Hi! I dont know if you take asks like this, so feel free not to answer if you dont! I'm thinking about auditioning for my university's dance team in a few months. However, the dance team I was on in high school was focused on only hip hop with a little bit of jazz and my university's team also does lyrical and contemporary. Are there any skills, etc. I should work on from those styles before auditions? Any tips from you or your followers? Thank you so much!
Of course I do! I’ll always be honest if I receive a question I don’t really know the answer to, but I definitely think this is something that while I wasn’t on any kind of collegiate dance team myself, I can answer. I’ve had enough friends go through that process in both high school and college that I’ve picked up on a few general tips that might be helpful.
1. Don’t be afraid to really be working on your fundamentals (technique) up until that point. Make sure your hip placement is the best it can be, that your toes are pointed, knees are straight, etc. You don’t want to become obsessive or try to completely re-program yourself to do certain moves in an entirely new way, so focus on tidying up the awesome skills you already have and focus on small improvements on the rest. If you get a chance to practice or take some classes in those other styles then definitely do so, but if not, make sure you’re doing what you know the best you can.
2. If you can, use a studio and record yourself going over combinations, particularly things like jumps and turns. It’s a great way to pick up on little things that might need polishing. For instance, I recently worked with a girl on jumps who hadn’t realized she’d been dropping her chest, and once I let her know that and showed her on the video, she was able to correct it quickly.
3. Don’t forget the face! Dance teams love a dancer who shines on the stage, court, or field, so perfecting that smile is always a plus!
4. Exercise. You want to make sure you’re keeping your stamina up so you won’t tire out during your audition. You’ll also want to make sure you’re staying hydrated. As a dancer already, you’ll know this, but some do forget the little things leading up to auditions.
5. Plan and pack ahead. Plan what you’ll be auditioning in in advance or practice in it a few times if possible.You want to feel great about yourself going into the audition and you want to be comfortable in what you’re wearing. Make sure you have extra hair ties, water, band-aids, deodorant, pads/tampons, etc. Even if you don’t end up needing those things and are fully prepared, there may be another dancer who will need your help. It’s always good to have those things on hand.
While it sounds like a cliche, the most important thing is to be confident, trust yourself and your body to know what to do, and to keep dancing. Don’t overthink it. Be yourself, have fun, and believe in everything you’ve learned so far.
I’m so excited for you for taking this step! You’ll have to send me an update after the audition and let me know how it goes.
