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Dance
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Application & Audition Requirements

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About this Program

Overview

The 4-year undergraduate Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree program trains dancers in ballet, modern and contemporary techniques. The program also includes a liberal arts curriculum.

Dancers applying for entrance in fall 2025 must submit prescreening videos. Dancers who receive favorable prescreening results must participate in a callback audition in order to be considered for admission.

The Dance Division typically accepts 18-26 students per year.

For more detailed information about the program, please visit the Dance Division webpage.

Eligibility

In order to be admitted as a Bachelor of Fine Arts student, you must:

  • Possess a high school diploma or its equivalent by the time you enroll
  • Have a minimum of three years of prior training in ballet and modern or contemporary dance
  • Currently be training for a minimum of 10 hours per week
  • Reach the age of 17 by the time you matriculate at Juilliard

If you apply to this degree program and are denied admission, you may apply again. After two unsuccessful attempts, you are no longer eligible to apply.

Academic Requirements

In most cases, the Juilliard School requires no specific courses, GPAs, standardized test scores, or class rankings for entry to this program. 

However, we will carefully evaluate your academic record and required essay to make sure you have the scholastic competence necessary to succeed in college-level coursework. 

There are specific requirements for:

Criteria for Acceptance

  • A serious commitment to dance training and a career in dance performance
  • Talent and potential as a performer, including a vivid imagination, courage, and emotional accessibility
  • An articulate body promising significant development in dance
  • Demonstrated musicality
  • A willingness to re-evaluate technique and explore new approaches to training
  • A high level and quality of training
  • The ability to work as a part of an ensemble including: the strength and sensitivity necessary to partner/be partnered, the ability to work openly and honestly with other dancers, the ability to be flexible in the artistic process with choreographers, directors, or rehearsal assistants

BCJ Program

Juilliard has a program with Barnard College and Columbia University that allows you to enroll in one course per semester at either institution during your third and fourth years to satisfy your liberal arts requirements. More information is available on the Cross-Registration Programs page.

Application Timeline

Application Timeline

Applications to the College Division open on September 1 each year for enrollment the following fall. Please note the various deadlines for individual materials below.

Application RequirementReceived-by Deadline
Online Application with Essay(s)December 3
Application Fee ($USD) or Fee WaiverDecember 3
Prescreening MaterialsDecember 3
SAT/ACT Scores (homeschooled applicants only)December 3
Recommender InformationDecember 3
Recommendations ReceivedDecember 15
Proof of English Language ProficiencyDecember 15
Request for ADA audition accommodationsJanuary 15
Prescreening Results NotificationDecember 20
TranscriptsFebruary 1 - Only required if invited to a callback audition

If you receive favorable prescreening results, you will be required to participate in an in-person callback audition. Callback audition details will be made available to dancers who pass prescreening. 

Callback AuditionsDate
New YorkFeb 15, 16, 22, 23

The following are only required if you are invited to a callback audition:

In-Person Audition RequirementReceived-by Deadline
Scholarship & Financial Aid Application March 1


You will receive notification of your admission status (admit, wait list, or deny) through your application status page no later than April 1. Should you be admitted and enroll, your final official transcripts, indicating your graduation date, must be received by July 1.

Application Fee & Waivers

Application Fee

The $80 application fee is nonrefundable and must be paid through your application status page upon submission of your application. Your application is not considered complete until the fee has been received.

Fee Waivers

The inability to pay a college application fee should not be a barrier to applying to The Juilliard School. We offer need-based fee waivers through the process described here, and in the application.

 

First-time College Students

Fee waiver requests are available for first-time college students who demonstrate significant financial need by uploading one of the following to the application:

  • An official SAT  or ACT fee waiver form signed by a high school counselor OR
  • An official NACAC fee waiver form signed by a high school counselor OR
  • A letter on school stationery from a school counselor stating one of the following:
    • You are enrolled in or eligible to participate in the Federal Free or Reduced Price Lunch program (FRPL).
    • Your annual family income falls within the income eligibility guidelines set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.
    • You are enrolled in a federal, state, or local program that aids students from low-income families (e.g., TRIO programs such as Upward Bound).
    • Your family receives public assistance.
    • You live in federally subsidized public housing, a foster home, or are homeless.
    • You are a ward of the state or an orphan.

If you are unable to provide one of the above documents, you may provide the following:

  • A letter from someone other than you (the applicant) that addresses your financial situation

All documentation must be in English. Original documents with translation are acceptable.

 

Transfer Students

Fee waiver requests are available for undergraduate transfer students who demonstrate significant financial need by uploading of one of the following to the application:

  • If you are independent, a copy of your most recent tax form filed OR
  • A letter on school stationery from your current college's Financial Aid Office stating that you have financial need of a fee waiver

If you are unable to provide one of the above documents, you may provide the following:

  • A personal letter describing your financial situation

All documentation must be in English. Original documents with translation are acceptable.

Fee waiver requests will be evaluated after you have submitted a complete application. If you are requesting a fee waiver, please submit your application (including fee waiver documentation) but do not pay the application fee.

How to Upload

Fee waiver documentation (translated into English if not originally in that language) must be uploaded directly within the online application and submitted by the appropriate deadline. Documents must be in either .doc or .pdf format. (Convert your file to another format if you have scanned your document as a jpg.)

Fee waiver requests are processed on an ongoing basis. You will receive an email with the results of your request as soon as it is processed. Note that we have a heavy volume of requests to process at the deadline, so you may not receive your results until after the deadline has passed. This does not disqualify your application. Do not pay the application fee if your waiver request is still pending.

Your application status page will show an application fee payment due until your request is approved. If you are notified that your request for an application fee waiver is denied, you will be required to pay the application fee. Your application is not considered complete until the fee has been received. If your fee waiver request is processed after the deadline, and is denied, you will still have a grace period in which to pay the fee. 

Your Application Materials

Your Online Application

Your application must be submitted online by the appropriate deadline. To begin, create your Juilliard Admissions Account, gather all of the required application materials, and follow the instructions to complete your application.

Start your online application

Your Essay(s)

A written essay is one of Juilliard’s application requirements. Our Admissions Committee uses your essay(s) to learn more about you as an individual, and to gain a sense of who you are beyond your application, transcript, and audition. Your essay helps the Admissions Committee understand how your past experiences have informed your life as a dancer, and how Juilliard fits into your pursuit of a career in dance.

Essays are evaluated on the way you express your ideas, the written flow of your thoughts, and your use of language (including grammar and mechanics). Using outside help to write your essay—whether generative AI, including tools such as Google Bard and ChatGPT, or help from another person—undermines the ability of the Admissions Committee to evaluate your potential for success at Juilliard. Submission of your essay confirms that the writing was produced by you, with no assistance from another person or electronic resource.

Essay Requirements

  • 1–2 pages, double-spaced, 12-point font
  • written in English (not translated from another language)
  • must be your own original work
  • submitted within the online application

Tips for Writing Your Essay

  • Take time to think about what you would say to the Admissions Committee about your experiences and goals as a dancer.
  • Get the ideas down in a rough draft, and then speak them out loud.
  • Edit your rough draft so that it is clear, and expresses your thoughts. Avoid bland, general statements about being a dancer.
  • Have a friend read the essay to give you feedback on whether it genuinely sounds like you.
  • Review the final draft for grammatical and spelling errors. (Remember that “Juilliard” is spelled with two “I”s: JUI-LLI-ARD.)
  • Attach your essay to your application.
  • Remember that AI may be a shortcut, but in the end, it does not represent your own thoughts. If you are seeking an education at The Juilliard School, self-examination and honesty are qualities that will serve your growth.

Topic
Please write about what brought you to dance initially, what motivated you to continue and pursue dance at the collegiate/professional level, and how you came to know about Juilliard. Please also elaborate on why you have chosen to apply to Juilliard, and how conservatory training will support your future goals.

Additional Essay Requirements
Additional essays are required in each of the following circumstances:

Optional Essay
Should you have a personal or academic circumstance to share that you feel can provide context for a particular point on your resume - for example, a gap year, unusually low grades in a semester or year, etc. - you have the option to submit an additional short essay.

Your Transcripts

Transcripts are an important component of the decision process. They help us determine if you have sufficient scholastic competence to succeed in coursework at the level for which you are applying. Please send your transcript by the requested deadline found in the application timeline above.  

The Juilliard School accepts both official and unofficial transcripts during the application process. Students who are admitted and plan to enroll in the fall will be required to submit a final official transcript of their studies. 

We understand that the current academic year has not ended, and that, if you are currently enrolled, you have not yet completed your program. Please submit your incomplete transcript as is by the deadline; an official final transcript will be required later, if you are admitted and choose to enroll. 

You may view the status of receipt of transcripts at any time by logging into your application account. Please note that it may take the Office of Admissions up to seven business days to process your transcript after it has been received. 

 

Unofficial versus Official Transcripts  

  • An unofficial transcript is one that you upload to your application or status page. 
    • In addition to what is listed below in Transcript Requirements, unofficial transcripts must include your name and the name of your institution. 
    • Unofficial transcripts must be uploaded to your application or status page as a PDF. 
  • An official transcript is one that is sent from your school directly to Juilliard. You should ask your school counselor, Registrar, or another administrator to send it to us. 
    • Many high schools use secure electronic sending services such as Naviance, Parchment, eSCRIP-SAFE, or other systems. Electronic sending services must use this email address: [email protected]. 
    • Alternatively, your school can send us your official transcript via regular or express mail. Mailed transcripts must be sent in a sealed envelope directly from the issuing institution(s) to the Juilliard Office of Admissions. 

          Office of Admissions
          The Juilliard School
          60 Lincoln Center Plaza
          New York, NY 10023

 

 Transcript Requirements 

  • Your transcript(s) must show all prior and current coursework for your current program. 
    • For students studying outside of the United States, your coursework must be equivalent or similar to a US high school curriculum.  
    • You will be notified if an official evaluation of your transcript is required in order to verify your academic level. Companies such as The Evaluation Company (use this link for a discounted evaluation: SpanTran Pathway - The Juilliard School), WES, or ECE can provide this service for a fee. 
    • If you have already completed your program of study, your transcript must also include the degree/diploma conferred and your graduation/completion date. 
  • If your transcript is not in English, we require the transcript in its original language as well as a certified translation.  
  • If you are homeschooled, applying with high school equivalency, or transferring from another college or university, please see the additional requirements below.

 

Additional Requirements

Your Recommendations

In your application you will be required to identify two individuals who will provide recommendations:

Academic Recommendation
A letter from a high school academic teacher, preferably in English, history, or other language arts coursework (transfer applicants may provide a recommendation from a college professor.) The letter should help us gain insight into your abilities in English and acknowledge your speaking, reading, writing and comprehension abilities.

Home-schooled applicants should submit a recommendation from someone other than a parent who can address the issues listed above. In addition, this recommendation should address social maturity and ability to integrate well with other students and colleagues.

Artistic Recommendation
A letter from a dance teacher that addresses your dedication, openness to corrections, technique, performing skills, and citizenship both in and out of the classroom. 

The recommendations themselves are not due until later in the application timeline. Recommenders will receive an email with a link to securely upload their letters to our application system. We will only accept recommendations received through our application system.

You may view the status of recommendations at any time by logging into your application account.

Your Photograph

A photograph or headshot is required. The photograph does not need to be taken by a professional, nor is there any specific format for photographs. 

The photograph is not used for prescreening purposes. After callback auditions are completed, the photograph is used in admissions committee meetings to identify dancers who are being considered for admission.

Scholarship & Financial Aid Forms

To be considered for financial aid and scholarship, you are required to submit the following items by the appropriate deadline:

US Applicants 
FAFSA
CSS Profile
Student Tax Forms 
Parent Tax Forms
International Applicants 
CSS Profile
Parent Income Documentation 

More information about our awarding policies can be found on the Financial Aid section of the website. 

For information about tuition, fees and expenses, please visit Student Accounts.

Prescreening

Prescreening Requirements

Prescreening Required

If you are applying for entrance in fall 2025 you must prescreen.

Prescreening Procedures

  • You must submit your prescreening as part of the online application by the appropriate deadline.
  • Prescreening may not be submitted via email, YouTube, Vimeo, etc.
  • Incomplete or insufficient materials may affect consideration for an invitation to callback auditions.

Prescreening Notification

  • All prescreening decisions are final.
  • If you receive favorable prescreening results, you must attend an in-person callback audition in order to be considered for admission.
  • An invitation to a callback audition is not an offer of admission.
  • If you receive unfavorable prescreening results, you will not be permitted to schedule a callback audition.
  • If you are not invited to a callback audition, you may reasonably conclude that you are no longer under consideration for admission.
  • Prescreening results will be sent to you by the date on the application timeline.

Prescreening Content

Prescreening videos must be submitted online with your application; the faculty will not review videos submitted via email, or on video-sharing websites such as YouTube, Vimeo, etc.

Dance Division faculty and current students have created a demonstration video that will guide you through the ballet, modern, and improvisation sections of the prescreening. Within 12 hours of starting your application you will receive an email with a link and a password that will allow you to access the demonstration video. The demonstration video will be made available only to dancers who have started an application. (Please note that you must complete the Program Selection page in the application in order to receive the demonstration video email.)

Please record each of the following five sections separately in the order listed; you will be required to upload five videos to your application. You may not upload additional videos.

Section One: Introduction

  • A brief close-up shot of your face, from the shoulders up.
  • Clearly state your full name, current city and country of residence.
  • Provide a brief history of your previous dance training.
  • Tell us why you have been inspired to audition.

Section Two: Performance

  • A prepared solo, either ballet, modern or contemporary, to musical accompaniment.
  • State the title of the solo, the choreographer, and the composer of the music before performing.
  • The solo may be original choreography or from standard repertory.
  • The solo should demonstrate your artistic qualities and flow of movement.
  • The solo should be approximately two minutes in length.

Section Three: Ballet Technique - Center Exercises

Please view the demonstration video prior to recording your prescreening. You may learn and submit the suggested ballet combinations and phrases in the demonstration video. However, if you already have pre-recorded material that you would like to upload instead, you are welcome to do so as long as it meets the below criteria.

We’re looking for:

  • Tendu in the center combination with a pirouette
  • Adagio in the center
  • Pirouette that moves across the floor
  • Petite allegro combination
  • Grand allegro combination
  • Record the combinations on the right and left sides
  • You may use music from our suggested playlist or any music of your choice. 

Again, you may learn the combinations in the demonstration video or you may provide your own.

Exercises may be recorded separately but must be edited together prior to submission.

Section Four: Modern Technique

Please view the demonstration video prior to recording your prescreening. Treat the video as a class and execute the modern combinations as demonstrated.

  • Modern combination #1 
  • Modern combination #2
  • Record the combinations on the right and left sides
  • You may use music from our suggested playlist or any music of your choice. 

Combinations may be recorded separately but must be edited together prior to submission.

Section Five: Improvisation

Please view the demonstration video prior to recording your prescreening.

  • Improvisation exercise (60 seconds)
  • Please use the Bach Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007: III. Courante from our playlist.

Accompaniment
You may use music from our suggested playlist or any music of your choice, unless otherwise stated. The playlist will be sent to you after you have started an application.

Pointe Work
Please note, pointe work is NOT required as part of the prescreening. However, dancers are welcome to do the technique and/or the performance section en pointe if they so choose.

Clothing Requirement (Technique sections)

  • You must be in a unitard, or tights and tight-fitting top, or leotard that clearly enables the viewer to observe your technique.
  • Do not wear skirts, loose-fitting tee shirts, leg warmers, or costumes.
  • Wear clothing that contrasts with the filming environment so you can clearly be seen and stand out from the background.
  • Pointe shoes may be worn but are not necessary.

Filming Recommendations

  • It is to your benefit to create the best possible conditions for filming.
  • Carefully consider your space; ideally, there should be enough room for you to move around.
  • Choose a place with minimal visual distractions for the viewer and as free as possible from ambient sound.
  • Ensure you have adequate lighting, especially from the front and side. Avoid placing yourself in front of a strong light source (for example, a window or an overhead lamp).
  • Be sure you are visible within the frame for the duration of the recording.
  • Review your video before submitting to check for playback quality of the image and sound.
  • Professionally recorded video is not required.

Deadline
Prescreening videos must be submitted via the online application by the appropriate deadline. 

Prescreening Type

Format

You are required to upload your files in a Video format. Acceptable file types include:

  • .3g2, .3gp, .avi, .m2v, .m4v, .mkv, .mov, .mpeg, .mpg, .mp4, .mxf, .webm, .wmv

PLEASE NOTE: Some .mov files use a codec which is not supported by the application. We recommend that .mov files be converted to another accepted format to avoid uploading difficulties.

We support media files as large as 5GB, but please be advised that larger files will take longer to upload from your Internet connection and may stall if you are on a wireless connection or one that cannot sustain a connection for the necessary period of time. 

Additional Requirements

English Language Proficiency

Requirement

The ability to speak, read, and understand English fluently is an important factor in admissions decisions. You are required to show proof of English language proficiency by the application deadline if your native language is not English, regardless of citizenship. The Juilliard School defines native language as the language first spoken as a child and the primary language spoken at home. 

 

Exemption
You may be exempt from the requirement to provide proof of English language proficiency if you meet certain criteria. Exemptions are determined by your answers to questions on the application form. To qualify for an exemption you must:

  • Have attended school(s) on a full-time basis where instruction was entirely in English for a TOTAL of SEVEN of the past TEN years. Qualifying schools include primary, secondary, and undergraduate institutions.

An exemption to provide a test score as proof of English language proficiency is granted automatically if you meet the aforementioned criteria. Applicants who are exempt from providing a test score also are exempt from the ELP interview requirement.

 

Helpful Tool

To see if you may qualify for an exemption of the requirement to submit a test score as proof of English language proficiency, our online form can help you. Although this form does not grant exemptions or waivers, it can help you plan ahead should the result indicate that you need to schedule an ELP test.

 

English Language Proficiency Assessment Criteria

We assess your English language abilities using the following criteria:

  • The results of a standardized English language proficiency test
  • An online interview with staff from our English language office
  • Your previous academic record

Note that your test score alone is not sufficient for admission; you must still meet our artistic and academic standards.

 

Test Scores

You must submit one of the following test types to document your current level of English language proficiency. If your score falls below the minimum scores listed here, you should carefully consider whether to continue the application and audition process. We reserve the right to deny an audition based on scores that fall considerably below our minimum. 

Test TypeMinimum Score
Cambridge EnglishB2
TOEFL 73
IELTS Academic Test 6
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing610
ACT24

Juilliard's CEEB code: 002340
Juilliard's ACT code: 2778

The official test results must be sent directly from the testing company and received by the Office of Admissions by the appropriate deadline. Official test results must be on file before a decision of admit or waitlist can be released.

 

Interview Requirement

  • Any applicant with a test score of 94 TOEFL and below (or the equivalent score for other accepted tests) is required to interview with Juilliard’s Director of ESL in order to demonstrate fluency in the English language.
  • Undergraduate applicants who are exempt from the test score requirement also are exempt from the interview requirement.

Transfer Applicants

Definition
You are considered a transfer applicant if:

  • You have earned a high school diploma or its equivalent 
  • You have attended at least one semester of full-time college study

Transcript Requirement

  • You are required to submit a transcript showing prior and current coursework from all post-secondary institutions attended
  • You are required to submit your high school transcript if you have completed fewer than two full-time semesters of post-secondary study

Essay Requirement
You must submit an essay explaining your decision to transfer from your current institution, in addition to the other required essays.

Program Length and Transfer Credits

  • You are required to study at Juilliard for all four years of the program
  • You are required to take a minimum of 12 liberal arts credits at Juilliard
  • Additional credits from liberal arts courses taken at other accredited post-secondary institutions may be transferred at the discretion of the Registrar; courses with a grade lower than C or its equivalent are not eligible for transfer
  • AP credits are not accepted

Homeschool Applicants

Questions within the Online Application
As a homeschooled student, you will have to respond to the following questions within the online application:

  1. What factors led to your decision to home school?
  2. What relationship (formal or informal) exists between your home school and your state (or provincial) department of education?
  3. Will the state recognize you as a high school graduate?

 

Transcript Requirements

Regardless of format, your homeschool documentation must be received by the stated deadline once the requirement is added to your checklist, and must include:

  1. All courses taken, including those in progress, and the academic year and semester in which each was taken
  2. Assessment of performance (letter grades, percentages, portfolio commentary, etc.) and an explanation of any applicable grading scales
  3. Evidence of official recognition by the school district and/or state department of education
  4. If you attended a high school for any period of time, you must submit official high school transcripts of any/all high school work
  5. If you enrolled in any college courses, you must submit official college transcripts
  6. Optional: a full outline of curriculum by subject
  7. Optional: reading lists

 

Standardized Tests
You are required to submit official SAT or ACT scores by the appropriate deadline. These scores must be sent directly from the testing agency. If you are unable to provide an official SAT or ACT score due to pandemic circumstances, please contact [email protected].

Juilliard's CEEB code: 002340

Juilliard's ACT code: 2778

Applicants with High School Equivalency

Acceptable Equivalencies
In lieu of a high school diploma, you have the option to submit the following high school equivalencies:

  • GED (General Educational Development)
  • TASC (Test Assessing Secondary Completion)
  • CHSPE (California High School Proficiency Examination)
  • International High School Equivalencies (contact Juilliard Admissions)

If you do not have proof of high school equivalency by the stated deadline, you must submit one or more of the documents listed below to demonstrate your academic preparedness. 

 

Demonstration of Academic Preparedness
While submission of high school equivalency documentation satisfies Juilliard's minimum entry requirement, the following documents can be helpful in proving your ability to undertake coursework at the postsecondary level:

  • Standardized test scores
  • Advanced Placement (AP) exams
  • High school transcripts
  • College transcripts
  • Homeschooling documentation

Formerly Enrolled Juilliard Students

Definition
You are considered a former Juilliard college student if you have not been in attendance during the previous academic year.  You must submit all required application materials, in addition to the requirements below. 

 

Essay
As a formerly enrolled Juilliard student, you are required to submit an additional essay explaining your motivation for resuming your studies or applying to another major at Juilliard. You may choose to address academic, artistic, or professional goals that you believe could be accomplished by returning.

 

Transcript Requirements

  • You are required to provide transcripts from all institutions attended after Juilliard
  • Transcripts are already on file from your time at Juilliard and do not need to be submitted

 

Proof of English Language Proficiency
As a formerly enrolled Juilliard student, you do not need to submit proof of English proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, ITP Plus).

 

Decisions
We reserve the right to review your Juilliard enrollment record to assist with admissions decisions.

Currently Enrolled Juilliard Students

Online Application
You must apply if you meet one of the following criteria:

  • You are seeking to change majors
  • You are applying to a new program of study (changing your degree level)

 

Application Fee
As a currently enrolled student in the College Division, you are not required to submit an application fee as long as you submit your application by the appropriate deadline.

 

Essay
You are required to submit an additional essay explaining your motivation for continuing your studies at Juilliard. You may choose to address academic, artistic, or professional goals that you believe could be accomplished by remaining at Juilliard.

 

Recommendation(s)
Currently enrolled Juilliard students are also required to have recommendation(s) in support of their application. This can come from an internal faculty member or someone not affiliated with The Juilliard School.

 

Transcripts
As a current student, you do not need to provide your transcripts, as they are already on file.

 

Prescreening Requirement
Prescreening is required only if both of the following are true: 

  1. You are applying to a new major AND
  2. The major to which you are applying is prescreened 

 

Proof of English Language Proficiency
You do not need to submit proof of English proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, ITP Plus).

 

Decisions
We reserve the right to review your Juilliard enrollment record to assist with admissions decisions.

Applicants with Disabilities

In compliance with the Americans with Disability Act of 1990 (ADA), The Juilliard School is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible application and audition process. Through our Office of Academic Support and Disability Services (OASDS), Juilliard can provide reasonable disability accommodation to applicants and auditioners with disabilities. 

Juilliard will not make pre-admissions inquiries about whether an applicant has a disability, which has no bearing on acceptance. Applicants who meet the technical requirements of the program or course are encouraged to apply regardless of disability. However, applicants to the College Division with documented disabilities who require reasonable accommodations to participate in the application/audition process must follow these steps:

  1. Submit the Disability Request Form. This form is available to applicants who need accommodations in order to audition.
  2. Submit all supporting documentation.  
  3. Schedule and complete an intake meeting with an OASDS representative. Intake appointments may be conducted via Zoom, phone, or in person.  

The Disability Accommodation Request Process is private and confidential. All records are securely stored in the Juilliard Accommodate Portal and are not included with any "permanent" record. Only qualified OASDS staff can access this information, ensuring your privacy is respected. Applicants who are offered admission and who choose to enroll must schedule and complete an intake meeting with an OASDS representative to discuss accommodations needed as a student.

For more information on the Disability Accommodation Request process, please visit the OASDS webpage. If you experience an online or on-campus disability barrier, please complete this form so that we may address the issue.

Auditioning for Juilliard

Audition Scheduling

If you receive favorable prescreening results, you must register and participate in one of the in-person callback auditions in order to be considered for admission.

Registration

  • If you receive favorable prescreening results, you will receive an email with instruction on how to register for your callback audition.
  • All details will be available when registering for the audition.
  • Auditions are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Audition Process

  • Each audition will take place over the course of one day and consist of five parts.
  • All dancers invited to callback auditions will participate in the first three parts of the audition.
  • There will be callbacks after the fourth and fifth parts.
  • You should be prepared to spend 4-6 hours at the audition in the event that you are called back to the final section.
  • You may wish to bring lunch or a snack to the audition, as breaks between sections will not be long enough to leave the audition site.
  • Resumes, headshots, videos, and other portfolio materials are NOT required or necessary. Please do not bring these materials to the audition site.
  • Family and friends will not be permitted to observe the audition.

There is no quota of dancers to be called back on each audition day. You are encouraged to choose the audition date that is most convenient for you.


Part 1: Ballet Technique Class (60 minutes) 
The audition begins with a ballet class that typically includes: 

  • Barre: pliés, tendus, dégagés, rond de jambe, etc. 
  • Center: adagio, petit allegro, grand allegro, etc. 

Part 2: Modern Technique Class (45 minutes)
The modern class includes:

  • A short center warm-up using the rounding and arching of the torso.
  • Phrases that travel across the floor focusing on moving rigorously through space with attention to rhythm, changes of direction, and level changes.

This section of the audition is to be performed barefoot.

Part 3: Coaching & Improvisation (45 minutes)

You will be taught and coached on a brief contemporary repertory sequence. The faculty is interested in how quickly you pick up choreography, how you respond to and incorporate corrections, and how you function as a member of an ensemble in a rehearsal-like setting. This section concludes with a short improvisation.

Part 4: Solo Performance (2 minutes)

If you are called back, you will be asked to perform one solo of your choosing, from repertory or original choreography, not to exceed two minutes in length. The purpose of the solo is to show you as a performer, and should be chosen to show your range as well as your ability to project.

You should be prepared to say the:

  • name of the solo (if it has a name)
  • choreographer
  • composer of your music (or name of artist)

Please bring recorded music as an accompaniment for your solo on a phone or tablet with an auxiliary output. The music should be downloaded to your device; streaming via WiFi may not be available in the studio.

Please do not bring elaborate costumes or props for the solo portion of the callbacks. A simple change of dress or a small prop is fine.

You may present the same solo that you submitted for prescreening if you wish.

Part 5: Interview (15 minutes) 
Based on the faculty's evaluation of the first four parts of the audition, you may be asked to stay for an interview. The purpose of the interview is to:

  • Gain insight into your interests outside of the dance studio.
  • Identify you personal and professional goals.
  • Assess whether you are intellectually and emotionally ready to enter a rigorous conservatory environment. 

Clothing Requirement 

  • You must be in a unitard, or tights and tight-fitting top, or leotard that clearly enables the faculty to observe your technique.
  • No skirts, loose-fitting tee shirts, leg warmers, or costumes are permitted.
  • Be prepared with ballet slippers, dance socks, and the ability to dance in bare feet.
  • Pointe shoes may be worn but are not necessary for this audition.

Health & Safety

If you feel sick or have been ordered by a public health authority to quarantine or isolate, please do not enter any Juilliard facility until medically cleared. Should you have COVID-19 symptoms or test positive, please follow CDC guidance and consult with a health care professional for further instructions regarding appropriate testing, isolation, treatment, and contact tracing.

If you are unable to attend an audition due to illness, please contact [email protected] immediately to cancel your audition.

 

Decisions & Enrolling

Decisions

There are three possible outcomes to the audition process:

Admit

  1. The faculty recommends you to the Admissions Committee based on your potential and artistry as demonstrated in the audition.
  2. The Admissions Committee evaluates your academic record and supplemental materials in order to determine your capacity to succeed at Juilliard.
  3. The Admissions Committee makes the final determination of whom to admit based on their own evaluation, faculty recommendations, and the number of available openings in your major.
  4. The Office of Admissions releases your decision letter.

Waitlist

  1. The faculty recommends you to the Admissions Committee based on your potential and artistry as demonstrated in the audition.
  2. The Admissions Committee evaluates your academic record and supplemental materials in order to determine your capacity to succeed at Juilliard.
  3. You are placed on the waitlist because, although you are found admissible to the school, we have a limited number of openings.
  4. Should a place become available, the Admissions Committee evaluates the waitlist, making offers of admission as necessary.  

Deny
During the application process, there are three points at which you can be denied admission:

  1. As a result of prescreening
  2. At various points in the application and audition process
  3. Following review by the Admissions Committee 

A denial at any of these stages results in notification that you are no longer under consideration for admission.

These decisions will be posted to your application status page as noted on the timeline. 

Scholarship & Financial Aid

Juilliard admits without considering your ability to pay. All monies awarded require completion of the scholarship and financial aid forms. To learn more about the awarding process, visit our Office of Financial Aid.

For information about tuition, fees and expenses, please visit Student Accounts.