If you are a Princeton student considering participation in the Program in Dance’s annual Princeton Dance Festival (PDF), please browse this list of frequently asked questions.
If you have a question that is not answered here, please email dance Program Associate Cindy Rosenfeld at cr17@princeton.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Princeton Dance Festival (PDF) and how do I get involved?
PDF is the dance program’s fall production that will take place November 21-23, 2025 (4 performances total) at the Berlind Theatre at McCarter Theatre Center. Students perform the works of current dance faculty and several guest choreographers.
There are two pathways to PDF:
- Attend Placement Class to enroll in the DAN 326 course; and/or
- Audition to be in a Guest Choreographer’s work
You can do both — perform in PDF through DAN 326 and perform with a guest choreographer.
Is PDF open to first-year students?
Yes!
What is the time commitment?
- DAN 326 meets 3 times per week: Mondays/Wednesdays 4:30-6:20 PM, plus a Friday choreography precept (either 10-11:50 AM or 1:20-3:10 PM, based on class year and faculty recommendation).
- Guest Choreographer rehearsals are 2 times per week: Tuesdays/Thursdays, 4:30-6:20 PM.
How much dance experience is expected?
The dances taught in DAN 326 embrace a wide spectrum of dance backgrounds. However, please know that DAN 326 is an upper-level course, and some dance experience is recommended. If you have some dance experience and are interested, just come to Placement Class and have fun! We’ll find a course that’s right for you. Please email dance Program Associate Cindy Rosenfeld at cr17@princeton.edu if you have additional questions about this.
What will happen at the DAN 326 Placement Class?
At Placement Class, you’ll meet the DAN 326 faculty choreographers who are creating and/or staging repertory to be performed in the Princeton Dance Festival. There will be a group warm-up that is appropriate for dancers with a wide variety of backgrounds and will not require a specific kind of training. After this, each faculty choreographer will teach a movement phrase that will then be performed in small groups. This is NOT an audition! Rather, this is your opportunity to get a feel for each choreographer and to see if this is something you’re interested in.
Can you explain the DAN 326 course structure, specifically the precept component?
DAN 326 — “Princeton Dance Festival: Approaches to Performance and Choreography” is a dance studio course that culminates in two performances: the Princeton Dance Festival at the Berlind Theater and a choreographic showing in the Hearst Theater. DAN 326 meets 3 times each week: Mondays/Wednesdays at 4:30 PM, plus a choreographic precept on Fridays (10:00 AM or 1:20 PM, depending on class year and faculty recommendation). The Monday/Wednesday meetings are when you will rehearse and learn repertoire to be performed in the Princeton Dance Festival; the Friday precept offers instruction in choreography and will culminate in an end-of-semester showing of created work. You will have separate instructors for each component.
How do I register for DAN 326 in TigerHub?
Important note: All students must register for the M/W sections before registering for the precept, so even though you may have received a precept recommendation from dance faculty, please note that this is for schedule-planning purposes only. You won’t be able to officially register for either the M/W section or the F precept section until after the 9/1 Placement Class.
After Placement Class (typically around 9 pm that evening), you’ll get an email that confirms your DAN 326 Monday/Wednesday section and Friday precept assignments. You will be able to register for both in TigerHub the following morning, and you will be required to attend the first class at 4:30 PM on that day.
I think I want to be in PDF by taking DAN 326! What should I do next?
Register for Placement Class (you can do this at any point before the class) and then just show up on September 1. See you then!
I want to be in PDF, but I can’t take another course this semester. Can I still participate?
Yes! You can audition to be in one of three guest choreographers’ works. This is a non-curricular commitment, and rehearsals are Tuesdays/Thursdays from 4:30-6:20 PM. These guest choreographer auditions will happen on Saturday, September 6 and Tuesday, September 9. Students may audition for all opportunities but can only be cast in one. Have fun meeting these renowned choreographers!
What kind of commitment is required during performance week?
All dancers will be required to attend several additional rehearsals during the week of the performance, including a technical rehearsal and Thursday evening dress rehearsal. Performances (4) are Friday evening, Saturday matinee and evening, and Sunday matinee during November 21-23, 2025.