Auditions: More Prep is Better

Dress the part.

Arrive at destination.

Put on a number.

Enter a room with hundreds of people who want what you want.

Audition (i.e. dance your heart out.)

Do your best.

Hope for the best.

It's enough to freak anybody out, right? It can feel like jumping off a mountain! Everyone says not to worry, just dance, and if it's meant to be, it's meant to be. While that's partially true, it's not all there is to being prepared.

In my opinion, more is definitely better when it comes to preparation.

That's why I created an Audition Package, just for you.

Here are some of the things that I address when helping my dancers prepare for auditions.

• Rationally assess what's expected of you beforehand.

Too many dancers don't think this one through and get bombarded by all kinds of emotions when the audition is already underway. Instead, I like to anticipate these emotions and explore what's coming up. Who expects what? Can they meet the expectations? What would it mean if they did or didn't?This kind of pre-audition thinking can relieve a lot of pressure during the actual audition.

• Work on getting self-talk as positive as possible.

I'm sure I sound like a broken record, but it's still true: what your dancer thinks about while dancing can make or break her. Let's be sure it's positive, constructive, and helpful, rather than the contrary. No one but she can turn things around mentally in the middle of an audition. And it does take some practice to build up good self-talk.

• Have a do-or-die routine in place that will drown out the noise and confusion of the audition.

All performers need routine: it helps calm the mind and body when we can go on auto-pilot before an audition or performance. A routine can include how a dancer packs her dance bag, what she eats before the audition, and how early she'll arrive to warm up. (In my next newsletter I will write more about how to create this routine.)

• Focus only on what you can control.

The dancer next to you has legs that go on forever and perfect turnout? The one behind you turns for days and the one in front jumps like a gazelle? Why have you even noticed those things?

It is too easy to get caught up in watching other dancers or in bemoaning conditions that are beyond your control, like a slippery floor. Mindfulness is key in an audition, but it can't be built overnight. Together we'll work on combatting distraction and narrowing your focus to only those things that make you dance your best.

All of these topics and more are covered in my my packages. If you think your dancer could benefit from my support, please head over to my website to schedule a Discovery Session with me. We can get started on this and many other tools to help your dancer be perfectly prepared for auditions this winter.