“Only when I’m dancing can I feel this free.”
― Madonna
Dancing is one of the oldest forms of art. According to Martha Graham, “Dance is the hidden language of the soul”. Known as the mother of modern dance, the American modern dancer and choreographer draw inspiration from Picasso’s paintings, Stravinsky’s music and Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture. Her contributions to this art form changed the concept of modern dance.
In the turn of the 20th century, contemporary and modern dance started to change and became one. As a result, lots of dance schools and conservatories began to adopt the concept of modern dancing. In this “twerking” age though, there are still many young girls studying to become ballerinas, who want to be part of show business. However, there are parents who do not believe that the future of their child dancers has a place in the entertainment world.
The names of John Trovolta, Patrick Swayze, Channing Tatum, Jenna Dewan-Tatum and Adam Savini who have been part of dance flicks can erase these misconceptions though. These successful dancers have proven that they, too, can find their spot and gain fame in the world of show business.
So, do you really want to be successful as a dancer? What can you do to get noticed during dance auditions? Below are some dancing tips you can make use of if you wish to succeed during dance auditions:
Be Prepared.
The very first dancing tip is to be prepared. This means a lot of things for dancers including keeping fit. It is to be expected that audition judges will want to keep the best-looking and neatest dancers. They want someone with a unique persona, who does not only have great technique, but also shows depth of emotions in their every movement.
Get Ready with the Things You Need to Bring.
Aside from yourself, the next thing you need to prepare are the things you’ll have to bring during the audition. These include dancing shoes. If you’ll be auditioning for ballet, bring ballet or toe shoes. A pair of sneakers are usually needed for hip-hop dance auditions. To know what and what not to bring, always make sure to read audition notices first.
Wear Comfortable Dance Clothes.
You don’t need to bring costumes for your dancing auditions. Just wear comfortable dance clothes that you can freely move around in. Do not overdress and wear too much makeup. If possible, wear the same dancing attire when you get a callback. It will make you more identifiable to the judges.
Do Some Research.
Know about the company you’ll be auditioning for. When you’re well-informed about a certain production, you will already have an idea on what to offer them, performance-wise. If you are an exceptional dancer, most dance companies will invite you to join their dancing classes for free. This is especially if you have the potential to be a principal dancer.
Stick to the Routine.
If you are given a dance routine to follow, stick to this without doing any kind of improvisation. Judges will want to assess on how well you can memorize dance steps and how well you’ll be able to carry them out. You can only improvise if they allow you to personalize the audition routine. But if not, you have to leave the choreography the way it is.
Socialize with Fellow Auditionees.
Mingle with your colleagues or co-auditionees. You can learn a lot from them. Their presence can also help put you at ease as you wait for your turns together. Sharing about what to do during dance auditions is helpful especially if you’re only starting out as a professional dancer.
Expect to audition over and over to gain more dance experience. To do well though, just think that you are not auditioning but performing. If you are a passionate dancer, you will fare better and have more fun if you don’t focus on the auditioning part but instead center yourself on the dancing aspect of the process. When you can convince yourself that you are not in a dance audition, you will be able to do your very best.
