The Do’s and Don’ts of Dance Auditions

Auditioning...it's just part of the job description when it comes to building a dance career, and how you audition really affects how you work as a professional dancer.

In fact, there's an art to auditioning.

There's a "special sauce" that includes knowing proper etiquette, being confident in yourself, and handling rejection well. If you master these three areas of auditioning, you'll likely go far in this line of work. On the other hand, if you struggle with any of these areas, chances are that your dance career will struggle too.

Since auditions are the doors to dance work, the strength of your auditioning will determine the strength of your career. Here are a few tips to help you strengthen your audition muscle.

DONT’S

1.Don’t stop the audition to get water.

You’re being evaluated in an audition from the moment you step through the door. With that, nearly EVERYTHING you do could be taken into account when you’re being considered against other performers.

While it’s perfectly fine to hydrate while you’re learning material and practicing on your own, by all means, DON’T stop the production team mid-audition to get water. It holds up the audition process and may show that you lack the stamina to sustain the performance you’re auditioning for. Of course, do what’s necessary to stay safe throughout the process, but consider getting water directly before or after your small group has been seen.

2. Don’t ever stop dancing!

We’re all human, so mistakes are inevitable. Auditions can be nerve wrecking experiences even for a seasoned pro.

Forgetting a movement, not catching on to the material as quickly as you’d like, or just plain old human error are all perfectly understandable occurrences in auditions. What is NOT understandable, however, is giving up altogether. When you make a mistake, even if you forget every single count of the combination, be sure to recover quickly and as seamlessly as possible. Although, in those rare occasions where you can’t seem to find your way back to the given material, just keep those feet moving anyways.

DO’s

Here are some basics to audition etiquette.