socks

Late videos will not be accepted. No exceptions.

Video Requirements

1. Introduction (no more than 30 seconds)

A. State your full name.

B. State your entering class (First-Year or Transfer).

C. Answer:

"What specifically draws you to the UC Irvine Department of Dance, and how does it align with your goals as an artist?"

2. Technique Section

Frame the video so that the full body is clearly visible in a well-lit space with a clean, unobtrusive background. See dress and footwear requirements listed above.

Jazz

A. Demonstrate a combination in any jazz style for 30 seconds. Include rhythmic syncopation and traveling through space; any turns should be done in a bent-knee plié position.

Ballet

A. Demonstrate ballet skills for 30 seconds. Include each item below:

a. Développé à la seconde and first arabesque (side and back leg extensions)

b. Double pirouette both en dehors and en dedans from fourth position (turns on one leg)

c. Petite allegro including jeté, glissade, and assemblé (small jumps)

Hip-Hop

A. Demonstrate a combination in any Hip-Hop style for 30 seconds. Include body isolations and footwork.

Modern/Contemporary

A. Demonstrate a combination in any modern/contemporary style for 30 seconds. Include movement activating the spine, upper body drop swings, and a roll into and out of the floor.

Next Steps

Submit your prescreen audition by December 15, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.

No other materials, including resumes, photos, or letters of recommendation, are required or accepted.

Applicants will receive notification of their prescreen audition results no later than January 8, 2027.

Applicants selected to advance to the in-person audition will be invited to register for one of the following in-person audition dates:

• Saturday, January 23, 2027
• Saturday, February 6, 2027

Questions: Please reach out to dance@uci.edu.

In-Person Audition Process

Applicants who advance through the prescreen audition will be invited to attend one in-person audition date at the University of California, Irvine.

UC Irvine is committed to the health and well-being of all faculty, students, and visitors. The Department of Dance highly advises all participants to refrain from making travel arrangements until they have received confirmation of advancement to the in-person audition stage. The Department of Dance will not be responsible for travel cancellations or related expenses.

Applicants invited to the second-round audition must attend one of the following dates:

• Saturday, January 23, 2027
• Saturday, February 6, 2027

Auditions will be conducted in person. Participants are expected to be available for the entire day; no exceptions or accommodations will be made. All applicants must participate in all portions of the audition in order to be considered. Breaks will be staggered throughout the day. Dancers are encouraged to bring their own snacks, meals, and water.

Dress and Footwear by Genre

Jazz

• Fitted dance clothes
• Shoes: bare feet or soft-soled jazz shoes

Ballet

• Solid-colored leotard and tights, or unitard
• Tights must be full length (no shorts or skirts)
• Shoes: ballet slippers

Hip-Hop

• Free choice of typical Hip-Hop genre attire
• Please do not wear clothing with any labels, pictures, or slogans
• Shoes: sneakers

Modern/Contemporary

• Fitted dance clothes
• Shoes: bare feet or socks

Post-Audition Zoom Q&A Sessions

Prospective students are invited to attend a post-audition Zoom Q&A session to ask questions and learn more about the program.

Session Dates & Times

February 17, 2027 | 8:00 PM

Zoom Link: https://uci.zoom.us/j/3453242546

March 31, 2027 | 8:00 PM

Zoom Link: https://uci.zoom.us/j/3453242546

For additional questions, please contact us at dance@uci.edu.

Graduate Application Deadline: December 1, 2026

Audition Date: February 26, 2027

Applicants for admission to the M.F.A. in Dance must meet the general requirements for admission to graduate studies and hold a bachelor's degree (B.A. or B.F.A. in Dance preferred) or equivalent. A minimum undergraduate grade point average of at least a B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) is required. Admission to the Dance M.F.A. is for Fall quarter only.

Apply online through the UCI Graduate Division by December 1, 2026. All application materials, including transcripts and letters of reference, must be received by this date. The Department of Dance requires additional materials for admission to the graduate program, which must also be submitted by December 1, 2026. See below. Auditions will be held in person on Friday, February 26, 2027, by invitation only.

Graduate students are also eligible to apply for various department, school, and campus-wide scholarship opportunities.

If you have questions, please contact the Department of Dance at DanceMFA@uci.edu.

Additional Admission Requirements, Procedures, and Deadlines

1. Choreography/Performance Reel (Mandatory) and Work Links (Recommended)

In addition to the online application, applicants are required to create a choreography/performance reel of up to three minutes in length, which may consist of a single excerpt or multiple excerpts of work. The reel must be submitted electronically to the department no later than December 1, 2026.

Upload your reel to Vimeo, YouTube, or Google Drive and email the link, along with any required password, to DanceMFA@uci.edu.

Your reel should contain only the choreography and/or performance material, with no introductory credits or need to cue the video. In addition to the required reel, applicants may provide up to three additional links to full works from their choreographic or performance portfolio. Please list these separately in your email.

Choreography and performance across all dance genres and aesthetics are celebrated and welcomed.

2. Invitation to Live Audition

Once all application materials have been reviewed, qualified applicants will be invited to a live audition and interview with the faculty.

Invited applicants will be notified by the end of January 2027. Please do not make travel arrangements until you have received an official invitation to audition.

3. International Students

Please review the Important Information for International Applicants to the M.F.A. in Dance.

To be employed as an Academic Student Employee (ASE), students must demonstrate proficiency in spoken English through an approved oral English proficiency examination. The TOEFL iBT includes an oral English proficiency component.

Applicants are encouraged to take the exam early in the fall so that scores are received by the Department of Dance by the application deadline. Applicants must meet UCI's minimum score requirements for admission consideration. Applicants whose scores do not meet the university's requirements by the department deadline will not be considered for admission.

International students should contact the Graduate Division with any questions regarding English proficiency requirements or admission procedures.