By Kara Lindsey
Magnet schools of the arts offer dancers specialized training, performance opportunities, and a community of artists across disciplines. Here's what to know.
When I was in high school, I attended the Fine Arts Center in Greenville, SC — a magnet school dedicated to arts education. That experience shaped the way I think about dance, creativity, and learning in ways I'm still discovering today.
For families with dancers who want to pursue the art seriously, a magnet school of the arts is worth understanding. Here's what they offer — and how Dance Moves prepares students who pursue them.
Specialized Dance Training
Magnet programs offer intensive instruction in multiple styles — ballet, modern, jazz, contemporary, and more. The training is structured to prepare dancers for auditions, college programs, and professional opportunities. At the Fine Arts Center, we alternated between ballet and modern intensive days while also studying composition and dance history. That breadth builds versatile, well-rounded dancers.
Immersion in a Multi-Disciplinary Arts Community
One of the most unexpected gifts of attending an arts magnet is the community. Students are surrounded by peers in creative writing, digital filmmaking, music, visual arts, theatre design, and architecture. The cross-pollination of ideas creates an environment unlike any traditional school.
Creative Freedom and Artistic Expression
Choreography projects, compositions, and student performances give dancers the space to develop their own artistic voice — not just execute someone else's movement vocabulary. This is essential for anyone who wants to create, not just perform.
Professional Experience
Regular showcases, community performances, and guest artist masterclasses provide stage experience that builds confidence and stage presence. During my time at the Fine Arts Center, we worked with visiting professionals including Brian McGinnis, Gerri Houlihan, and Tim Glenn — opportunities that simply don't exist in a standard school setting.
Preparation for Auditions
Faculty mentorship and senior project requirements at magnet schools prepare students for the rigorous audition process at college dance programs. The technical and artistic foundation built over four years makes a meaningful difference in those rooms.
How Dance Moves Connects
Dance Moves of Charleston works with students who attend the Charleston School of the Arts, providing the modern dance training and technical preparation that supports their school curriculum and helps them succeed in institutional auditions. If your dancer is considering a magnet school program, we'd love to talk about how we can help them prepare.
