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All around the world, people are participating in dance auditions for roles and positions in ballets, Broadway shows, corporate events, for cruise ships, dance troupes and more. If you are new to the process, here are a few tips on preparing for an audition so you represent like a professional.
Know what the expectations are for attire. At my studio, female dancers know that to win me over, they should wear a solid colored leotard, tights, dance shoes, and a clean bun. Tights should be free from rips, stains or holes. Leotard should be well-fitted so that you aren’t concerned about straps slipping off. Undergarments should not show underneath your leotard – no bra straps, etc. Male dancers should come in form fitting dance attire, preferably in all black, with appropriate dance shoes for the role they are auditioning for.
Know in advance what you are asked to present. For our Nutcracker auditions, dancers are asked to have a 90 second piece of choreography to present. Practice well in advance and match the style of choreography that you use to the style of the role you would like to be considered for. Don’t show skills you haven’t perfected yet. Clean, simple technique that showcases your strengths is the best choice.
When you enter your audition, you should give your name, age, and role you would like to be considered for. An example of a great introduction is: “Hi, my name is Jillian Jones, I am sixteen years old, and I would like to be considered for Black Licorice or any other available role.” Be sure to smile, make eye contact with your evaluators and say thank you at the end of your audition. This is for my studio. Other auditions may have a different process. Pay attention to these details so that you enter and exit the audition as the company requests you to.
If you are having a bad day, feeling under the weather, or didn’t get a chance to review – DON’T announce it! Otherwise, our first impression is being put on notice that you aren’t prepared. Chin up, do your best, and if it doesn’t go well, you’ll have learned lessons for next time.
Bring your music on a device that can easily plug in to a sound system. Importantly, turn your passcode OFF, so your device does not get locked. Remove your case (most cases prevent a tight connection with an auxiliary cord). Download your music on to your device. Do not use YouTube or anything reliant upon a wifi connection.
We should all have goals in mind and work hard to achieve them. However, you also need to make sure your expectations are realistic. You must go into auditions excited about the opportunity to audition, but understand that there are many dancers and parts are limited. This should not discourage you from auditioning, but remember to embrace the experience whether you are cast or not.
If you are cast in the role you wanted – hooray! It’s important to celebrate your success – you worked hard for it. Remember though, there are other dancers who wanted that part who did not get it. Be mindful of their feelings as well and be careful not to brag or make others feel bad. If you didn’t get the role that you wanted, you may start to wonder what you did wrong. The answer is, probably nothing! You might be tempted to compare yourself to the dancer who was cast, but nothing good can come of this.
There are a hundred reasons why that dancer may have been chosen over you and honestly, none of them are going to make you feel any better.
Take the time to be disappointed, then dust yourself off and get back in to the studio. Remember that you dance because you love it, and that is the biggest reward.
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Sarah Beth Byrum received her Bachelor’s Degree in Dance from the University of Oregon and founded All That! Dance Company that same year. Sarah Beth began dancing at the age of three, training in all styles. Sarah Beth was published in Spotlight on Dance and featured in Family Fun Magazine. She was the recipient of prestigious Gerald E. Bruce Award by the Ford Family Foundation. She has also been awarded by the National Dance Educators Association, Oregon Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, the Junior Miss Scholarship Program, and Phi Beta Fraternity for the Arts. Sarah Beth was recently honored by the University of Oregon's Dance Department with their prestigious Community Partnership Award. Her expertise has been published in Dance Studio Life magazine and she is a member of the worldwide Dance Studio Owners Association. Her passion for dance has led her to produce over fifty full length concert events, as well as being the founder and creative director for the annual production of the Nutcracker Remixed. She has received countless awards for her choreography and the technical proficiency of her students at both regional and national competitions. Sarah Beth shares her love for dance with students of all ages from toddlers through adults.
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