VPA Dance 

The Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) High School dance program offers training in various dance genres such as Ballet, Modern, Jazz, World Dance, Pointe, Dance Production and Dance Composition. Appreciation of Dance as an art form is approached through studies in technique, dance history, arts integration and in school and outside performance opportunities. Students are also exposed to anatomy, career pathways in Dance and various local, state, and national dance performance opportunities.

What are we looking for? 

In the VPA, we are here to teach dance – prior training is certainly considered and valued, but we are first and foremost evaluating your potential and passion for dance. During your audition, we will be looking for students who :

• Physically and verbally express their passion for the art of dance  

• Show a strong desire to work diligently on technique   

• Display a willingness to accept and apply correction   

• Exhibit flexibility, a natural sense of movement, musicality, an innate ability to follow directions, maintain a positive attitude at all times and the physique & stamina appropriate for rigorous dance instruction

• Students who are serious about taking their passion for dance to the next level and who are potentially considering pursuing dance pathways after high school and beyond

• Students who are open to learning new styles of dance from various choreographers

The audition process itself: 

2024-2025 VPA DANCE AUDITION CHECKLIST 

Dance Attire:

Auditioning students should be in appropriate dance attire.

• No jewelry; hair must be pulled back and secured (in a bun if possible). If the hair is too short for a bun, please secure the hair from the face with a headband and bobby pins.

• No dance shoes are required for the audition process; however, if you have Ballet or Jazz shoes, you may bring them. If you do not have Ballet or Jazz shoes, bare feet are acceptable.

• Option #1: any color leotard and footless or convertible dance tights (SEE BELOW)

• Option #2: bike pants, jazz pants or non-baggy sweatpants and a white fitted t-shirt (SEE BELOW)

VPA High School Dance IN-PERSON Auditions

What to expect? How to Prepare?

Total Performance Audition time: 3  Hours

• Once we are in receipt of your application, parents/students will receive a confirmation via email. 

• The VPA Dance Auditions will take place on TBD.  The VPA Dance audition will be held in person at the school they are applying for (Northwestern High School or Suitland High School)

• A panel of Dance adjudicators will score the audition process using a rubric that focuses on the following:  Flexibility/ Extension, Projection of Movement & Artistry,  Musicality & Timing, Movement Memory & Ability to Pick Up Movement, Technique, Alignment, Overall Dance Performance, and Improvisation.  

• During the in-person audition, dancers will be taught by VPA Dance teachers in Ballet, Jazz, and Modern genres. All dance combinations will be learned on the spot.

• Dancers will physically participate in the live  IN-PERSON Dance audition during the time slot he/she was provided during the audition registration. 

• The audition will take place in a group setting during each technique class (Ballet, Modern, Jazz).  Every student will be given a number to wear during the audition process so that adjudicators can identify and score them accordingly. Although students will take class as a group, they will be scored independently of one another.

• Dancers will be asked to improvise (makeup dance phrases at the moment) at the direction of the adjudication panel at the end of one of the previously learned Modern combinations.  Improvisation should not be choreographed in advance prior to the audition.

• The VPA Dance audition will require that each dancer present a 2-minute solo in the dance style of their choice that highlights their Dance technique, artistry, and talent.  The solo can be choreographed by the student or a dance teacher, etc. Musical selections for the 2-minute solo should be appropriate in terms of content and should not have profanity in the lyrics.  If possible, students can consider using an instrumental version of the song they are dancing to for the solo.

• The student must learn and perform all of the combinations, including Ballet Adagio (slow movement), Ballet Petit Allegro (small jumps), the Modern combination, and the Jazz combination. All auditioning students must also be prepared to perform a two-minute solo, which will be choreographed either by the student auditioning or by another dance teacher.

SEND QUESTIONS TO THE DANCE SUPERVISOR:

Temisha K. Richardson - temisha.richardson@pgcps.org