Choreography

Before applying, please make sure to familiarize yourself with the Choreography Program, faculty, facilities, curriculum and view student work.

Applicants who have passed the preliminary selection process will be invited to visit CalArts and will be asked to teach a class, interview and audition and to meet faculty and students. Each of these applicants who have submitted their portfolios by the application deadline will be personally notified by the end of January 2017. Applicants will be invited at the discretion of the review committee. All pre-interview correspondence should be directed to the Admissions Counselor for the School of Dance. This is a full-day event and an important component of the final selection process.

Audition and Materials Guidelines (MFA)

  • Two or three complete works (no excerpts) of group choreography of a live performance recorded. Do not submit work recorded in a dance studio. Applicants must include complete credits for each piece of choreography they submit. To do so, please upload a document with your online portfolio submission that clearly identifies each piece of choreography along with complete credits ie; choreographers, collaborators, performers, designers (lighting, costume, etc.) and the venue that each piece was performed in. Other examples of creative work, such as site-specific, dance-video, etc., are also welcome.
  • Three letters of recommendation (letters of recommendation should be uploaded with your online application, not your online portfolio submission)
  • Professional résumé
  • Artist's statement. Please submit a statement addressing the following questions: 
    • Name one choreographer and one artist working in another medium that you have been influenced by and why? 
    • What do you see as the next step in your development as a choreographer? 
    • What issues and concerns inform your artmaking practice? 
    • Why are you applying to your program at CalArts? 
    • What are your artistic goals?

Online Portfolio Submissions

MFA applicants must submit samples of their work using the SlideRoom submission system. The online system accepts MP3's, documents, images and video. Once the portfolio is uploaded, it can be viewed and rearranged until the final submission is made. No changes can be made following the final submission of your portfolio. There is a fee for each portfolio submission made through the online system. If you experience technical difficulties while uploading your portfolio, you may send an email to support@slideroom.com for technical support.