I’m auditioning…

• Will there be much competition between students?

A certain amount of friendly rivalry is healthy. It makes you want to excel and it prepares you for a professional life. Of course we all react differently to competition. Some of us are natural born competitors, others tend to shy away from competition. However, we need to find a way to deal with it early in our career, because competition is constantly present in the dance world. The best way to cope with competition is to remember there is only one you! You have personal qualities and abilities that no other dancer in the school has. You can never be them… and they can never be you! 

• When should I audition?

The obvious answer is when you are ready. But that entails more than you think. Yes, you will have to WANT to dance badly enough to take the big step in joining a full-time school. You will have to have enough early basic training to be able to show your dance potential to the teachers taking the audition. You will have to be the minimum age to apply.
Please note that if you have not finished your academic education, you should only be joining a school which can help you gain it. There is no place in the profession for dumb dancers. If you are a talented dancer, the fact that you are quick to learn, observant and capable of taking and apply correction means that you have a mind that is asking to be educated. A dancer who dances with intelligence not only finds more personal satisfaction in their dancing but communicates that intelligence to their audience. And on a practical side it is good insurance should you decide not to continue your dance studies and try a career in a different area.
 

• Can you give me some tips about passing the audition?

Never be late. Always give yourself enough time to change quietly and to warm yourself up thoroughly. Practice clothes should be neat, clean and comfortable. It is not a good idea to wear new clothes, new shoes, etc. You should enter the audition knowing that everything you are wearing is going to show you to the best advantage, that you have worn them before and they feel good, so that you will have nothing to worry about except your dancing.
Approach the audition with a positive attitude. Be confident. An unsure dancer attracts the wrong type of attention. But if you are nervous, don’t panic. Everyone on the auditioning panel has been a dancer and can tell the difference between nerves and lack of technique. So allow your nerves to work for you, that surge of adrenaline will give your dancing a slight extra edge.
Above all, believe in yourself!

• My best Audition Tips

- Wear an interesting leotard color. Remember that ultra light colors might make you look wider but a nice red, dark green or purple will help you stand out in a sea of black leotards.
- Make sure your hair, leotard, tights, and shoes are performance worthy.
- Do not suck up to the auditioner.
- Listen intently to combinations and attempt to perform them flawlessly.
- If a correction is given this means that you are in the running. Make the correction as given and you’re in. Ignore the correction and you’re out.
- Always arrive early and get a low audition number.
- If you make a mistake do not stop dancing. Recovering gracefully is a good skill to learn young.
- Do not over think. Dance like you love to dance and you will stand out in a great way.
- Always thank the auditioner after the audition.