Professional Semester

About

TRAIN. PERFORM. NETWORK. TRANSFORM

BDC’s Professional Semester is ideal for advanced dancers ages 18-27, ready to launch their professional careers.

Whether your dreams include Broadway or Beyoncé, this 4-month intensive program is designed to give you the skills and connections you need to establish yourself as a working dancer. Including practical industry seminars, private master classes with world class renowned professionals in a variety of genres, mock auditions that provide real-world experience, and a final industry showcase, this program will transform you from trained dancer to working professional!

Featured Students

Eliza Ohman

Eliza is now with King Kong on Broadway.

Phil Colgan

Phil is co-dance caption on the Hamilton national tour.

Spencer Clark

Spencer is currently on Broadway in Disney's Frozen.

Sabina Lundgren

Sabina danced in the 2016 Super Bowl with Lady Gaga and was on the Beyonce Formation World Tour.

Program Details

BDC has sought the input of countless industry professionals in crafting this powerful program designed to maximize your time with us and offer you every tool and skill you’ll need to succeed.

Here are some of the elements that make up this comprehensive, full-time program:

Fall and spring terms
Concentrated week of orientation activities, including placement class with faculty panel, injury prevention seminar, and more
12 classes weekly from our incomparable schedule of over 350 drop-in classes, chosen with the help of a knowledgeable student advisor
Weekly seminars addressing various aspects of the industry
Private master classes and mock auditions covering different genres of the dance industry
Networking opportunities with dance agencies, casting agents, and BDC faculty and guests
Performance and choreographic opportunities with free rehearsal space
Faculty mentoring
End-of-program showcase at a Manhattan theater, for an audience including NYC dance industry professionals

In some cases, the BDC Professional Semester may be accepted for college credit. Please speak to the Dance Department representative at your school for further instructions on how to set up that process.

Though schedules do vary, accepted dancers should be available weekday mornings from 8-11am regularly for mandatory program events.

How to Apply

Instructions

BDC offers rolling admissions but you are encouraged to apply early to reserve your spot in the program. You will be notified of acceptance within 3 weeks after receipt of your completed application via email. You must have a valid email address.

Please contact [email protected] for more information on how to apply. Applications are considered based on dance training, marketability, and professionalism.

Join us for an exclusive audition tour for this elite program! The Professional Semester Audition Tour is FREE to register. Those selected will receive guaranteed acceptance to the course and a waiver of the application fee.

Tuition & Payment

$3,850 for 4-month semester

Includes all drop-in classes, seminars, master classes, performance opportunities, and counseling sessions
If you choose to take additional classes beyond your mandatory 12 per week, you may do so at a reduced class rate.

In order to succeed in the program, students must arrive with the necessary funds to support their living expenses during the semester. Part-time work is acceptable, but we strongly advise against trying to work full-time while participating in the program. Please defer your application to the following semester if you need more time to amass these funds.

Once you are accepted into the program, a deposit of $1,925 (half tuition) is due within 30 days of acceptance to secure your spot. The balance is due upon starting the program.

Upon acceptance, you will be sent a link to pay online or you may mail checks/payment information to:

Broadway Dance Center
Attn: Professional Semester
322 West 45th Street, 3rd Floor
New York, New York 10036

Checks/money order made payable to Broadway Dance Center.

A student wishing to withdraw from the program early must notify Broadway Dance Center in writing. There are no refunds once you have begun the program, and no refunds will be given for any absences not made up during your period of study. Any approved withdrawals before the start of the program will incur a $150 administration fee.

THE RICHARD ELLNER SCHOLARSHIPS honor the beloved, late founder of Broadway Dance Center, Richard Ellner. Scholarship application is available upon acceptance into the Professional Semester program. The following Richard Ellner Scholarships will be offered for every Professional Semester session:

(1) FULL-TUITION Richard Ellner Scholarship
(1) HALF-TUITION Richard Ellner Scholarship

To be eligible for these scholarships, students must apply to the Professional Semester by the following deadlines:

APPLICATION DEADLINES
Fall 2020 Semester: June 12, 2020
Spring 2021 Semester: October 23, 2020

PLEASE NOTE: the Richard Ellner Scholarships cover either the full- or half-tuition cost of the Professional Semester program for an American citizen or green card holder. Students are responsible for covering their housing and living costs for the duration of the program. In addition, these scholarships do not cover any voluntary aspects of this program, including additional headshots, costume fees, etc.

Sessions

Start: 24-Aug-2020
Start	End	App Due	Breaks	Tuition
24-Aug-2020	13-Dec-2020	24-Jul-2020	Oct 19-23, 2020	$3,850

Start: 11-Jan-2021
Start	End	App Due	Breaks	Tuition
11-Jan-2021	02-May-2021	11-Dec-2020	Mar 8-12, 2021	$3,850

Tuition rates subject to change

Our Sponsors

Testimonials

Eliza Ohman

The Professional Semester really helped further my career by giving me the opportunity to grow and develop under the direction of some of the best teachers in the city. I was able to connect with casting directors and agents which was a huge stepping stone in my career. This program inspired and encouraged me to pursue my dreams and I would not be where I am today without it.

Corey Rives

As a newcomer to the city, the Professional Semester not only offered unparalleled dance training, but the perfect segue to living in the city. Broadway Dance Center provided me the invaluable opportunity to sign with an agent, which made being a professional less of an aspiration and more of a reality.

Katherine Roarty

The Professional Semester at BDC was my link from academic student to working professional. My passion for dance was immersed in opportunities with casting directors and agents that have led to valuable connections. The support and encouragement from this program helped launch my career!

Siobhan Campbell

The program gave me a boost in being a well-rounded performer, knocked out any sense of doubt I had about myself and opened many doors in my career. To say the least, the program helped me be better prepared and more confident in myself.

Alumni News

Stephanie Bissonnette

Stephanie is currently in the Broadway production of Mean Girls.

Matt Wiercinski

Matt made his Broadway debut in Anastasia.

Aurelia Michael

Aurelia is making her Broadway debut in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical.

Kristin Yancy

Kristin is making her Broadway debut in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical.

Jenny Laroche

Jenny made her Broadway debut in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical.

Nadine Olmo

Nadine is a backup dancer on Taylor Swift's ReputationTour.

Alyssa Lemons

Alyssa is celebrating her 5th year as a Radio City Rockette.

Julia Udine

Julia recently starred as Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway and National Tour.

Natalie "McFancy" Wise

Natalie is a featured dancer in The Greatest Showman; starring Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Ferguson, Zac Efron, and Michelle Williams.

Chelsea Caso

Chelsea is a featured dancer in The Greatest Showman; starring Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Ferguson, Zac Efron, and Michelle Williams.

Katherine Roarty

Katherine danced for Katy Perry on MTV's Video Music Awards.

Tina Jackson

Tina danced with Beyoncé on MTV's Video Music Awards.

Rob Coglitore

Rob danced in The Illusionists on Broadway.

Emily Grace Kersey

Emily Grace Kersey made her Broadway Debut playing Cassandra in CATS!

Emily Stillings

Emily made her Broadway debut in The King and I at the Lincoln Center Theater

Taylor Jane Thompson

Taylor can be seen dancing in the Bang Bang music video.

Chris Grant

Chris will be performing in King Kong on Broadway.

Erica Hughes

Erica played Christine in the national tour of A Chorus Line.

Josh Zacher

Josh played Larry in the national tour of A Chorus Line.

Melissa Cabey

Melissa played Val in the national tour of A Chorus Line.

Michal Kolaczkowski

Michal was a swing in the Dirty Dancing national tour.

Kayla Moniz

Kayla danced in the European tour of West Side Story.

Nikki Croker

Nikki danced in the European tour of West Side Story.

Mary Callahan

Mary danced in the Bullets Over Broadway national tour.

Carissa Midkiff

Carissa danced in the Bullets Over Broadway national tour.

Stephanie Brooks

Stephanie was a Swing on the national tour of Mamma Mia.

Elyssa Jo Brown

Elyssa Jo danced in The Bodyguard national tour.

Nick Silva

Nick was frequently on Glee as a member of Vocal Adrenaline.

Kayla Sameski

Kayla was seen dancing in Aéropostale's 2015 national ad campaign.

James Koroni

James is on the international tour of Rules of the Game, a collaboration by Pharrell Williams, Daniel Arsham, and Jonah Bokaer.

Danielle Burdick

Danielle just completed touring the country in Mamma Mia.

Samantha Sweed

Samantha earned her SAG/AFTRA card working on Orange Is The New Black.

Nicole Butler

Nicole was a Rockette for the regional Radio City Christmas Spectacular.

Cat Cogliandro

Cat has her own dance company, CATASTROPHE!

Zanza Steinberg

Zanza has her own dance company, ALMA NYC.

Greer Gisy

Greer was the dance captain for the In the Heights national tour.

Kayla Janssen

Kayla won the Adidas Dancers Wanted Competition and got to dance with Katy Perry's choreographers!

Lizz Picini

Lizz played Cassie in A Chorus Line at Mill Mountain Theatre.

Allie Dietz

Allie danced for AT&T in a flash mob to promote Jason Derulo and was in Le Grande Cirque at Niagara Falls, and Spirit of Christmas with Dublin Worldwide Productions.