Ballet: Audition Tips

With the Giselle auditions coming up for our Ballet Performance Company, it feels like a good time to go over audition tips.  I've been in both sides of the audition room more times than I can count- especially in the role of auditionee.  It's being on the other side of the room (as a judge or casting associate) that really taught me how to audition: everything from looking the part, what you need from your headshots (myself, I never looked at resumes when I was doing castings), to nailing the audition.

Of course, ballet, theatre, and on-camera auditions are quite different.  For today, I'll focus on ballet auditions for our upcoming auditionees.

1. Look Your Best.  It's an audition:  you want the judge to be looking at you.  Make sure your leotard, skirt, tights, and shoes are in good shape.  Hair is pulled back into a neat bun.  A hair accessory for some extra flare.  A little bit of make up.  Typically looking your best means feeling your best and you can focus on doing a good job at your audition.

2. Well Rested and Energized. Eat well and get a good night's sleep.  This is critical to feeling like you're in tip top shape.  It's awful having to audition when you're hungry and/or tired.



3. Smile.  Enthusiasm is one of the most important things when auditioning.  When I've been in the judges or casting director's chair, I'm always inclined to offer a role to the audition-er that seems to want to be there, excited to be there, and eager to perform. 

4. Be Prepared:  Roles do go to dancers best for the role.  It might be difficult to keep in mind, especially if a role you wanted was offered to somebody else- but perhaps your leaps are fantastic and more suited for a role that requires a good leaper.  It is important to hone your skills and to make sure you're warmed up and ready to execute the choreography and technique to the best of your abilities.

5. Perform: This might seem obvious, but it's amazing to see how many dancers, actors, etc., walk into an audition room 'auditioning' rather than 'performing.'  Treat everything given to you like you're performing on stage for a thousand people.  What does this mean?  It means forgetting about the judges and allow yourself to be swept away in "your character:" even if it's a simple plié exercise, imagine this is your dance, your moment, try not to focus on the other dancers auditioning along with you.  It's just you up there.

 My last bit of advice after the audition is to forget about it.  This is nearly impossible to do, especially right after the audition. Find a new project to focus on- or if it's your child auditioning, try and have a family project to keep them excited about:  Baking a new dessert you've never tried before every Saturday, being more involved in their homework assignments, finding a movie night, etc.

 The wait can drive you nuts.  I know. I've been there, especially for roles I've felt strongly about.  In my many years auditioning since I was a child, I've learned to not "try to get the role" but to be the one they wish they could give the role to.  Daniel Day Lewis might be a great actor, but the majority of roles out there are not right for him- but I bet nearly every casting director wish there was a role right for him when there isn't.

Good luck to all the Giselle auditionees!

~ Miss Jenna

"An audition is an opportunity to have an audience," - Al Pacino

I don't think actors should ever expect to get a role, because the disappointment is too great. You've got to think of things as an opportunity. An audition's an opportunity to have an audience.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/audition.html#TXmVmTrHF4qCyXfq.99An

I don't think actors should ever expect to get a role, because the disappointment is too great. You've got to think of things as an opportunity. An audition's an opportunity to have an audience.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/audition.html#TXmVmTrHF4qCyXfq.99