Audition Season Top Tips

Audition season is here, and we know it can be a nerve-wracking time for many dancers. That's why we’re here to help with our top tips on how to absolutely smash your dance auditions! Whether you’re about to start your professional journey or auditioning for your dream dance college, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading to discover our expert tips and tricks that will help you navigate the audition process with confidence, preparation, and ease. From perfecting your technique to staying mentally strong, we’ll guide you every step of the way to make this season as stress-free as possible!

 

Prepare like a pro

• Research the dance school or company as much as possible before your audition. Understanding their values and style is important because you want to make sure the establishment you are applying to be a part of aligns with your dance style and values. 
• Make sure you warm up properly before the audition, you want to be at your best during the audition therefore warming up your muscles is essential to avoid injury and perform at your best. 
• Wear your favourite dance outfit! Feeling comfortable and confident in your audition is so important, so all you have to worry about is dancing at your best and enjoying yourself. If you feel your best you will perform at your best!  Remember to ensure your dance outfit still aligns with the auditions dress code as sometimes there are specific requirements on what you can and can't wear. 

 

Make a strong first impression

• Walk in with confidence, even if you are feeling super nervous try not to let the panel see your nerves you've got this! 
• Be present and engaged in your dance audition. It's important to fully immerse yourself in the moment and focus on every movement, from the smallest detail to the bigger picture. Show the audition panel that you are not only technically skilled but also passionate and committed. Your energy and engagement will shine through and leave a lasting impression. 
• Listen carefully to instructions and try to pick up the choreography as quickly as you can. Choreographers want dancers who are switched on and can quickly absorb new material. They appreciate dancers who can adapt and demonstrate strong learning skills in a short amount of time. By staying focused and attentive, you show that you can follow direction, make adjustments, and maintain the quality of your performance, even under pressure. 

 

Show your musicality & performance quality

• Connect with the music and use dynamics in your movement. You want to be able to stand out from the crowd and adding dynamics to your performance will help you do this. Connecting to the music will show artistry and musicality. 
• Remember dance is not all about dance technique, you need to show artistry, expression and stage presence. Showing your passion and performance quality through your movements is just as important as executing perfect technique. Let your personality shine through each step and make an emotional connection with the panel. Choreographers want to see dancers who can bring life to the movement, tell a story, and captivate the room with their energy and presence. It’s not just about hitting the right steps! 
• Even if you are in an audition with a large group of dancers, perform like you are on the stage! The most important thing in a dance audition is to show your individuality, performance  and dance skills. We know it's scary but try not to get lost in the back, push yourself and step out of your comfort zone as much as possible. Get to the front when you can and show the audition panel what you can do! 

 

Keep focused and stay resilient 

• If you make a mistake don't worry, recover and keep going. Everybody makes mistakes, nobody is perfect. The best thing to do is pick yourself up and keep going. Staying composed and continuing with confidence shows resilience and professionalism. How you handle a mistake is often more important than the mistake itself. Choreographers are looking for dancers who can stay focused, adjust quickly, and maintain their performance level, even when things don't go as planned. 
• Don’t compare yourself to others, we know this can be really hard due to the competitive nature of the dance industry. Try to focus on yourself as much as possible and show them what you're made of. Distracting yourself by looking at what other people are doing and not focusing on yourself will only have a negative effect on your performance. Be confident in yourself and your skills, you've got this! 
• Try and stay professional and composed, whether you get a callback or not it's ok, you can try again. Rejection is part of being a dancer and everyone will experience it at some point in their career, it's important to not take it personally and keep going. Try and learn and grow from it and use it as motivation to improve. Every audition is an opportunity to learn, whether you get the job or not. Stay focused on your growth, and remember that rejection doesn’t define your worth or talent. Keep working hard and stay positive. 

 

Hopefully these tips will help to get you through audition season stress free. Remember to stay positive, believe in yourself and enjoy.

 

Whether its a jazz or ballet audition, we have lots of dancwear to choose from. If you need a bit of inspiration on what to wear check out our Audition Outfit Do's and Dont's blog. 

Good luck! 

The Move Dance Team