Dance Auditions Tips with Jacie Scott

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. With the rhinestones a blingin, and all the girls prepping to bring their good cheer. It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

That’s right, ladies and gents. Audition season is upon us.

And while no two auditions are the same, I have five tips that will ensure you put your best self forward no matter who you are auditioning for this season.

Check it out:

Get Serious About Your Prep

Please don’t let the audition be the first time you’ve danced in weeks, months or, like, ever. Try to get into some classes in the style of the team or company that you are auditioning for so your body can get familiar with the movement. If you can’t get into any classes, rearrange the furniture in your living room or bedroom and learn some choreo from YouTube/practice your improv skills.

Your audition prep should also include mental prep. Try to envision yourself in the audition space. What will you be wearing? How will you look? How do you want to feel when it’s your time to perform? How do you want to feel after the music stops and you’ve done your final move? What will it take to make you feel this way? Really envision it. So, when you actually attend the audition, you feel like you’ve been there. That confidence will take you far.

Finally, be sure to practice moving in full hair, makeup, and outfit. Just so there are no surprises. Which brings me to the next tip…

Do You

If you’ve never worn hair extensions or danced with them, then don’t get them just for the audition. If you are a brunette, and you’ve never dyed your hair before, but you think dying it red will put you at an advantage… don’t do it. Seriously.

Auditions are all about presenting the best version of yourself to judges. Wear your hair in a style that is flattering to you, as opposed to one that you think the judges/directors/whoever wants to see. Wear an outfit that abides by the outfit requirements, but also flatters your body type. Wear a color that looks best on you. Trust me. Judges won’t be like, “Ah yes. Let’s go with the girl in our team’s colors because she’s in our team’s colors.”

If you want to stand out, bring the best version of YOU to the table; because no one else has that.

Pay Attention To Details

In high school, I had a math teacher who always told us to “pay attention to details” when working through our math problems. We can dive into my math woes another time, but I’ve found that this advice proves solid in the dance world – especially when auditioning.

If you’re auditioning for any team in the NFL, NBA, NHL, etc., you will have to learn choreography, and it will probably be taught quickly. This is when you really want to pay attention to the details presented to you. Focus on whoever is teaching the material, listen to how they explain the movement, watch how they execute it and try your best to apply those details to your body. Try to be as FULL OUT as possible when learning the choreography and details. I believe that individuality is extremely important, but so is maintaining the integrity of the choreography. The goal is to show the judges that you can do both.

Breathe

Inhale, 2, 3, 4, exhale, 6, 7, 8. The energy at auditions can be crazy town! Beautiful, talented people all around prepping to pursue the dream – your dream. It can be incredibly intimidating and an invitation for negative, comparing thoughts to settle in your mind. Inhale, 2, 3, 4, exhale, 6, 7, 8.   

Focusing on your breath will help bring you back to the present. Breathe and remember who you are, where you are, why you’re there and how hard you worked to get there. Be so busy being present in that incredible opportunity to pursue your dream that you don’t have time to compare yourself to anyone else in the room. 

Have Fun

I mean, duh. At the end of the day, auditions provide another opportunity to dance. Go out there and do what you love, and I promise the judges will notice that joy.

Now, take this audition season by storm. You got this.

Follow JACIE SCOTT on Instagram @JacieScott