7 Rules of Engagement For Your First Audition

For any student that is serious about improving their technique and pursuing a career as a professional dancer with a ballet company, at one point will experience an audition at some point in time.  Whether you are seeking placement in a Summer Intensive Program outside your home studio/ school to expand your knowledge and technique base, or preparing for a position in a company’s corps de ballet for your first dance contract, the audition is an experience that can either make or break your objectives.  It is critical to ensure proper etiquette is followed.  Even if you personally feel that this is a new millennia and more progressive era for dancers, almost all of your auditioners will have been “raised” in old school decorum and you may put them off by doing anything less or against strict tradition. Also check out my previous post Preparing for Audition Season for more tips on organizing your objectives this audition season.

1.     Treat the Audition Like an Interview

It’s important to treat your audition, even if it’s just for a Summer Intensive Program, as you would an interview.  Special care needs to be taken with your appearance, your knowledge of the company and your resume.  Even if the only document the auditioner is seeking is their own application, always bring in your Ballet Resume with photos and even your digital portfolio.  At worse, they will tell you they don’t need it or want it, but most likely they will take it, and at best they will review it, and thus, will have that much more information on you as a dancer as well as it may set you apart from your fellow auditionees.

2.     Do Your Research

It’s become a common rule in business for people to research a company before their interview; after all there is nothing worse than to feel like you are performing well during an interview and then they ask you a basic question like what the company does and how you will fit in the company, and you have no answer because your focus was strictly on the job (the single audition) rather than the company as a whole.  Similar to a business interview, know something about the company or studio you are auditioning with; more importantly know something about the Artistic Director or the Choreographer and the auditioner.  have some knowledge of their recent productions, recent interviews in dance magazines, their choreography style or repertoire, non-profit or community performances they are involved with, upcoming productions, etc.

3.     Your Appearance

It was once noted by one of my long time teachers in a class right after the new year when all the students were coming into class with new leotards of various intricate designs and patterns and lace and mesh overlays and he commented, “It’s amazing the leotards that are available today.  It makes class seem more like a fashion show…” and it’s true, the industry has designed amazing leotards and dance apparel.  While the impulse may be to wear some of these cool designs to make you stand out from the crowd, test the waters first.  This is much easier if you attend several auditions in your area for Summer Intensives or are familiar with the decorum at the company/ studio you are auditioning at, but a unique leotard may be so popular it’s no longer unique.  You may stand out (and be more desirable to hire/ place) if you exercise tradition over complicated designs that distract from your natural line and body.  

Before the charge of the fashion industry making its mark on dance wear beyond costumes, dancers could only be subtle with their uniqueness and I feel that art has been lost.  Many of us would do intricate braids in our buns to make our mark, or one girl I frequently auditioned with would pin fresh rosebuds with baby’s breath in her bun, which was always eye-catching, yet subtle.  Many would have decorated pins or barrettes.  But we kept our individual styles to our heads, without breaking traditional bun hairstyle and it was unique but not distracting, and that’s a look to go for during an audition.  Anyone can see my postings and videos and know I am not conservative all the time, but when it comes to the occasion, I respect the traditional pink tights, pink slippers, pink toe shoes, black spaghetti strapped leotard and hair securely fastened in a bun look.  No jewelry, except for perhaps small stud earrings and definitely no watch!

4.     Bathroom Use; Dance Downtime

Please, please, please, take care of your bathroom needs prior to entering an audition (or any class, for that matter).  Last season, I participated as a guest observer in an audition for a Summer Intensive program being held in New York with the last of the original Vaganova trained practitioners, and the auditioner/ instructor asked a technical question about the correct head placement for an arabesque, and the young lady who raised her hand (the instructor thinking she had the answer) asked to go to the bathroom.  I was embarrassed for the young dancer and it made a poor overall impression of that area and studio the audtioners visited.  The only scenario that you can’t make it through an hour or hour and half class without having to run to the restroom is if you have some sort of food poisoning.  Anything else appears as immaturity, irresponsibility and unprofessional.  Some dancers carry the same apathy during class with downtime for center work or across the floor into an audition.  This is a huge mistake, and why I personally do not tolerate bad etiquette in any one of my classes.  Do not hang on the barres or have a seat (even if you are pretending to be stretching) or even stand in a loitering or a lazy position.  It’s disrespectful, and you are sending a clear message that you are not taking the audition seriously and therefore you should not be taken seriously as a potential candidate.

5.     Pay Attention

This is the most important rule to follow at an audition for two reasons: First) there is nothing more glaring in an audition than when someone doesn’t pay attention and doesn’t know the exercise.  Even if you think you are following the person in front of you or in your group, it’s incredibly obvious when someone doesn’t really know the exercise asked for and Second) this is a very unique opportunity to get placed or hired, that most dancers fail to utilize.  Paying careful attention to the auditoner/ instructor’s head placement, arm placement, musicality and overall style will expedite your position to first choice exponentially.  Auditioners want to know two things: if you have strong basic technique/ line and if you will adapt to their style and choreography or naturally have it.  If you can prove yourself to be the latter, you will often times be a first choice, even if your technique still needs work.

6.     Perform

Always perform during your audition.  This demonstrates that you are able to perform, even if you are nervous or under pressure.  Even if you don’t feel well or don’t feel like you are on your game, you know enough to know that wearing a smile or at least having a pleasant expression that evokes you enjoying dance makes all the difference in the world.  Most people are nervous at an audition, and an effective way to catch an auditioner’s attention is by performing, even if it means throwing in some flair and personality where it might be appropriate.  Smiling triumphantly during an adagio, showing glee during grande allegro across the floor, these are opportune times to let your love of dance shine through.  It’s basic human nature to watch this person over a dancer who is dead pan and serious faced and is generally boring in the sea of technically competent dancers.

7.     Respect & Reverence

It is important to always show respect and reverence for your instructors and fellow auditioners.  Be sure to exercise appropriate class etiquette when it comes to your position and conduct throughout the class with your fellow auditionees.  At the end of the audition, always be sure to curtsy and applaud the instructor and thank them personally if there is a chance to do so.  If you have the opportunity, thank the auditioners as well for the opportunity to dance for them, shake their hand and let them know it is important to you to dance for them and for their company again.  Offer them your dance resume or a dance business card with links to your Social Media Resume.

Even if you do not get the placement you are hoping for, if you conduct yourself professionally, the dance world is small enough that auditioners will remember you the following year for another chance at your goal.