Cecilia Iliesiu lunging to the right en pointe while Dylan Wald supports her from behind

How Could the Audition Process be Better for Dancers—and for Hiring Teams?

With more talented dancers competing for fewer jobs, audition season has become a gauntlet of overcrowded open calls and time-consuming self-tapes. Could auditions be more productive and less painful, for performers and hiring teams alike? A group of high-level performers and choreographers weigh in on their biggest audition issues—and offer solutions. The Application Phase Many […]

a large group of dancers performing a kickline in rehearsal

If at First You Don’t Succeed…Learn How to Navigate Return Auditions

These days, auditioning two, three, four, or more times isn’t an anomaly—it’s often the norm. “In this industry you get told ‘no’ all the time, so auditioning is your job,” says Houston-based musical theater dancer Courtney Chilton. Depending on what corner of the dance scene you’re in, “You might spend more time auditioning than on contracts.”

Is It Time to Rethink Your Audition Approach?

In your wellness workshop at The Ailey School, you suggested that a way to attend a lot of auditions after graduation (without getting depressed) was to see each one as a free class. It worked. I can’t remember how many jobs I’ve tried out for, but I managed to stay hopeful and finally landed a […]

How to Recover from an #AuditionFail

My nerves have been a mess since auditioning for a Nutcracker my teacher recommended me for. I freaked out because I was afraid to disappoint her. I didn’t get hired, although my audition material is being kept on file by the artistic director. I feel like a complete failure. —Loser, Hoboken, NJ I seriously doubt […]

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