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Tips for Dance Scholarship Auditions

Tips for Dance Scholarship Auditions

Posted by: / February 2, 2025
A group of dancers dressed in black camisoles, sheer black shoulder and arm tops and long black skirts in the middle of a dance performance. One dancer in the middle holds her arms out to each side, as if pushing the two dancers beside her away.
February 2, 2025

If you’re a dancer and you’re planning on applying/auditioning for one of PLU’s dance scholarships (which range from $1,000-$7,500 per year), we’ve got some tips for you to apply and best prepare!

You must be a dance minor to receive a dance scholarship

  • Dance at PLU provides opportunities and classes in a different types of dance, performance, choreography, and technique.

Get your applications/forms squared away (and tell us you’re interested in dance)

  • To even get access to the audition form (aka the Artistic Achievement Award application), you have to apply to PLU first.
  • Make sure that you’ve listed Dance as either an academic interest or a co-curricular interest.

Complete the audition/interview form (AKA the Artistic Achievement Award application) by the deadline

  • You’ll find the Artistic Achievement Awards application on your PLU student applicant portal, under the ‘Application Checklist’ section.
  • Not seeing the form? Connect with your PLU Admission Counselor, who can add it to your portal.
  • The deadline to complete this form is February 11, 2025.
  • The form requires a dance resume and headshot or bodyshot (and gives you examples for reference!).

Prepare for your audition/interview

  • Review carefully this Dance Scholarship webpage, as it will have the most up-to-date information about audition and interview requirements.
  • For your dance audition, prepare a 2-3 min solo of any style. The solo may be choreographed by you or by someone else, but please acknowledge the choreographer.

In-Person Auditions/Interviews are strongly encouraged

  • In-person dance scholarship auditions/interviews will be held on campus February 22. Starting in January (if you applied early), the School of Music, Theatre & Dance will start scheduling and emailing you your audition day and time.
  • The whole audition process takes about 15 minutes: 2-3 minutes for your performance, and 12-13 minutes for an interview with dance professors, including time for you to ask questions.
    • Equipment will be available to play your music. Please wear any dance attire you need – no costume necessary.

If you’re doing a Virtual Audition

  • Take a video of your performance and upload to an online video platform that has a weblink (e.g. a private YouTube video).
    • You will also have a virtual interview scheduled with professors – don’t miss that!
    • Virtual interviews will be held on February 19. Starting in January (if you applied early), the School of Music, Theatre & Dance will start scheduling and emailing you your virtual interview time.

How we award Dance Scholarships

  • Once faculty have made their decisions, your scholarship decision letter will be posted to your PLU student applicant portal.

Last Tip

  • Check your email regularly! Anytime a decision (scholarship, application, etc.) is posted to your portal, you’ll be sent an email from PLU Office of Admission (admission@plu.edu). The subject line starts with “An important status update has been made to your applicant portal”, and the “important” actually is…important.