At 6:30 am on a brisk day in September 2018, Christina Kotsopoulos found herself standing in an open-call audition line for Wicked on Broadway—wholly unprepared for what was about to happen. She had just spent the last four years at SUNY Purchase primarily studying concert dance. The training had taught her foolproof concert audition tips, […]

There’s something uniquely crushing about summer intensive rejection. Perhaps it’s because it’s the first time many students have ever experienced this kind of rebuff. Or perhaps it’s simply hard to not think, If I can’t even get into the summer program, how am I ever going to be good enough to make it in dance?

Summer intensive auditions can turn dancers into a bundle of nerves. With so many decisions to make each step of the way, you might end up second-guessing every choice. Will breaking out four pirouettes, when the audition proctor only asked for a double, be well received, or will it be seen as disrespectful? 

If you ask experts in the performance industry, they’ll tell you that one of the best ways to book work in 2022 is to post content online for casting directors and agencies to see. Even better? A dance reel that demonstrates your skill in a variety of genres. Unfortunately for me, the last legit video […]

Ah, audition day. The flurry of new choreography, the long lines of dancers, the wait for callbacks. It’s an environment dancers know well, but it can also come with great stress. Learning how to be best prepared for the big day is often the key to staying calm and performing to your fullest potential (and […]

Choreographer Amy Gardner used to consistently run into the same problem: When jobs popped up in different cities, whether for Nick Jonas or Neiman Marcus, finding dancers wasn’t easy, and casting was slowing down her momentum. “Sometimes we’re looking in Slovenia or Mexico City, and even in L.A. or New York not all dancers are […]

As I finished my last grueling medical treatment just over a year ago, my doctor said something to me: “Your body has stuck with you through a lot. Do something special with your life to show your gratitude.” For nine years I have struggled with the debilitating effects of chronic Lyme disease. Now, as my […]

Looking for dance work? Browse these casting calls for dancers, courtesy of Backstage. Dancers with disabilities for a talent series Casting for a digital series. A well known YouTuber will meet up with various dancers with disabilities to get to know each other, and collaborate on an epic dance performance together. They’ll exchange stories and […]