Individualized Consultations
for College & Career Prep
For College Dance Admissions, Summer Intensive Planning, & Preparatory Training Decisions
Invest in Your Dance Future
Preparing for a college dance program, summer intensive experiences, and making choices in your training to prepare for success is a significant investment in time and energy. Ideally, it is an effort expended over a period of years and not months, because there is so much more to completing the application and audition when it comes to gaining acceptance into a reputable college or other postsecondary dance program and getting into the best summer intensives.
The experiences you accumulate over the course of years – the intensives, workshops, daily training, internships, and your relationships with mentors and educators – play a very significant and critical role in determining your college and career competitiveness. The earlier you plan, the more intentional you can be; it is highly encouraged to begin the process of college and career planning as early as 5th grade.
No matter where you find yourself in the process or in your educational journey, time spent planning with teachers, mentors, and college dance experts is essential in setting yourself up for success – to take the mystery out of the process. Julie Friedrich, Director for College and Career Programs at Francisco Gella Dance Works, is a proven expert with astounding results and is here to assist you with virtual individualized consultations - so no matter where you are in the world, you can connect to plan your exciting future!
“We can’t thank Julie enough for her insights and direction on applying to college dance programs. From identifying training priorities during the sophomore year to making the final decision on which offer to accept as a graduating senior. Julie’s individual consultations throughout my dancer’s senior year helped us both navigate the intense application and audition process with confidence.”
– Anne Hickling (mother) and Jules Rodriguez (student), Fordham University/Ailey School Class of 2027
Preparing for a college dance program, summer intensive experiences, and making choices for your training is a significant investment in time and energy. Ideally, it is an effort expended over a period of years and not months, because there is so much more to gaining acceptance into a reputable college dance program and getting into the best summer intensives than completing the application and audition.
The experiences you accumulate over the course of years – the intensives, workshops, daily training, internships, and your relationships – play a very significant and critical role in determining your college and career competitiveness. The earlier you plan, the more intentional you can be; it is highly encouraged to begin the process of college and career planning as early as 6th grade.
No matter where you find yourself in the process or in your educational journey, time spent planning with teachers, mentors, and college dance experts is essential in setting yourself up for success – to take the mystery out of the process. Julie Friedrich, Associate Director for College and Career Programs at Francisco Gella Dance Works, is a proven expert and here to assist you with virtual individualized consultations - so no matter where you are in the world, you can connect to plan your future.
Why Is an Individual Consultation Important for Me and My Student?
The process of planning for your dance career can be daunting and one that is better accomplished with the support of others who have the knowledge and extensive experience you’ll need to be successful.
Your individual consultation will address specific questions and needs that you have with regard to preparation for a college dance program, the specifics of the college admissions process itself, making decisions on summer intensives, and/or planning your training in the years leading up to going to college or starting a career.
Sessions are for 50 minutes at a time. A lot can be accomplished in this time but certainly not everything. If you know you will need ongoing assistance, you have the option to purchase a package of consultations (3 or 5 sessions at a discount!) at your initial registration. You may also add time at a later date if needed.
Following is a list of potential topics that can be covered in one individual consultation. You will be able to select from these options (on the check-out page), the topic(s) that best fits your purpose in scheduling a consultation or, if it is not listed, you may let us know your own area of interest.
And there are many more topics that can be covered based on your needs...
A Few Important Notes About Your Consultation Purchase and Upcoming Appointment
In selecting a topic(s) to be discussed, it is mutually understood that while every effort will be made by our college dance expert to complete the consultation in the allotted amount of time reserved, in some cases it may take longer. In this case, our staff will advise you as to the additional time needed.
It is also understood that the time purchased for one-on-one assistance will include, but not be limited to, reviewing and editing documents in advance of the meeting, researching appropriate information, and actual time spent consulting via video chat or telephone.
Remember that all appointments are a maximum of 50 minutes long. However, if you have material for Julie to review prior to the meeting then that time will be deducted from your Zoom call.
It is very important that you have a strong Wifi signal so that the Zoom connection is clear and visible, and that you have done a proper sound check prior to the appointment.
Especially during the busiest times of the year, you can expect a 2-4 week waiting period to make an appointment from the time you first enroll. Appointment slots go very quickly,
After enrolling, you will receive a scheduling email directly from Julie within 48 hours.
What Happens After I Purchase the Consultation?
You will be sent an email from Julie within forty-eight hours following your enrollment to schedule a date and time, and further inquiry into your needs.
Following the booking of your session, plan on a two to four-week window of time prior to your first meeting with Julie. Depending on what you want to accomplish, she may ask you to submit materials ahead of the meeting to make it highly productive. And depending on where you are in the planning process, or how old you are, the items could include but not be limited to:
Book Your Individualized Consultation
Individualized
Consultation Package
(10% off Five 50-minute sessions)
$995
Individualized
Consultation Package
(10% off Three 50-minute sessions)
$595
Individualized
Consultation
(One 50-minute session)
$225
** A special note for all new families to the FGDW Organization:
Finding the right college counselor is the key step in a successful college planning process. To help decide whether our services are the best path forward for each student, we offer a 15-minute, complimentary phone meeting to introduce ourselves, get to know you, and explain our process.
Please reach out via email at collegeprep@franciscogelladance.com if you are a new client before purchasing an appointment to see when you can be scheduled and if our program is the right fit for your needs.
Our 2024 College Prep High School Graduates
We are proud of each of these dancers who worked closely with Director Julie Friedrich during their senior year of high school. With her guidance and their parents’ support, this talented group of student artists have made choices in postsecondary education that best meet their own interests and goals.
About Julie Friedrich
Julie Rose Friedrich (she/her)
Director for College and Career Programs
Francisco Gella Dance Works
Julie Rose Friedrich (she/her)
Associate Director for College and Career Programs
Francisco Gella Dance Works
Ballet, Composition
The dance experience takes a major shift when transitioning to college so bridging the gap between high school and college dance takes planning and guidance. For those of you who want to pursue dance at the collegiate/professional level: There is a school out there for you. It might not even be a school you have on your list at this moment or even a school you have never heard of, but there is a school out there for you! It is all about finding the RIGHT FIT, and most importantly a school that wants to INVEST in you as a dancer and a human. A school that appreciates what you have to offer as an artist. My commitment is to assist you in manifesting the ideal school for YOU.
– Julie Friedrich
Julie Friedrich created and led the college seminar program for over ten years at two premiere arts high schools in California; the Orange County School of the Arts, and the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. The overwhelming success of her efforts led Francisco Gella Dance Works to add the program to its roster of offerings beginning in 2017. Under the mentorship and guidance of Julie, her students have gone on to study at prestigious institutions such as USC Kaufman, Juilliard, Boston Conservatory, Yale University, NYU Tisch, Laban School, SUNY Purchase, and the University of Michigan. In 2013, President Obama and the White House named Julie one of the most influential art teachers in the country for her mentorship of young dancers and her work with numerous winners of the YoungArts Competition. YoungArts is The National Foundation for the Advancement of Artists.
College and Career Prep Individual Consultations Enrollment Form
Individual Consultation Cancellation / Refund / Expiration Policy
No refunds will be issued for registered participants. However, you may use the payment made as a credit toward a rescheduled appointment if the change is made before the originally scheduled appointment or toward one of our Virtual College Prep Workshops (offered in both the Fall and Spring of each year). Appointments may only be rescheduled if you contact the consultant more than 24 hours prior to the scheduled meeting. If you cancel your appointment less than 24 hours before it is to take place or are a no-show, you will still be charged for that time.
*Consults expire after one year from the date of purchase, and cannot be transferred to another member of your family.
Feel free to email us at collegeprep@franciscogelladance.com if you have questions.