Class Auditions
Intermediate Dance & Advanced Jazz Dance Classes
*No audition or prior dance experience is required for the Jazz Dance Classes*
In-Person Audition for the Intermediate & Advanced Classes:
Thursday, March 21, 2024 from 4:00-7:00pm
Auditions for the 2024-2025 Intermediate Dance and Advanced Jazz Dance classes will be conducted in person at MVHS in the Auxiliary Gym on Thursday, March 21 2024 from 4:00-7:00pm. Any prospective students who are unable to attend the in person audition may submit an audition video. Specific information about what to include in the audition video can be found below.
Audition Location: Mountain View High School Auxiliary Gym (Near student parking lot & swimming pool)
3535 Truman Ave, Mountain View, CA 94040
What to Wear to the Audition: Form fitting dance clothes you can move in (leggings, shorts, tank tops, t-shirts, etc.). Jazz shoes, turners, or socks if you have them. A mask is optional.
Suggested Experience for Intermediate Dance: At least 2 years background in jazz, ballet, hip hop, modern, lyrical, contemporary, and/or world dance styles. This is typically a good class for students involved in cheerleading, gymnastics, and/or color guard.
Suggested Experience for Advanced Jazz Dance: A strong background in jazz, ballet, hip hop, modern, lyrical, contemporary, and/or world dance styles. Many students in this class train in multiple dance styles outside of school.
Before you arrive at the In-Person Audition...
Complete the Audition Form Below to help us learn more about you!
What to Expect at the Audition:
Arrive early (if possible)
Check in and receive your audition number.
Warm up on your own as others arrive and check in.
Center Work - Practiced together; Performed in groups (5-6)
Pirouettes
Petit allegro
Across the floor jazz and hip hop progressions (3-4 at a time)
Walking Combination
Chainés/Piqué Turn Combination - Right and Left Sides
6 Step Pirouettes - Right and Left Sides
Battements - Right and Left Sides
Short Hip Hop Phrase
Leaps
Learn a jazz/jazz funk combination from members of the Dance Spectrum Student Leadership Board.
Perform the jazz/jazz funk combination in small groups based on their pre-assigned number (groups of 5-6).
Each group will perform the combination 2 times, so that each line has a chance to perform in the front.
Before and after the combination is performed, students will improvise to demonstrate their additional skills and strengths as a dancer.
*Ms. Kato and members of the Dance Spectrum Board will evaluate students throughout the audition process based on their ability to perform technical dance skills correctly, their physicality of movement, their attention to details, their musicality, their versatility, their ability to apply general and/or personal corrections on the spot, their ability to pick up choreography quickly, their performance quality, their work ethic, and their dance class etiquette. Ms. Kato will ultimately decide who is selected to be in each class. The main purposes of the Board’s presence at the audition are to provide assistance and help as additional sets of eyes throughout the audition.
*Portions of the audition may be recorded to reference back to after the audition is complete.
Frequently Asked Questions
What class should I register for during course selections (occur before auditions)?
All incoming freshmen and current MVHS students interested in taking any dance class* should register for World Dance or Jazz Dance during course selections.
After auditions, if you are selected to join the Intermediate Dance or Advanced Jazz Dance Class, you will be entered into the class by your counselor. Intermediate and Advanced Jazz Dance class rosters are sent to all of the MVHS counselors after the audition process is complete.
*Students wishing to take Mexican Folkloric Dance should sign up for that specific class.
What credit(s) can I receive for taking a dance class?
You can receive fine arts credit, PE credit, and/or elective credit by taking any dance class, depending on what credit(s) you are in need of.
Do I need to know how to dance to register for Jazz Dance?
No! You do not need any prior dance experience to take the Jazz Dance class. Many Jazz Dance students have never taken a dance class before or have not danced since they were 5 years old. All are welcome!!
You only need prior dance knowledge and experience for the Intermediate and Advanced classes.
Please contact Ms. Lauren Kato (lauren.kato@mvla.net) for more information.
Video Auditions
(If unable to attend in-person audition)
Attending the in person audition is the preferred way to audition for the Intermediate and Advanced Dance Classes. However, any prospective student unable to attend the in person audition may submit an audition video. Specific information about what to include in the audition video can be found below.
Audition Videos Due: Sunday, March 24, 2024
Step 1:
Complete the Audition Form Below:
Step 2:
Create your video audition and submit it to lauren.kato@mvla.net. You may email the original video file OR submit your video as an unlisted YouTube video (recommended) or Vimeo video.
Please include the following in your video:
Introduction of who you are (this can be spoken or displayed in writing in the video)
Demonstration of the following technical skills to music. You may demonstrate them individually or within short "Across-the-floor" type combinations:
Chainés - Right and Left Sides
Piqué Turns - Right and Left Sides
Pirouettes - Right and Left Sides
Battements - Right and Left Sides
Leaps and/or Jumps in Place - Right and Left Sides (Petit allegro, sautés in first, toe touch, what you have space to do, etc.)
Chest isolations
Hip isolations
Body rolls
Optional (Highly recommended): Footage of yourself in a solo performance, a group performance, and/or a class performance video.
This additional footage should be in the style(s) of Jazz, Contemporary, Ballet, Modern, Hip Hop, and/or other dance styles.
This additional footage can be choreographed by yourself or another choreographer.
If a dancer chooses to submit a video of his or herself performing a combination or a piece within a class setting or onstage with a group, the dancer must be clearly identified and/or identifiable. A description of yourself within the group would be greatly appreciated.
Step 3
Please email your video audition to lauren.kato@mvla.net by SUNDAY, MARCH 24, 2024. Please include the following in your email:
Email Subject: "Class Audition Video - Student Name"
Name (first and last)
Student number
Grade level for the following school year