Dance Auditions: What to Expect and How to Prepare
Dance auditions can be nerve-wracking, whether it’s your first audition or you’re a seasoned dancer who has been to countless auditions. The anticipation of presenting and being judged as well as seeing other talented dancers around you can affect your audition, even if you know you have the skills to land the role. There are some steps you can to ensure your dance audition goes as smoothly as possible. Here are some tips on how to prepare.
Your Regular Practice is Part of Preparation
Regular practice is part of preparing for a dance audition! Remember that leading up to your audition, your regular lessons and practice are going to help you perform your best. Make sure you take your training seriously. You may be asked to pick up new moves very quickly in an audition, so taking new classes and learning new styles of dance will be a great benefit when unfamiliar choreography is thrown at you. You may also be asked to perform some freestyle dancing, so adaptability is key here.
Know Who Your Audience Is
Knowledge is power, even when it comes to very talented dancers. Some auditions ask you to send in your resume and headshot beforehand while others expect you to bring in hard copies with you. Is there a fee to audition?
An audition for a ballet performance is going to be very different from one for a hip-hop video. Do some research about who you’ll be performing for. If you know the name of the choreographer, find out as much information about their style of movement as possible. Then practice it so you know what they’re expecting from you.
The Day Before
It goes without saying that a good night’s sleep before your audition is very important. If you find it difficult to fall asleep due to excitement, try meditation to calm the mind. Get into the right Pack your bag with water, snacks, and extra clothes. There might be periods of waiting, so bring a book or something to distract yourself from any nervous or excited thoughts that might pop into your head while you’re waiting.
The Day Of Your Dance Audition
The big day is here! Give yourself plenty of time to travel to the location of your dance audition and arrive early – there may be forms to fill out. Leave yourself enough time to warm up. If you’re nervous, meditation can once again be your friend. There are many wonderful apps out there that can soothe your worried mind with a simple meditation and get you mentally ready for your dance audition.
Don’t Take it Personally
You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, so even if you don’t land your audition, the experience itself is a wonderful learning opportunity. If possible, gather some feedback on how you can improve in the future. Dance is a competitive field and knowing how to deal with rejection is a valuable skill to have.
How the Landing Dance Centre Can Help
As one of Vancouver’s premier dance studios, we’ve helped countless students prepare for their dance auditions. We offer acro, ballet, contemporary, hip hop, jazz, and tap classes for a rounded repertoire of skills. Our world-renowned artistic faculty is dedicated to their art and brings passion and creativity to every lesson and our beautiful 2880 sq. ft. dance facility is an inspirational space for all those who dance in it. Contact us today to book a trial class and see why dancers love The Landing Dance Centre.
