2026-27 stageready Common Musical Theatre Dance Prescreen Choreography

1. Preview from the front: Watch the full combination and notice its shapes, timing, focus, and performance quality.
2. Learn from the back with mirror: Follow the dancer from behind so left and right are easier to match, while using the mirror to check the front view.
3. Practice from the back: Run the choreography without the mirror once the movement feels familiar.
4. Break down section one: Use the dedicated teaching video to study the opening phrase in smaller pieces.
5. Explore alternate moves: Review the accessible movement options and choose the version that lets you perform safely and confidently.

YouTube playback settings can slow the videos while you learn. Work in short phrases, repeat the transitions, then connect the sections at full tempo.

Use the front view to see what the choreography should look like to the camera. Watch once without dancing, then pay attention to direction changes, movement size, and where the performer's focus lands.

Make this your main learning view. Matching the dancer from behind can simplify left and right, and the mirror gives you a front-facing reference for the overall picture.

Use the clean back view for full runs after you know the sequence. Try to look less at the screen each time so you can shift your attention toward musicality, intention, and confidence.

Use this teaching video when you want a closer walkthrough of the opening section. Learn the movement in manageable phrases, then return to the full-view videos to connect it with the rest of the combination.

This video demonstrates alternate movement options for performers who need or prefer a different way into the choreography. Choose the option that works for your body, then commit to it with clear timing, focus, and performance.

• Mark it first: Walk through the pathway and weight changes before adding full energy.
• Learn in phrases: Practice a few counts at a time, then connect each phrase to the next one.
• Clean the transitions: Give the movement between the bigger steps as much attention as the steps themselves.
• Use your strengths: Adjust the range of motion to work safely and effectively for your body while preserving the musical intent.
• Perform, not just execute: Once the steps are secure, add focus, dynamics, and a clear relationship to the music.

The 2026 to 2027 Musical Theater Common Prescreen criteria recommend the following setup:

• Film horizontally with the camera at eye level.
• Keep your full body visible from the top of your head to the floor, including your feet, for the entire combination.
• Choose a safe space with enough room to move and a background that does not distract from the performance.
• Light yourself from in front of the camera or from the side, not from directly behind you.
• Record a solo video and watch it back to check the framing, picture, and sound.
• Keep the dance video within the recommended 60 to 90 seconds.
• Upload it as a separate piece of media and label the file Dance - First Last.

This choreography is a resource, not a universal requirement. MTCP programs select their own dance option and may add school-specific directions. Option A asks for at least one turn, one jump, and one kick, or another suitable rotation, elevation, and extension that works for your body. Option B asks for your best version of choreographed dancing or moving without that specific checklist. Option C does not require a dance video.

Before you submit, confirm the selected option and source linked by each program. Review the full stageready MTCP guide, then browse programs that use MTCP criteria to build your school-by-school filming list.

Choreography by Lydia Rouse (ShenCo MT '28) to "Friday At The Drive-In" from The Outsiders.

Featuring

• Lydia Rouse
• Giovanni Santoro

Special thanks

• Shenandoah University
• Kevin Covert
• Felipe Panama
• Karen Follett
• Elizabeth Albert
• Maurice Fraga