How To: Pre-Screen and Callback Auditions

PRE-SCREENING PROCESS

After submitting your Common Application to NYU, all applicants to Tisch School of the Arts, Department of Dance must submit pre-screening materials as part of the audition process. You will receive an email from NYU with a personalized link to the Dance Artistic Review portal, where you will upload your pre-screen materials. 

Please direct any questions about Artistic Portal access to NYU Undergraduate Admissions (admissions@nyu.edu / +1-212-998-4500). Please allow up to ten (10) days time between submitting your Common Application and receiving access to the Dance Artistic Review Portal. 

We ask that you approach the pre-screening process the same way you would any in-person audition. Bring as much of yourself to the experience as you can. This includes your technical skill but also your unique personality and enthusiasm for dance.

The Pre-screening Class consists of ballet (center work, no barre), and contemporary material. Once the link is opened, you will only have three (3) hours to view the audition class link to ensure that you do not have the possibility of memorizing the class.

Deadlines: All applicants to NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Department of Dance must submit pre-screening materials by the appropriate deadline as part of the audition process. It is highly encouraged for smooth pre-screen processing that applicants complete Common Application submission in accordance with the “recommended” deadlines of one month in advance, which can be found here

How to Film and Upload your Pre-Screen Video

  1. Dress Code: Ballet shoes are required for the ballet portion (no pointe shoes, please), and bare feet are expected in the contemporary portion. We need to see your body clearly so it will not benefit you to wear baggy clothes. 

  2. Location: Choose a place with good lighting and an angle where your whole body can be seen clearly within the frame. We recommend using a tripod to ensure a consistent image. You can take the class and record these videos in any space that is available to you and conducive for full dancing. 

  3. Set-Up: We recommend getting yourself completely set up for the class before opening the NYU Tisch Dance Contemporary and Ballet audition class link. This includes any personal warm-up preparation that you need, as well as setting up your camera, lighting, attire, etc. 

  4. Practice: You can take the class several times within the three-hour time limit. Please only record your performance of each of the combinations. Do not record yourself learning the material.

  5. Record: To record yourself, we recommend using the video feature of your smartphone, if that is available to you. 

    • You should sync yourself to the sound that is coming directly from the Tisch audition video so that we can assess your musicality and presence within the class. 

  6. Upload: After viewing the class and recording yourself, you will submit one video: a final recording of your performances of all provided ballet & contemporary combos. Please ensure you have included all combos in your final recording.  

    • Digital audition video files should be uploaded to either Vimeo or YouTube and should be clearly identified with your full name and an indication that you are applying to the BFA program. Please keep your videos unlisted or viewable only to those with access to your link. Please be sure to provide a password if needed. 

    • You will submit this video, along with an audition form, résumé, and photo, later in the artistic portal after completing your recording. The submission upload does not need to be completed within the three hour time limit. 

  7. Faculty Review: Your pre-screen materials will be reviewed by faculty evaluators. If invited to callbacks, you will be notified via email by Undergraduate Admissions and your applicant portal. 

CALLBACK PROCESS

Callback Dates: Applicants will be notified by Undergraduate Admissions if they are invited for a callback audition in accordance with the notification plan listed here. Please read the deadlines carefully and hold the appropriate callback date for your notification plan

A note for transfer applicants: Depending on how early your pre-screening submission is completed, transfer students may choose to attend one of the Regular Decision auditions, which are listed here. Please be in touch with us at tisch.dance@nyu.edu if this is of interest to you. Otherwise, we will be offering an in-person callback for transfer students on April 14 in NY. 

Locations: In-person callbacks will be held in New York (Early Decision I, Early Decision II, Regular Decision, Fall Transfer),  Los Angeles (Regular Decision), and Chicago (Regular Decision). If you wish to participate in the Chicago callback, early submission of pre-screen materials is required

  • New York callbacks will be held at NYU Tisch Department of Dance: 111 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10003

  • Los Angeles callbacks will be held at Orange County School of the Arts: 1010 N. Main Street, Santa Ana, CA 92701

  • Chicago callbacks will be held at The Chicago Academy for the Arts: 1010 W. Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60642

Callback notifications will be communicated via email by Undergraduate Admissions, and a link to sign up for a callback will be posted on your applicant portal. Upon receipt of a callback invitation, applicants must schedule their callback audition in the applicant portal within 48 hours of receiving their invitation. Failure to respond to a callback invitation within a timely fashion will impact your consideration of admission to the Dance Department.

Only applicants who are being invited for an in-person callback audition will receive a notification. Those applicants who are not invited for an in-person callback audition will not receive notification. Being invited to a callback, or not being invited, is not an indication of a final admissions decision to NYU.

What to Expect: In-person callbacks will require applicants to take ballet and contemporary class, participate in an improvisational component, perform a solo (up to two minutes in length, no pointe solos please), and have a short interview with Dance Department faculty.

Dress Code: No specific clothing is required - please wear something you are comfortable dancing in. The faculty notes that they need to see your body clearly, so please avoid wearing baggy clothes. For the ballet portion, ballet shoes are required (no pointe shoes, please). For contemporary, bare feet are expected.

Arrival: Applicants must arrive at least 30 minutes prior to their callback audition time to sign in. Callback auditions will begin promptly at the times listed here.

A virtual callback process is available for applicants who cannot attend in-person. If you receive a callback invitation and cannot attend in-person, please contact tisch.dance@nyu.edu for more information.