Dance Showcase Participation

Each semester, the Theatre/Dance Division produces a Dance Showcase featuring choreography prepared by classes, clubs, and individuals. Most pieces must audition for inclusion in the showcase, and details about audition eligibility can be found below. For information on the production process and timeline for the Dance Showcases, please see the page for the current year's fall or spring showcase, found in the Dance drop-down menu above.

Individual Dancer Participation:

There are no individual requirements set by the department for participation in a dance piece in the showcases. The dancers in class pieces are set by the enrollment of the class and the instructor. Club pieces are performed by the members of the clubs, which any student may join. Some club officers may choose to set attendance requirements or other stipulations for full participation in the showcase. Choreographers creating their own personal pieces have complete control over who performs in their pieces and how many total dancers are on stage.

The easiest way to get a "foot in the door" with dance performance is to enroll in a dance class or join a dance club. If you need more information on the class and club options available, you can email MJ Sedlock, Dance Program Coordinator, at mary.j.sedlock@maine.edu

Dance Class Pieces:

When a faculty member chooses to include dance showcase participation as part of their regular, required coursework, an audition will not be required for the piece to be included in the showcase.

Dance Club Pieces:

All active clubs recognized by the Theatre/Dance Division will be eligible to audition for the showcase each semester. Clubs may make their own rules regarding the eligibility of individual dancers to participate in showcase auditions/performance. It is expected that clubs will establish bylaws or other documentation clearly stating their policies on participation. Elected officers are responsible for fairly enforcing the policies and seeking faculty support when conflicts arise.

To be eligible for a given semester’s Showcase auditions, dance clubs must submit an Intent-to-Choreograph Form before the semester's deadline and present an excerpt of their work-in-progress at the semester’s Emerging Works performance.

Personal Pieces:

Individual undergraduate students may also choreograph pieces, separate from club affiliation, to audition for the Dance Showcase each semester. In order to be automatically eligible to audition their work, at least one choreographer of a personal piece must:

• Be a University of Maine undergraduate student

• Be a current Dance Minor

• Have taken (or be concurrently enrolled in) DAN250 - Dance Composition

To be eligible for a given semester’s Showcase auditions, personal piece choreographers must submit an Intent-to-Choreograph Form before the semester's deadline and present an excerpt of their work-in-progress at the semester’s Emerging Works performance.

Student choreographers who meet the requirements for auditioning a Personal Piece may reserve rehearsal time in the Dance Studio or Black Box Theatre using the Space Reservation Form.

Guest Choreographer Pieces:

If an individual is interested in auditioning a piece for the Dance Showcase, but has not or cannot meet the criteria outlined in the section above on Personal Pieces, they may appeal for permission to submit as a Guest Choreographer at the beginning of each semester. Guest Choreographer requests may be submitted using the Intent-to-Choreograph Form and will be reviewed/discussed by all Dance Faculty for approval.

Guest Choreographer requests may be submitted by graduate students, faculty members (for a piece not affiliated with a course), undergraduates who cannot fit DAN 250 into their schedules, or community members who wish to participate. Decisions will be made by majority vote of the UMaine Dance Faculty.

To be eligible for a given semester’s Showcase auditions, approved Guest Choreographers must present an excerpt of their work-in-progress at the semester’s Emerging Works performance.

Individuals who receive approval to audition a piece as a Guest Choreographer may reserve rehearsal time in the Dance Studio or Black Box Theatre using the Space Reservation Form.