This is a guest post from Elizabeth Sullivan. Elizabeth is a former professional ballet dancer turned performance coach with a mission to bring holistic wellness tools and information to young dancers to enhance their training and prepare them for success, fulfillment, and happiness.
Ballet Help Desk has no financial arrangement with Elizabeth — we just think she’s great!
If you are auditioning this fall/winter for traineeships, apprenticeships, second company or corps contracts, OR if you are applying to college dance programs this fall, this post has been written with you in mind.
Think about your summer program as the beginning of your audition preparation. Waiting until you actually start auditioning is too late.
Most auditioning dancers don’t really get the hang of it – how to present themselves, how to stand out in a crowd, how to perform in a class, how to project confidence and calm – until the final auditions they attend. Sometimes, that’s in time to snag a contract; many times, it’s not. If you start preparing during your summer intensive, then you will feel much more ready by the time auditions roll around.
How to prepare?
Getting ready to audition involves clearing up a few misconceptions.
Misconception 1
No one expects me to perform in daily class
Yes, they do. Artistic Directors are looking to hire performers, so you need to perform in all of your classes. Does that mean you need to smile your big “onstage smile” all day every day? No. That would be exhausting for you and is unnecessary. But, you do need to project confidence, wear a pleasant expression on your face, and dance with artistry and presentation, not just technique. That can feel strange in a daily technique class, but that is exactly how your audition will be set up, so start challenging yourself to rise to the occasion.
You’ll also want to stand with a good posture that says, “I’m awake, aware, engaged, and happy to be here” even in the least exciting classes. When it’s your turn to go across the floor, project, bring your upper body with you and really dance, and go for it. You wouldn’t dial it in for an audition, so practice not dialing it in this summer even if you can tell they aren’t into you. You’re preparing for the whole audition season, not just for a future with your SI program’s school/company.
Misconception 2
Being in the front or first group will make it look like I’m pushy and arrogant
This is a big concern among the dancers I speak with. The truth is, you will only look pushy and arrogant if you act pushy and arrogant. If you are respectful, you can be in front in a way that works. And you need to be in the front to be seen, given corrections, and evaluated as a possible candidate for a job. This is no time to pretend those things don’t matter to you so that you can seem “nice” and not pushy to other dancers.
If you are shy and reserved, summer is the time to brush up on your acting skills: start acting less shy and reserved.
Put on a performative personality in the studio so that your natural shyness doesn’t hold you back. It might help to remind yourself regularly that dance is a performing art which means acting is a big part of it. Don’t disappear into yourself or they might not see you.
Misconception 3
They can see me in the back
If you are the gold medal winner from Prix de Lausanne, sure, they’ll probably see you in the back. But you’re betting on being so exceptional that you would stand out anywhere. In my experience, teachers and directors don’t make a big effort to watch and look at every dancer in the studio. They tend to watch the dancers in the front the most because they are right there in front of them. Also, some teachers equate being in front with a higher level of ambition and interest.
It’s not negativity to not consider yourself the great exception that will draw someone’s eye to the back of the room. It’s just smart and strategic. It’s also less risky. With so many excellent dancers out there and so few jobs, don’t occupy a risky position. Instead, be strategic, assume you are not the exception, and stand in front. It’s easier and more certain you’ll be seen.
Misconception 4
Hard work will be rewarded at every audition
This is a tough one to wrap your head around and I see it throw my dancers every audition season. It goes without saying that you need to work hard to improve technically and artistically. However, it’s not a given that your hard work (or anyone’s) will be rewarded with a job or a place in a program. Unfortunately, it’s a numbers game in dance: the spots are limited and the dancers are many. This is especially true if you’re a woman. There is a lot of competition out there.
It’s also not the case that companies and programs are looking for the hardest-working dancers. They usually have a very specific type(s) of dancers they are looking for – body type or skills – and you either meet those criteria or not.
Rather than assuming hard work will be what sets you apart, focus on these few things that will actually help you
Presentation
Above all, stand out because you love to dance and show it. You are engaged, open-minded, in the front, and dancing full-out all summer long. Be stage-ready.
Quickly pick up choreography and apply corrections
Practice learning combinations quickly and applying corrections right away. It’s tough but true that dancers who have a hard time picking up choreography often aren’t considered for jobs and roles. Rep gets taught quickly in many companies and dancers who can pick it up along with stylistic details are more sought-after. If this is challenging for you, start working on it this summer. It’s a skill that can be improved in many dancers.
Professionalism
Emotional maturity goes a long way in an audition environment. Practice managing your feelings quickly and appropriately so that you don’t get distracted/discouraged by your mistakes or the talent in the room; practice recovering quickly (physically, facially) when things don’t go your way; and handle critical feedback with a balanced, calm demeanor.
I hope this list gives you some concrete actions to put into practice this summer so that you feel a few steps closer to being ready for your auditions in the winter.
If you want further guidance, you can find more information about Elizabeth here: easullivan.com.