Dance Overview

IFAA Dance Department Goals:

  • Help students to become well rounded, healthy, emotionally intelligent, creative, knowledgeable dance artists.

  • Help students to be successful dance technicians, performers, improvisational/movement makers, choreographers, and critical responders.

  • Teach dance as an art form.

  • Prepare dance students to be college dance majors.

  • Prepare dance students to be professional dance artists.

  • Build dance literacy for the IFAA school and West Ada community.

  • Build dance advocacy for the IFAA school and West Ada community.

Student in dance studio

Elements of Dance = Body + Energy + Space + Time

Dance Donation Requests

  • $25 per student for dance props.

  • $100 per student for dance costumes.

  • $1500 for guest artists in residency during the school year.

  • $500 for professional video filming of our formal spring dance concert.

  • $300 for professional photography (headshots and action shots).

  • $1000 for professional lighting & sound crew for our formal spring dance concert.

  • $800 for professional dance film short to enter in festivals.

* Donations do not need to be for the entire amount needed. Individuals can donate smaller amounts toward the total.

Dance Audition Information

Students in dance studio

SIGN-UP: Auditions will be conducted in groups. Please sign up for one. The dancer may sign up for any slot until that audition session is full.

AUDITION TECHNIQUE CLASS: The dancer will audition in a two-hour classical ballet and contemporary technique class. The class will consist of ballet barre, across the floor, center combination, and improvisation. A professional guest dancer will lead the class. Intermediate-advanced level of technique is expected.

SOLO DANCE: The dancer should be prepared to do a short solo dance (1 to 2 minutes long) of his or her dance style choice.

INTERVIEW: There will be a short interview by judges after the solo dance.

JUDGES: The judges are West Ada educators with extensive dance backgrounds and community guest dance artists.

JUDGING RUBRIC: There is a judging rubric. Dancers must earn above a minimal 70% score to be offered a place on the waiting list. (see judging rubric on the website for more information on criteria).

RESUME & HEADSHOT: Bring a resume (one to two pages) and a current photo (5x7 or smaller) with you to the audition-interview for all majors. You may insert your photo on your resume. The resume should have a complete list of schools, studios, theaters, or programs where the applicant has received training.

ATTIRE: Please be prepared to dance in ballet shoes and barefoot. Please have hair neatly pulled back, fitted dance clothing, and dance shoes.
Girls: Black leotard, convertible pink tights & pink ballet slippers. Hair in a neat, secure bun.
Boys: White form fitting t-shirt, black tights & black ballet slippers.

Dance Audition Informational Video:

DANCE AUDITION BY VIDEO: (for those who cannot attend the audition class)

  • VIDEO CONTENT: The audition DVD/thumb dive video must show: dancer dancing ballet barre combinations, across the floor of either ballet/contemporary/lyrical/jazz combinations, a center combination of either (ballet/contemporary/lyrical/jazz), and a 1-2-minute solo dance of her or his choreography or another's (please state the choreographer's name before the dance starts).

  • ATTIRE: Please have hair neatly pulled back, fitted dance clothing, and dance shoes.
    Girls: Black leotard, convertible pink tights & pink ballet slippers. Hair in a neat, secure bun.
    Boys: White form fitting t-shirt, black tights & black ballet slippers.

  • LABEL VIDEO: Please label the DVD or thumb drive with her/his name, phone number, dance major, and grade she/he is applying for next year.

  • APPLICATION PROCESS: Please follow the application process on the IFAA school website and turn the Audition DVD/thumb drive into the IFAA office before the due date.

  • JUDGES: The audition guest judges will view DVD/thumb drive auditions at the end of the audition process. The judges will use the same audition rubric as they do for the audition class.

  • RESUME & HEADSHOT: With video, turn in a resume (one to two pages) and a current photo (5x7 or smaller) with you to the audition-interview for all majors. You may insert your photo on your resume. The resume should have a complete list of schools, studios, theaters, or programs where the applicant has received training.