Nutcracker season is right around the corner, and for many productions, the Nutcracker begins with auditioning for roles. Our guide below will give you some useful tips on how to prepare properly for every audition you attend.
Audition Tip #1- Dress for Success
There is something to be said about making a great first impression, and showing up to auditions dressed for success will make a great impression on the adjudicator. Our recommendation is to start with a clean pair of tights that are free of any holes or discoloration. Next, wear a leotard that's appropriate for your age, looks great and compliments your body shape, and most importantly, follows the dress code for the studio. If your studio has a set leotard for your class, wear that unless told otherwise.
Advice for Older Female Students: When selecting a leotard to audition in, choose something that you are comfortable in and that supports your bust line properly. It can be very distracting for you and the adjudicator if you spend half the audition pulling up your leotard straps or leotard front. Adjudicators want to see you dancing confidently and portraying a character role if needed, not watching you be concerned about a leotard falling down.
Audition Tip #2- Show Up Early But Don't Register First
It's important to show up at least 15-30 minutes early to an audition so that you can get registered on time, attach any number needed for the audition, and still have time to warm up a bit. Many auditions might list a registration time, indicating when they would like you to arrive and be prepared. Every audition I've adjudicated has always had one student run in late to the audition. They are almost always flustered, don't know what has been told, and are at a significant disadvantage to making a good impression. Try to avoid this at all costs. As a first impression of students we might not know, I would assume that you are always going to be late to every rehearsal if you could not get to the audition on time.
Why shouldn't I register first? Because you don't want to be number 1 unless you are very confident in the material being auditioned. Dancers who audition first or in the first group are at a slight disadvantage as they don't have a chance to watch others succeed at the material. Some auditions will do lineups alphabetically in which case you won't have a choice. If you have an option, try to be somewhere in the middle of the group, in the middle of the room.
Audition Tip #3- Learn the Material for the Parts
This tip will apply more for local schools where dancers have access to the choreography via a previous years recording. If you want to audition for a certain part and you have the opportunity to learn the material before the audition, take advantage of that opportunity. You will have a large advantage if you don't have to worry about learning new choreography. This can be a great opportunity to also working on adding character, stage presence, and personality into your audition. Additionally, you won't have to watch others or second guess if you're doing the correct choreography.
Audition Tip #4- Practice Presentation Beforehand
Presentation is a large part of what separates dancers out in an audition. Presentation is the way a dancer presents their expression, emotions, and body language while dancing. Along with Audition Tip #3, if you know the choreography ahead of time and can prepare, you will be ahead of the competition already. For example, if you know that your Nutcracker audition will consist of dancing the Clara seen where she is scared by the mice in the transition scene, practice the steps along with your reaction to being scared. Don't wait till the audition to see if you know how to act scared.
If you don't know the material for the audition, it's always a great idea to be ready to smile. Warm up your smile before hand and practice dancing with a smile in class. You want your smile to feel natural and not forced on your face during auditions and performances.
Audition Tip #5- Warm-up Properly
Audition time is especially important to warm-up properly. Depending on your age and what material you will be auditioning, this process can be anywhere from 10 minutes to over an hour.
Ages 8 and under- A light warm-up for this age group should be sufficient, and in many cases, try avoid students of this age getting too excited and burning up all of their energy. These students can spend about 10 minutes getting their body warmed up with exercises like jumping jacks, jogging around the room, and skipping followed by light stretching.
Ages 9 and above (no pointe)- As the audition material becomes a bit more rigorous, it's a great idea to come to the audition properly prepared. The best way to warm-up thoroughly would be to take a class beforehand if available. If this is not available, then be prepared to focus on a 45 minute warm-up. This warm-up should include getting your heart rate elevated with light jogging and jumping jacks, followed by a quick and basic barre routine including pliés, tendues, degagés, ronde jambe, fondus, and grand battement.
Ages 12 and above (with pointe)- This group should follow the above advice for ages 9 and above with the addition of adding about 15-20 minutes of a pointe warm-up also. If the audition material is known, the warm-up should focus on getting ready to successfully complete the steps you will be asked to show. For example, if the audition will have a lot of pirouettes, warm-up should focus on relevés, warming up foot articulation in the shoe, and finding a good balance in retiré. Never go into a pointe audition without a good warm-up first!
Audition Tip #6- Eat Healthy Foods at the Right Time
Knowing when and what to eat before a big audition can have a significant impact on how you perform for the day. To clarify, this has nothing to do with weight and everything to do with what kind of energy your body needs to be successful. We love this guide from the Mayo Clinic that gives 5 great tips on what to eat to maximize your exercise. We've added some additional thoughts on what to consider for eating as well.
Avoid eating a large meal right before an audition. This can leave you feeling full, gassy, and even nauseous if you combine nerves into the mix. If the audition is in the afternoon, start the day off right with a great, healthy breakfast followed by light snacks and meals till audition time.
If your audition day will be long, bring a few snacks to eat quickly in between sessions or on breaks. Such fruits like bananas and blueberries are great for a quick bite. Avoid foods that might cause you to have a dry throat or get stuck in your throat, like nuts or granola unless you have time and water to clear your throat out.
If snacking during the day, don't forget to check your teeth for any lingering blueberry skins or seeds!
Water is great! Too much water will give you a full stomach/sloshy feeling and make you have to use the restroom. Avoid drinking excess water when nerves are running high.
Bonus Ballet Audition Tip- Auditions are about the Future Too!
Our last ballet audition tip is not about the audition itself, but about remembering the big picture of your training. Auditions are not only about the present moment and receiving the part that you want, but also about the future. There are many benefits to participating in auditions such as gaining experience and confidence in this environment setting. Additionally, sometimes you might not be ready for the part you're hoping to receive but that doesn't mean that you didn't make a great impression in the audition. Many times a dancer trying their hardest and showing great presentation has caught my eye while adjudicating, and although they weren't the right fit for the part, their hard work led to a featured moment in different show later in the year. Don't give up even if you don't succeed right away!
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