Dance Audition Etiquette By Teagan Lowe

Let’s face it for all us dancers, full time professional, freelance, student looking to enter a full-time school, dance company or even an amateur looking to step into the professional dance world, an audition is our version of a job interview. Therefore we need the knowledge to know how to conduct ourselves in all audition environments & apply these helpful hints to ensure we give ourselves the best chance at a successful outcome.

I think the first step, and one that is often quite easily forgotten by dancers, as we are usually too busy focusing on the physical side of auditioning, is to do your research! Make it your first point to find out as much as you can about the school, course or company that you are auditioning for. What style do they practice, look for, or best summarises their organisation? Are they overall more interested in “performance” or “technique” or a combination of both? What do they like to see in dancers? What are the current students / company members like to watch as artists & professionals? Who are the artistic staff that run the school / course / company? Are there any questions you would like to ask the faculty if given the opportunity? Knowing these types of things are helpful to have in mind when you audition, even if they aren’t brought into the picture on the day of your audition, it is always better to be over prepared than under.

Find out what you need to wear if you are auditioning for a school or course, you can usually find out what attire is required on the school's website or brochure. If it is a company audition you will generally be able to wear whatever you like as long as they can see your body. Most auditions require girls to wear black leotards and pink tights, and boys to wear white shirts and black tights. If the colour of the leotard is not specified, wear a bright and unique colour, it will help you to stand out in class. It is still a good idea to bring along a black leotard though, just in case. Choose a leotard with a simple, flattering style, and don't wear patterned or multicoloured outfits. If you must wear black, choose coloured earrings or a pretty headband / small hairpiece to wear so you will be remembered more easily (without going too overboard, again this could detract from you if you’re not careful). Small earrings and rings are all right, but remove all of your other jewelry. Don't wear dangly jewelry or anything that gets in the way. Never, ever wear legwarmers, black tights, or any other "junk" to an audition, it will give off an attitude of carelessness.

Having a professional look is very important in an audition; it shows that you are serious about what you do. Make sure your hair and clothes are clean and neat. Your hair doesn't have to be completely slicked back, but make sure that it is still neat without loose strands. Make sure your flats and pointe shoes are in good condition, with no drawstrings or threads hanging out, and your tights are free from holes. If you like to wear make up, it’s usually nice to have a small amount on, but definitely do not wear anything close to ‘stage’ make-up; avoid anything too dark or heavy

Find out what else you need to bring with you. Like the attire, the materials you need are most likely specified on the website or brochure. Some auditions (particularly overseas) have a fee of anywhere from $5 to $30. Some also require you to bring a headshot, photos, or your full resume / CV. If you are not sure about photos, bring along a headshot and a first arabesque photo just in case.

For female dancers auditioning for a ballet school or company pointework is usually included in your audition, so remember to bring your pointe shoes. Make sure your pointe shoes are going to work for you, test them out the day before, if needed. There is nothing more frustrating then being limited by dead or too-hard shoes. Also, like the rest of your attire, be sure they are neat & not too dead or shabby.

This goes without saying for most dancers but….prepare your body ahead of time! Don't come to an audition straight after a vacation. You should be taking class right up until the audition day so that you are in the best shape you can be. Get plenty of sleep the night before, and eat a good breakfast and/or lunch. Make sure that you are hydrated before, because it is not polite, and usually you’re not permitted to drink water in the middle of an audition. Even if it is okay to drink water, talk, or sit down in your class at home, never do it in an audition. Also be aware to not lean against the bar or cross your arms. Don't be too casual, but always be genuine. The directors will know who's putting on airs, so don't try to be too eager or too perfect. Just aim to be kind and respectful, and be yourself.

It is a good idea to arrive at least thirty minutes early to your audition. You want time to adjust to your surroundings, relax (as much as possible), and it will also give you time to fill out an application. If you are auditioning for a large or popular school / company, there is likely to be a line at check in. Don't feel like you need to be one of the first in line, because generally these large auditions have dancers go in groups, so if you have a later number it will give you time to watch other dancers before it is your turn.

Once you have settled in & done all of the general housekeeping prior to the audition make sure you warm up properly. Do the exercises you usually do before class; it will help to calm you down if you do your usual routine. Make sure you a quite warm before class, because many auditions do not do a long and intensive barre. There are probably only a few things more nerve wracking in a dancer’s life than walking into an audition, particularly if it’s for something you’ve been wanting & preparing for, for a really long time. Usually, the audition class (or classes) happens in an unfamiliar place, with few of your peers, perhaps even only strangers, and a new teacher. This can be quite daunting as a dancer if you don’t know how to prepare yourself both mentally and physically.

It is very important for you to remain as calm as possible, jitters can affect your performance in the audition & your ability to stay focused on what the teacher is asking of you. If you’re all worked up, take a deep breath; remind yourself that it is ‘just another class’, that you’re prepared & that you can do this. Encourage yourself; never discourage yourself! As dancers, we tend to be our own harshest critic, so remember it’s good to have a little bit of anxiety or ‘nervous energy’, it will actually make you work at your your hardest, but don’t let your nerves get the best of you. Take advantage of the adrenaline rush, use it to your benefit & be confident in your technique.

Once class has started be sure that you give the teacher your full attention. Pick up the combinations as quickly as you can. A couple mistakes are not a big deal, but if you repeatedly do not know the exercise, the directors will question your retention ability. If the teacher corrects you, do your best to apply the correction. It shows that you are teachable, and you respect and care about what they say. Also, it is your responsibility to keep track of what group and formation you are in, so that they do not need to take up time figuring out where you go. Always watch for details, this is one of the most important parts of an audition. Never change any part of the combinations that the teacher shows. The school or company that you are auditioning for might practice a different ballet style than you are used to. If this is the case, try to pick up the obvious details of the new style, such as placement of arms before a turn, etc. The directors will be judging how well you can adapt to the new style.Don’t use an audition as a way to show off too much or over trying, keep your technique clean. When it comes to turns, do what you are comfortable with. Don't aim for four pirouettes if you know you can't land them cleanly. For an audition, do only what you know you can control. You want to push yourself more in class, but in an audition, the directors want a clear understanding of your technique level. It is important to focus on you in an audition, and by focusing on you I mean don’t compare yourself to others in the room, or ‘size up your competition’. If you do focus on other dancers you will only waste your energy, shift your concentration and chances are, you probably won't do as well. Do class as you normally would, and focus on doing the best that you can, and be the best YOU can be.

In saying this, it is important to remember to always be polite to the other dancers at the audition. Don't think of it as a competition, because it's not. Treating it as such will make you more nervous. Instead, focus on your own dancing and understand that the others are trying to do so as well. Also, the directors and those auditioning dancers can spot a rude unfriendly dancer from a mile away. Most of all enjoy your audition experience & let your true personality shine through. Even if you are nervous, try to smile and look pleasant, it will help you to relax. You don't have to be mechanical, and you don't have to be perfect. Smile if the teacher says something funny. Ask questions if you're confused (although it’s probably best to not ask too many). If you fall from a pirouette, keep going. If you forget the exercise, just correct yourself and move on. Don't obsess over every little mistake, because that's not what directors care about. They are looking at your dancing as a whole & believe it or not they look beyond your technique and see how well, overall, you handle yourself. At the end of the day your technique IS a big factor, though I do believe that by using the tips mentioned in this article you will be able to increase your chances of a successful audition experience. If you only take once piece of advice away from this article, I would say that the most important quality you could possess at an audition is self-confidence. Confidence is admirable and also shows maturity. If you think you are the best, you will come off as being the best! If you can leave an audition feeling empowered, having learning new things and feeling more confident about your ability as a dancer (without relying on the results of the audition) then you will be a winner no matter what! Good Luck!

By Teagan Lowe

Dance Audition Etiquette By Teagan Lowe Let’s

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