Most dancers’ first experience at auditioning is for a full-time dance course. What should you expect? Nina Levy gets the lowdown.
I’ll always remember my audition for the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). I had never done an audition before but I was feeling reasonably calm. When I arrived at WAAPA and saw all those other limber and capable looking bodies in the foyer, however, I wanted to turn and run away. I suddenly realised that I only had a sketchy idea of what to expect from the day.
As with me, auditioning for a dance course may be your first audition experience. Even if it isn’t, it’s useful to have some tips about what to expect and what is expected of you. To get the lowdown, I spoke to Jason Coleman, chief executive officer of Jason Coleman’s Ministry of Dance; Maxine Kohler, principal of the McDonald College; associate professor Gene Moyle, head of dance at Queensland University of Technology, and Christine Walsh, director of the Australian Conservatoire of Ballet.
The first step in auditioning for any course is to find out how to apply. This information is generally available online. Remember that your success at the audition starts with your application and it may be more complicated then you expect, so it’s worth getting started as early as possible. In addition, deadlines for applications may be well in advance of audition dates, which in turn may be well in advance of course commencement dates...
This is an extract from the current (Aug/Sep) issue of Dance Australia. To read the full article, buy a copy from your favourite dance shop or newsagents or subscribe here.
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