Summer Dance Intensive

Application & Audition Requirements

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

You must indicate who will be submitting your letter of recommendation within the online application. Your recommendation must come from your primary ballet teacher and address your dedication, openness to corrections, technique, performing skills, and citizenship both in and out of the classroom.

The recommendation itself is not due until later in the application timeline. Your recommender will receive an email with a link to securely upload a letter to our application system. 

• We will only accept recommendations received through our application system.
• You are required to submit one letter of recommendation; additional letters of recommendation are NOT required or necessary.

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 all video auditions are reviewed, the photograph is used in admissions committee meetings to identify dancers who are being considered for admission.

Applicants are required to submit a video audition; no live auditions will be held for the summer 2025 program. 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 video audition. 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 video audition. 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 video audition.

• 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 video audition. 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.

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. 

Deadline
Video auditions must be submitted via the online application by the appropriate deadline.