Auditions

“I do not know what the spirit of a philosopher could more wish to be than a good dancer. For the dance is his ideal.”

-Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

The process of auditioning is an extremely important part of the dance world. It shows who is ready to take on a new challenge and be part of a new branch in the dance industry. Although it can be extremely nerve racking, it has to be done, and it has to be made professional.

Going into an audition, you should feel prepared and set to go. An audition is not created for the dancers to have one last practice on what they aren’t confident on, it is used to show off all the talent they do have and the effort they have put forth in rehearsal to make the piece come together.

To prepare for an audition, you should attend all rehearsals that choreographers and directors have set. Show up early, wearing the correct attire, and not draw to much attention to yourself, as you want to stay humble while still showcasing your talent. Also be quiet, courteous and attentive. During rehearsals you should always think about how you want to be seen by others around you. It can be displaying to those hiring you whether you are loud, cocky, rude or lazy if you do not represent yourself well while practicing. In all honesty the audition begins as soon as you step in, they are judging how you work with others, yourself and instructors, so treat every second as if it is the audition.

Outside of set rehearsal times it would be very beneficial to practice on your own time. Start a small, hardworking group with some of the other dancers, so you can ask questions and get the feel of dancing with someone else. Also practice in private on your own spare time. It would be very helpful to rehearse in front of a mirror and progressively turn away and get use to no mirror once you have the choreography down. To audition you have to be abundantly confident in your performance, so practice full out, rehearse constantly, experiment with moves and if appropriate make it your own, otherwise clean it precisely in order to positively stand out amongst the rest of the group.

In your audition you want to be consistent, patient and polite. In many instances they may have you repeat the dance several times. For example you may have to try out individually, then with a partner, small group and whole group. It’s important to be consistent so you are easily recognizable and not unpredictable. Patience is also key in an audition, the judges may want to see more or less than you expect, or take longer or shorter than what you know. Handle it maturely and do not get down or frustrated with yourself, especially in front of them. Finally show you are polite and easy to work with, if you can take correction responsibly it creates a better image for yourself. Be prepared for whatever they want you to do, stay calm and follow directions.

Yes, auditions are nerve racking, but just enjoy yourself and make sure you are comfortable. Take time to be prepared and show directors, choreographers and judges yourself in the best possible light. You want to represent yourself as mature, polite, relaxed, hardworking, kind, attentive and talented.

It’s life that you may not make the cut for everything you audition for. It is okay because it happens to everybody and you never know, just because you do not book a job with one, does not mean that you did not impress anyone else. By auditioning for anything you open up your horizons for so much more to come. You gain more confidence and knowledge every time you attend an audition. Auditions can only help you grow as a dancer and lead you into more and more contacts through the dance world. If you really want to go somewhere in the dance industry you should keep going to several auditions and showcase your talent, attitude and name. It will only help expand the brand you are trying your best to promote.

~Julia Brewer