In my last column, I discussed the power and necessity of networking in order to build your brand and your career.

Now, I’d like to talk a bit about what happens during the actual “audition.” Here in New York City, and around the world, auditions for schools, dance companies, and shows are happening everyday. For a popular company or show, hundreds of people could be auditioning for 1 or 2 spots. So let’s say you did all of the “pre- audition” work. You have the right education, you went to the workshops and events, you got your foot in the door. Congratulations, you have now been “invited” to the audition! Just you and 150 other talented dancers who also did the necessary network building to get through the initial screening process (Lol).

So now that I’ve made it into the room with all of these other talented dancers, what makes me standout?

In the last couple of months, I have had the opportunity to sit on several adjudication panels and let me tell you, it has been a truly eye-opening experience! As someone who is still a working professional dancer (and must go on auditions just like everyone else) it’s so enlightening to sit on the other side… to observe the kinds of actions, mannerisms, and unconscious choices that can have a huge impact on whether or not you are invited to the next round. What I have noticed is a consistent and unfortunate disparity between how many of us may “think” we are portraying ourselves and what the judges panel is actually seeing.

I was recently on the panel for a summer dance intensive for teenagers. One young man in particular stood out. He was talented for sure, but his talent was not the first thing we noticed when he walked through the door. He made sure to catch our eye with his unconventional attire and unique hair style. While the demonstrator was showing the combinations at the barre, he would drop into a split and stretch. Directly after showing the Grand Allegro, he raised his hand to ask “So during the grand jete are the arms here or here?” to which the demonstrator replied “The arms are where I just showed them…”

Later, I asked the young man why he would ask a question that had such an obvious answer? He told me that in his school they use the arms differently and that he just wanted to make sure he understood correctly so that he wouldn’t be penalized when going across the floor.

A fair enough answer… but unfortunately, in this world we can have the best of intentions and still APPEAR to have ulterior motives. We as artists, whose careers depend on the perception of a panel (for better or for worse), MUST learn how to dress, act, and speak in a way that effectively relays our intentions to those in the front of the room.

It is actually no different than interpreting a role. It’s not always about how it feels to you personally, but how it reads to your audience. I may want to get completely swept up in my emotional interpretation of a character, but that could read as self indulgent and unclear from an audiences perspective. The way I play a certain part might have to change if I’m in a giant opera house vs. a small black box theater.  The costumes, make-up, and lighting may have to shift as well. Why? Because truth is relative.

And here are some uncomfortable truths:

  • You could be the sweetest, nicest person in the world… But if you come across as having an attitude in an audition, then you might get cut because the team of directors doesn’t want to work with you. And they may come to that conclusion over something as simple as the bagginess of your shirt, or the length of your finger nails, or the way you sit in your hip.
  • You could be the most invested and excited person in the audition… But if you appear “over it” or disinterested in any way, you will probably get cut. And that could happen by simply crossing your arms at some point during the audition or standing in the back of room because you are nervous or intimidated by the talent around you.
  • You might just be really interested in knowing every single detail of the choreography or phrase… But if the judges see a pandering, obnoxious, attention seeker… then you are going get cut (period.)

We can like or dislike this… but the truth is that at an audition or interview, the people judging you probably don’t know who you are and the only impression they have of you is what you present that day. As I mentioned in my last post, we MUST, as educators do better in teaching aspiring dancers about audition etiquette, about body language, about implicit bias, and about overall presentation.

This information is incredibly important, especially for people who may come from communities or cultures that are outside the mainstream. Your ways, your process, and your norm may be different than others. You don’t have to change who are (nor should you)… but we do all need to be aware that in fast paced, high pressure environments, every little action and choice makes a difference. It would be a shame for a talented dancer to not receive ALL of the opportunities he or she deserves because they don’t realize the way the world perceives them.

After talking to this young man, I could not help but think about how many talented dancers must get passed over every day because of misunderstandings or miscommunications like this one. I know so many deserving artists who just can’t seem to catch a break. What makes a judges panel want to work with this person instead of that? How big a role do these tiny little factors play in the bigger picture?

What I ultimately found most disturbing, was the realization that normally no one ever takes the time to tell you that it was your baggy shirt, or where you stood, or the moment you asked a silly question that eliminated you from consideration. We, as dancers and as artists, then simply leave the room wondering if we are not good enough. If our dancing didn’t measure up. If maybe… just maybe we aren’t worthy.

I’m here to tell us all (myself included) that we are… but we have to start being realistic with ourselves as well and recognize what we may be doing (even unconsciously) to hold ourselves back. We must be present, aware, hyper tuned in always, because if I’m being completely honest… most of these things happen when we zone out or aren’t paying close attention to the energy of the room. Lastly, I am here to tell us all that we are good enough. We do measure up, and we are in fact worthy. Auditions are SO subjective already… let’s WAKE UP and stop allowing silly non factors, that could be easily fixed, to keep us from our greatness!

-Nigey