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Monday, July 11, 2016

Marvelous Monday Long and Short



Marvelous Monday Long and Short

Today I am adding a new category: Auditions. A part of every dancer’s life, auditions are a necessary evil, but we heartily dislike them. What is more dehumanizing than facing a line of clipboards while dancing in an overcrowded room with a number pinned to your chest? Oh well. That’s usually how it works. Therefore  I will occasionally be posting “secrets” on auditions and how to make them more palatable.

The first thing to think about is today’s secret:  “Sometimes the reason a dancer isn’t selected has nothing to do with their technique.”  This is often true. If a dancer is accomplished enough to be auditioning, their technique is (or should be) pretty good. There are many reasons why a dancer may be rejected besides technique. One is their height. If a company has a roster of shorter men, they aren’t going to hire a tall dancer, no matter how good she is. ( It is helpful to find out before attending an audition if there is a height requirement.)

Sometimes a dance company is seeking to replace a dancer due to injury or retirement, and he or she has a certain “look” that the company needs for the roles this dancer created. If you happen to have this look, you’re in luck. If not….

Then there is the subjective nature of dance itself. Some directors like long-legged, lyrical dancers, and some prefer short, dynamic powerhouses. It is a personal choice, and not necessarily an indictment against the dancer’s technique if he/she is not selected.

Sound confusing? Daunting?  It is. But it is how the system works. So if you aren’t being selected, teke heart and remember it may have nothing to do with how “good” you are. Keep auditioning, and eventually you will be in the right place at the right time.

                                                                       
From the Big Blue Book of Ballet Secrets:

Audition Secret #26a
Sometimes the reason a dancer isn’t selected has nothing to do with their technique.”


Link of the Day:

Quote of the Day:
“Don’t let mental blocks control you. Set yourself free. Confront your fear and turn the mental blocks into building blocks.”
Rooplee

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