Audition season is just around the corner. It can be brutal and cut-throat, but it can be a great experience too. Here are some top tips on to survive audition season and thrive.

Research

Have you researched the places you are thinking of going to? Do you know what they may be looking for in terms of specific dances choices, monologues, repertoire?
Have you ensured that you choose relevant pieces for the different places?
These are crucial questions to have answer to as you may need different choices for different schools.

Practice to survive audition season

Make sure you have seen someone for a couple of months (as a minimum) to help with coaching for auditions. Too many times we’ve been asked to help for an audition with just a couple of sessions. We can be pretty sure that won’t get you to the confidence, technique or artistry that is being looked for by those watching and listening on the day.

Choose something suitable

What do you think will be better – a ‘big’, ‘strong’ song or complex routine where there is a place you are unsure of and ‘could’ go wrong on the day, or a slightly less complex one where you are confident for every note/movement, meaning, and purpose that you are showcasing? I can tell you the those watching your auditions will want the latter. Each school will be looking for their own particular things, which is why it is so important to do your research and select your performances based on that. You may not do the same thing at each audition. However, one thing that all will be looking for is authenticity, and the joy when you perform.

Go into the audition wanting to learn from it

You are going to have access to workshops during your audition day – learn from these workshops. Take every stage as a learning curve. You will gain valuable experience from the things that went well, and the things that didn’t.

Remember you are auditioning the schools as much as they are auditioning you. Look round, ask questions – are you willing to spend 3 years at a place you don’t think will be right for you just because they made you an offer?

Don’t go in expecting

Treat it all as a learning curve. The chances are very slim for you to be offered a place. It could be as simple as being in the wrong line during your dance workshop, or that you don’t have the right look for that year. (Yes – I’ve said it!!!)

You are likely to get a lot of ‘no’s during audition season. Some lucky ones will get in to their first choices on their first attempt, more will be offered somewhere. Some will refuse the offer they have (yes – you can do that!) and wait to try again the following year. Others will keep on trying for 3-4 years (or more) until they succeed.

If you have done your research, done your practicing, made appropriate choices for what you will be performing, learnt from auditions you have already been through, and don’t go in expecting anything, then you will survive audition season. In fact, you will thrive and come out with so much more.

If you want help with prepping for auditions then contact us to discuss how we can help you out. We have past-students at Laines, Arts Ed, Bird, GSA, Chichester, Emil Dale Academy, Urdang, and many more schools.