Helping the dancer in you,
become the dancer in U
The college audition process takes time, passion and talent.
What is college dance all about?
Where do you go? How do you get ready for auditions? What do you need?
There are many choices and no two dance programs are the same.
Danielle is here to help!
With extensive knowledge about college dance programs, she will work with you as she makes the audition process approachable so you feel ready and confident when it comes to your auditions.
Discover Danielle’s Services
From meeting and getting to know the dancer and their goals to celebrating their acceptance at a university, there are many options to choose that best suits your needs.
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This service gives Danielle the opportunity to see what you do by providing links/ files of you performing or in class.
Meet with Danielle! Set up a time to meet and chat about your needs, goals and what you want out of a dance program and college.
Cost: $100
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After the initial meeting and getting to know you and your goals, Danielle will research and provide you with programs around the country that best fits what your needs and goals are. This is a unique journey for each dancer- where you go matters.
Cost: $150
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Danielle has a keen eye of what college dance admissions are looking for. This photo session includes edited headshots and photos in specific dance positions i.e. arabesque and a la seconde along with any other dance position needed for application. Corrections are given after each photo to ensure the dancer has captured the best technical position for representation. Photos are edited.
Cost: $125
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Many times video auditions are needed to either be invited to the campus to audition, or to get into the program at a University.
Danielle provides many services to help the dancer submit a successful audition.
In Studio: Choreograph and film ballet phrases- Danielle looks at what is needed for audition and creates the content for each exercise to show strengths of the dancer as well as holding standards of what is expected at collegiate level. This includes filming each exercise. Cost reflects 1.5 hours of time with dancer.
Cost: $150
The Breakdown: Danielle will help breakdown and teach given online modern and jazz phrases by learning the online content of modern, jazz, hip hop phrases and teach the dancer the phrase-work and rehearse for filming. Cost reflects 1.5 hours of time with dancer.
Cost: $150
The Solo: Film other genres of dance for audition- If dancer has any other dance phrase or solo that needs to be filmed for audition as well as integrating solo-work that has already been filmed into the final audition reel.
Cost: $25
Editing: The audition reel in its entirety- Danielle puts together all class material and phrase-work, solo, headshot, introduction as needed and includes any other additional content needed. You will receive a completed file to upload with your application.
Cost: $150
Cost: Full video package $450
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Ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, or musical theatre, Danielle has choreographed solos for students in each category for auditions. She will work with the dancer to feature their strengths and talents for their audition. Cost reflects choreography and 1 hour of time with dancer.
Cost $200
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Need help learning the choreography from the college website? Need to practice a solo and get feedback? If you’d like to run through the audition class prior to filming, Danielle will meet with you for a private lesson.
Cost per hour: $75
Danielle Ricci Cheng
Danielle is an educator, choreographer, director, and dancer.
She received her BFA in Dance Performance from University of California, Irvine in 2006 under direction of Donald McKayle. In 2014 she graduated with an MA in Arts and Cultural Management from St. Mary's University of Minnesota and earned an MFA in Choreography from Jacksonville University in 2018. She has studied at The Ailey School in New York City as part of their Certificate in Dance Program studying with Milton Myers, Tracy Inman, Nancy Turano, and Sharon Wong. Danielle has danced professionally in California, Texas, and Minnesota performing with Loretta Livingston and Dancers, Austin Classical Ballet, and Austin City Ballet.
Danielle is the Founding Artistic Director of Borealis Dance Theatre- a professional modern dance company based in Minneapolis, Dance Camera North- International Dance Film Festival, and Minnesota High School Dance Festival. She has been a professor of dance at Winona State University and has presented work and taught at the American College Dance Festival Association Upper Midwest conference in association with University of Wisconsin, River Falls where she has been a guest choreographer for the past eight years. Her choreography has been recognized as "Best of the Festival" at the Frontera Fringe Festival in Austin, TX in 2010 and 2012. Danielle teaches ballet, modern, jazz, tap, musical theatre, composition, improv, and partnering and has choreographed over 30 musicals for highs schools, universities, and professional theatres.
Danielle understands what colleges and universities are looking for and is well connected and knowledgeable about the variety of programs around the country. She has been working with dancers and musical theatre students on finding the right program, application materials, and getting accepted into top choice universities for 7 years.
Students who have worked with Danielle have been accepted to leading Dance, Musical Theatre, and Acting programs around the nation.
Testimonies
My daughter and I were so lucky to work with Danielle Ricci as my daughter finished out her dance studies during her high school years, applied for summer dance intensives, and then as she went through the college application process. Did you know that some of the intensives and colleges require a student digital resume and portfolio as additional application materials for the dance program? Do you know what should be included? Neither my child, nor I did and we certainly did not know what they were looking for and what would catch their interest amongst the numerous other applicants. Danielle knew how to help my daughter pick the right dance programs for the period leading up to college given my daughter’s interests, then abilities, and where she needed to build skills in order to achieve her goals. Danielle also knew how to help my daughter choose the intensives and colleges that were appropriate for her abilities, likes, and dislikes. She kept my daughter focused, on a schedule to make sure items on the common app and the separate dance admissions requirements were completed in a timely fashion. Moreover, Danielle was so helpful in arranging, getting, and organizing the necessary headshots, body shots, and various exemplary dance videos to show off my child’s abilities. Once preliminary acceptance notices were issued, it was time to prepare for auditions. Danielle explained what to expect and how to save time and expenses on travelling to all of the schools by attending, for example, the National High School Dave Festival. Ultimately, my daughter was not only accepted to one of her dream colleges where she is studying for a BFA in dance, she received a four-year scholarship. We are truly indebted to Danielle for helping us navigate through the emotional and overwhelming college application process where there is a focus on a dance major, launching a career in dance, and reaching for the stars in dance performance.
-Jessica S and Andrea P
