10 Easy-to-Remember Tips for a Successful Dance Audition

Audition is important to a dancer. It’s your chance to show off your skills and what you can do. If you have an upcoming dance call, it’s important to be prepared—physically, mentally, and emotionally. To help you, we offer you these 10 tips you can follow so you will nail that next audition.

1. Eat breakfast

There’s a good reason it’s the most important meal of the day. You have not slept well the previous night and that jittery feeling is not helping you at all and eating is the last thing you want to do. But remember that you need energy, so eat and make it earlier.

2. Be mindful of your appearance

This is very basic, but it’s really important. You should look refined. Choose your attire carefully. When auditioning for a part as a dancer, judges are interested to see not just your technique and how you handle the choreography but also how physically fit you are. And it will show on your physique.

It’s important that you are physically prepared because you might be given a hectic schedule of shows. A body-fit clothing is recommended with the type of cloth that makes you feel comfortable and color that makes you look good. For ladies, don’t wear heavy makeup, just enough to highlight your features. And if you have a long hair, make sure that you tie it in a ponytail so as not to cover your face. It helps the judges see much better of you. Dancing with your hair crowding your face is annoying and distracting.

3. Be prepared for a jam-packed studio

 That means you have a limited space to move around. Of course you may want to get to the front but there’s no need to force it, really, because a good choreographer can spot a good dancer. When the studio is full of dancers, there’s a good chance that there will be switching of places during auditions. Sometimes the dancers will be divided into groups. The problem with this is that you will be given lesser time to learn the combination.

4. Pay close attention to the choreographer

As mentioned in the previous item, although rare, there are times when the combination is taught a little faster, so pay close attention, listen, watch carefully, and learn. Observe the style and immediately copy it. There’s a reason it is shown to you, it’s probably what the production is needed. If you can pick up the method, you’re likely to fit in the show.

5. Focus on yourself

Some dancers can’t help themselves but check out the other talents in the studio. Don’t. If you do that, it means you are not confident of yourself. You’re not capable of executing the movements yourself. So think only about yourself. If you’re only copying the movements of others, you’ll be one beat late of the actual dance choreography. Since your attention is on the person in front or beside you, your face will be devoid of expression, which is not good. Facial expression is important in dancing.

6. Ask questions

If you need something to understand, don’t hesitate to ask. If you’re having a difficulty following steps and you’re just learning them from the person in front of you, ask the choreographer to switch lines. Most of the time, choreographers welcome questions. Listening helps, even if you’re not the one asking; and even if you already know the answer, you still have to listen.

7. Ready your mind and body for the elimination rounds

The choreographer is done teaching you everything. The next process is the elimination round. Depending on the number of dancers present in the studio, you will be divided into smaller groups mostly with three to six persons in a group. Most of the time dancers are given a chance to do the routine twice but not always. So just in case, do your best at the first try.

If you get to dance twice (normally the front and back line will exchange positions), you have to give it all—your style, your technique, and your expression. Don’t mind it if you make a mistake, catch the judges’ eyes and continue doing the combination. If you make a big mistake to the point that you just want to run away, control yourself. You don’t want the judges to think that you’re the kind of dancer who has a tendency to give up. Once you’re performing, you can’t just walk away. “The show must go on!”

8. Look strong

Yes, you have to look strong after you have danced. Even if you’re tired and out of breath, you have to control yourself and keep your posture. Elimination round happens so fast in dance auditions. If you easily get tired, you’ll not make it to the next round. So hold on.

9. Follow good audition etiquette

While waiting to be called, don’t stay at the back of the studio. Always stay at the side and don’t dance your heart out if it’s not your turn. It’s distracting and impolite. Just focus on the choreography, keep warm, and dance only with your toes in your shoes; and if you must move your arms, move it lightly. And another thing, don’t talk. If all are talking, it’s rowdy and distracting.

10. Ready yourself for the result

There are only two scenario here. First, your name is called out and you’re asked to sing. Second, your name is not called out. If it’s the first, lucky you, but don’t get excited. Keep your focus and do what you are asked to do. You don’t have to change clothes, you can keep your dancing clothes in case you’re asked again to dance. If it’s the latter, carry on. Don’t feel bad about it, exit with pride.

The most important thing is you have done your best. It’s not that you had a bad audition, it simply means you’re not the dancer the show requires. In any profession in the world, rejection is always part of it. And to be able to deal with it graciously shows strength of character.

Here’s an extra tip on how to learn quick pick up.

Definitely there is no pick-up class. It’s actually simple—practice. There’s no such thing as too much practice. Attend different dance classes with different teachers or choreographers. Since each choreographer has their own styles and techniques, once you get used to their different methods, it will become easier for you to pick up different choreography.