HOW TO HELP YOUR DANCER PREPARE FOR AUDITIONS

Auditions are part of dance, whether it is for a role on a studio team or for a professional company, for a dance team or for admission into a college program. There’s no denying that dancers can get anxious about auditions, but you can help them get ready to channel that nervous energy into a brilliant performance. An audition provides a dancer with opportunities to showcase his or her strengths to judges, a situation that will play out in real life for years to come well beyond the world of dance.

8 HEALTHY STRATEGIES

1 Encourage regular practice and versatility. Dancing is a talent, but it’s also a learned skill, and dancers who work hard in class will see their efforts pay off when they’re able to pick up choreography quickly at an audition. Your dancer should take each class seriously and listen to feedback from instructors in order to improve technique. When your child masters one type of dance, he or she should try something completely different in order to be versatile and prepared for anything in an audition. Taking new classes will also help your dancer practice picking up new choreography quickly. Learning choreography is as much of a skill as performing.

2 Encourage cross training. Yoga increases flexibility and core strength. Cardio will increase endurance and work with resistance bands or weights can increase strength for partnering. The audition process often involves running dances over and over again. This element of the audition will show who has endurance and who doesn’t.

3 Help with general healthy behaviors. Good sleep and nutrition lead to a strong dancer, but even better, they lead to the mental clarity needed to process all the information that will be thrown their way at an audition. On the day of the audition, your dancer should eat a light meal about an hour before the audition in order to be in prime condition for a great performance.

4 Be informed before you go. What genre of dance is highlighted? Is there a fee for the audition? Do you need to fill out any forms beforehand or bring a headshot? Do you need special shoes or outfits?

5 Know what to wear. Read the audition materials closely to see whether the directors want to see specific clothing. Generally, it’s important to wear form-fitting clothing so the company or directors can really see form and technique. Your dancer should try to wear something that will make him stand out yet will look neat and professional. Above all, it’s important to bring the proper shoes for the dance they’re performing.

6 Be ready for surprises. Some companies will ask dancers to perform an “improv” piece; others will ask for a group performance. Find out everything you can in advance, but be prepared to adapt to unexpected requests.

7 Arrive to the audition early. Give your dancer time to check out the stage or studio and warm up. Encourage them to stretch, listen to their favorite music and get centered and ready to focus. Discuss the importance of nonverbal signals. Often when young dancers are nervous, smiling is the furthest thing from their minds. Aside from technique, it’s also important for dancers to show that they are friendly team players and it’s a good idea to look at other audition hopefuls as potential team members instead of the competition. The audition begins the moment your dancer walks in the door.

8 Maintain perspective. If your dancer is not selected, some disappointment is natural, but his is valuable training for life. Remember, it’s just an audition. It is one particular set of opinions and the results of an audition are just a moment in time. Take the results as an opportunity to learn more about yourself and grow as an individual.