Dance

Ballerina leaps in a ballroom full of elaborately dressed spectators in a production of Swan Lake

CCM Dance focuses on ballet and contemporary styles for the dancer seeking top-level training and rigorous artistic, academic and studio curriculum.

The Dance Department at CCM is a professionally oriented dance program offering a bachelor of fine arts (BFA) degree with an emphasis in ballet training. Through a rigorous academic and studio curriculum dancers receive advanced training while cultivating their artistry and stimulating creativity. The BFA candidates graduate with a thorough knowledge of the dance world and how to function in it, going on to perform and teach in professional dance companies and dance education organizations.

(CCM is one of the) top programs to consider.

Dance Magazine

Key Program Elements

  • Dance and audition with professional companies while earning your BFA
  • Highly-recognized faculty, guest choreographers and artists-in-residence
  • One of the few programs in the country to require a year of somatic studies (Alexander Technique, Pilates, Yoga)
  • Seasonal and internship opportunities with professional dance companies while enrolled as a full-time student
  • Onsite physical therapists and athletic trainers
  • Three large dance studios with observation booth, therapy and dressing rooms
CCM Dance's combination of academics and professional training — including excellent live accompaniment for dance classes — is so exceptional that Dance Magazine cited it as one of just a few programs in the country that 'offer the specialization and experience you’d receive as a company trainee.'

Janet Light Dance writer and critic

The CCM Dance Department boasts a distinguished, dynamic faculty, state of the art facilities, multiple performance opportunities, and a diversity of new and challenging experiences for its students. A team of dedicated full-time faculty: Shauna Steele (department chair), Jiang Qi, Deirdre Carberry and Michael Tevlin; along with dedicated adjunct faculty members, frequent guest artists, company directors and professionals from the field are committed to nurturing highly technical, passionate and artistic dancers.

Online applications are due December 1 for fall admission in the BFA program.

Faculty

Headshot of John T. Bell

John T. Bell

Adjunct Instructor of Ballet, CCM Prep Ballet Instructor

513-871-6246

Headshot of Deirdre Carberry

Deirdre Carberry

Associate Professor of Dance

513-556-5128

Headshot of Brian Cashwell

Brian Cashwell

Adjunct Instructor of Dance and Jazz; Dance Accompanist

513-556-2700

Headshot of Isabele Melo Elefson

Isabele Melo Elefson

Adjunct Instructor of Dance, CCM Prep Ballet Instructor

Headshot of Jeri Deckard Gatch

Jeri Deckard Gatch

Instructor - Adjunct

513-658-5374

Headshot of Jonnie Lynn L. Jacobs-Percer

Jonnie Lynn L. Jacobs-Percer

Adjunct Instructor of Ballet, CCM Prep Ballet Director

513-556-2595

Headshot of Julius Jenkins

Julius Jenkins

Adjunct Instructor of Dance, Musical Theatre and General Studies

513-556-2700

Headshot of Qi Jiang

Qi Jiang

Professor of Dance

513-556-9454

Headshot of Gema Diaz Lommer

Gema Diaz Lommer

Adjunct Instructor of Dance

513-556-2700

Headshot of Molly Schneider Perez

Molly Schneider Perez

Adjunct Instructor of Dance

513-556-5803

Headshot of Shauna L. Steele

Shauna L. Steele

Chair and Associate Professor of Dance

513-556-9594

Headshot of Tricia Ann Sundbeck

Tricia Ann Sundbeck

CCM Preparatory Ballet Director Adjunct Professor CCM

513-556-2595

Headshot of Michael J. Tevlin

Michael J. Tevlin

Associate Professor of Dance

513-556-9455


Theatre Arts, Production and Arts Administration Division Head and Staff

Headshot of Rebecca Bromels

Rebecca Bromels

Interim Division Head of Theatre Arts, Production and Arts Administration (TAPAA); Chair and Associate Professor of Arts Administration

513-556-5803

Headshot of Jen Lampson

Jen Lampson

TAPAA Production Manager

513-556-9439

Headshot of Deborah Neiheisel-DeZarn

Deborah Neiheisel-DeZarn

TAPAA Program Manager

513-556-5803

Headshot of Angelika Bonyhati-Kovacs

Angelika Bonyhati-Kovacs

Accompanist

513-556-2700

Headshot of Brian Cashwell

Brian Cashwell

Adjunct Instructor of Dance and Jazz; Dance Accompanist

513-556-2700

Headshot of Douglas V Sutton

Douglas V Sutton

Accompanist

513-240-3191

CCM's undergraduate admissions process begins on August 1 for entrance in the following year's fall semester. All application materials must be submitted on or before December 1 to be considered for specific scholarship awards. Visit the CCM Admissions website for additional application instructions.

Ballet - BFA

Pre-screening

Applicants must submit the required pre-screening materials via getacceptd.com/ccm on or before December 3 in order to be considered for admissions and invited for an audition.

Pre-screening Requirements
  • A solo variation from the standard, classical repertoire (women en pointe)
  • This video should include a short introduction of the dancer stating their name, classical variation, the studio/academy/training program currently attending, and answering the following questions:
    • Why dance as a major?
    • Why CCM specifically?
  • Variations may be performed in practice clothes or costume either in the studio or on stage. Performance tapes are acceptable but should clearly show the applicant only and be a clear, moderately close video. The video should not be at a distance, fuzzy, or grainy.
  • A full-length photo with the applicant dressed in regular ballet classroom attire, posed in 1st arabesque en l’air (women en pointe).
  • Ballet technique video recorded En Face. All combinations on side 1 or 2, not both.
    • At Barre: Short Plié w/Tondu combination, Short Developé Fondu combination
    • At Center: Adagio OR Petite Allegro (choose your strength)

Audition

Audition Requirements
  • A traditional classical ballet barre and center followed by several pointe work combinations (for women only)
  • Dancers will then take the modern dance component, which consists of movement combinations demonstrating the ability to perform floor work and various rhythmic and spatially oriented structures. Improvisation may be a component of the modern portion of the audition process.
  • Female dancers should wear ballet slippers, pointe shoes and have footed tights that can be rolled up to ankle or calf-length for the modern component of the audition. Traditional attire (black leotard and pink or skin colored tights).
  • Male dancers should wear socks and ballet slippers as well as tights that can be rolled up to accommodate the modern dance component of the audition. Traditional attire (black tights and white t-shirt).
Audition Preparation

The audition will consist of a traditional classical ballet barre and center followed by several combinations of pointe work (for women only). Dancers will then take the modern dance component, which consists of two-three movement sequences demonstrating the ability to perform floor work and various rhythmic and spatially-oriented structures.

Each applicant must submit a video/DVD of himself or herself performing a solo variation from the standard classical repertoire to getacceptd.com/ccm. The applicants must also upload a photo with the applicant dressed in regular classroom attire posed in Arabesque en'lair (women on pointe). The video should include a short introduction of the dancer stating his or her name, name of the variation and name of the studio where the dancer trains. Only the introduction and selected variation should be on the video/DVD.

An audition by DVD should be no more than 10 minutes and should reflect the dancer's strengths. Applicants should show an example of their typical level of training including: exercises at the barre, center work, jumps, and point work (women, all center work en pointe). The DVD must reflect the dancer's current training, made within three months of the application submission. This should also be submitted to getacceptd.com/ccm.

The student must include: pliés, tendues, dégagés (from fifth position, both straight and with pliè) ronde de jambe, a terre and en l’air, passé developpe en croix, frappes, grand battements and balances on one leg. The exercises can be short, but with enough repetition that the dancer can be seen clearly.

Please show all ballet combinations on one side only. Center work to include: adage, pirouettes en dehors and en dedans, petit allegro and grand allegro. Women finish with fouettes and men finish with turns in à la second. A classical variation (on pointe for women) one to two minutes in length.

Variations may be performed in practice clothes or costume either in the studio or on stage. Performance tapes are acceptable but should show only the applying dancer.

Female dancers should bring ballet slippers, pointe shoes and have footed tights that can be rolled up to ankle or calf-length for the modern component of the audition. Traditional attire (black leotard and pink tights) is recommended.

Male dancers should bring socks and ballet slippers as well as tights that can be rolled up to accommodate the modern dance component of the audition. Traditional attire (black tights and white T-shirt) is also recommended.

Off-site audition formats may vary slightly. Applicants must submit a full length photo with the applicant dressed in regular ballet classroom attire, posed in arabesque enl'air (women en pointe).

There are two ways to receive scholarship aid to study in CCM Dance at the University of Cincinnati. The first is through an academic scholarship called the Cincinnatus Scholarship. For details, please visit the Cincinnatus Scholarship Program website to learn more.

Every applicant is automatically considered for the CCM Talent Scholarship, which is awarded based on the audition and interview. No further applications or actions by applicants are required, other than applying and auditioning, to be considered for our modest talent scholarships.


News and Events

1

CCM apparel now available for purchase online

March 23, 2023

Back by popular demand, official CCM-branded apparel is now available for purchase online! Show your school spirit this spring with official UC College-Conservatory of Music apparel. The CCM Tribunal is sponsoring the college's spring apparel campaign to help raise funds for student initiatives. CCM-branded t-shirts, hoodies and quarter-zip pullovers are available for purchase online now through April 23, 2023.

2

Counseling services now available to CCM students through...

January 18, 2023

CCM students can now access counseling services within the CCM Village thanks to the addition of a CAPS embedded clinician. A member of UC’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) staff, Dalziel Reliford-Stone (she/her/hers) is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with Supervision (LPCC-S) who will serve as an embedded clinician for CCM and DAAP. In this new position, Dalziel hopes to work with students and staff to support a culture that embraces authenticity, self-acceptance and wholeness.

3

CCM Dance Works presents classical ballet and modern dance Dec....

Event: December 1, 2022 8:00 PM

UC College-Conservatory of Music presents Dance Works, featuring a variety of styles to showcase the school’s many talented ballet majors, on Dec. 1-4 in Patricia Corbett Theater. More than 43 students come together to perform four different pieces excerpts from Gazunov’s Raymonda, Tchaikovsky’s “Waltz of the Flowers” from The Nutcracker, and two premieres choreographed by CCM faculty artists — Who We Are and Mozart Mix.

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