Choreography

You must complete all admissions requirements as well as the program requirements below to be considered for admission. Before applying, please make sure to familiarize yourself with the Choreography Program, faculty, facilities, and curriculum.

You cannot make any changes to your application after it has been submitted.

MFA Application Requirements​

Please answer the following questions:

  • Provide a short artist statement and some context for your work. Describe your influences. How has your work developed over time? What defines your voice as a creator? (2500 character limit)
  • What do you see as your next step as an artist? How does the MFA in Choreography at CalArts support and facilitate that development? (1500 character limit)
  • What do you bring to our community? What skills, insight, or specific point of view can you share with our BFA students and your MFA cohort? Briefly describe the study, practice, and/or life experience that informs this knowledge. (1500 character limit)
  • CalArts values experimentation and collaboration. Describe the collaborators you hope to attract and the research you'd like to pursue.  (1500 character limit)
  • Optional: Is there anything else you would like us to know about you or your work? (1500 character limit)

Three complete works (no excerpts) including a minimum of one example of group choreography, and one example of documentation of a live performance can be submitted in the Portfolio/Audition Submission "Upload Media" section. 

Applicants should upload their resume as a part of the online application.

Three letters of recommendation are required.

All letters of recommendation should be received by the application deadline, so it is highly recommended that you contact your recommenders months before. We request that you submit the requests for your letters of recommendation through the online application, as it will allow you to track when we receive your requested letters.

Only if this is not possible, you may download the Letter of Recommendation Form (pdf) and have your recommender send their letters by mail to the Office of Admissions. Please choose only one method – either through the online application (preferred) or by mail – per recommender. Letters of recommendation will not be accepted via credentialing services such as Parchment or Naviance.

Mailed letters of recommendation should be sent to:

CalArts Office of Admissions
24700 McBean Pkwy.
Valencia, CA 91355
United States of America

Please note, letters of recommendation must be written in English or accompanied by a certified English translated document.