How to dress up for an audition
Posted by: Henrik Lamark on 31.Mar.2011 18:04
This article is written by Henrik Lamark, the professional ballet dancer behind the increasingly popular ballet-blog Tights and Tiaras.com. Read more about Henrik and his blog here.
When dancers need a job, they audition. I already described that rather heartless process in another post on Tights and Tiaras, check it out if you will..
Anyway, when at an audition, there's always an issue of what to wear. Every dancer in the room want the jury to notice - and like - them enough to hire them. And they fear no means to achieve it. Minimal clothing, extremely colored clothing, psychedelic patterned clothing, stage costumes, bikinis and the likes are all stuff I've seen on my many trips to theaters all over, looking for a job. The tights to the right
But does it work? The dancers that actually gets the job in the end, what are they wearing? Are there some clothes that works better than other in an audition? Will a funky tights like the one to the right help you get noticed at your next audition?
In my experience, the best you can do is really to do "dress up" as little as possible, and no, I do not mean wear as little as possible. Chose clothes you feel fine in, what you'd wear in a normal class (although, if you wear any of these outfits: re-evaluate!) A company will hire you for who you are, your personality and skills, the way you are able to present yourself through the dancing. So basically, there is no rules here, I can't really advice anyone to do this or that - if your personality is best shown through a psychedelic multicolored tights and a leather jacket, then thats what you should wear!
But keep in mind that regardless of style, fashion statements or crazy dressing habits, the jury would like to see you dance. Your body is your instrument, it needs to show. The one-piece (may it burn) is not the right outfit for any dance-audition. Actually, I don't think a one-piece is the right outfit at all. Ever.
The style of the company you are audition for should give you some direction in what to wear - don't bring your b-boy-gear to a ballet audition, and if your auditioning for a MTV music-video, you can probably leave your pink tights at home…
What do you think? What do you put on when you 'dress to impress'? Do you have any favorite audition-wear?
Read more dance-related How to's on Tights and Tiaras
When dancers need a job, they audition. I already described that rather heartless process in another post on Tights and Tiaras, check it out if you will..
Anyway, when at an audition, there's always an issue of what to wear. Every dancer in the room want the jury to notice - and like - them enough to hire them. And they fear no means to achieve it. Minimal clothing, extremely colored clothing, psychedelic patterned clothing, stage costumes, bikinis and the likes are all stuff I've seen on my many trips to theaters all over, looking for a job. The tights to the right But does it work? The dancers that actually gets the job in the end, what are they wearing? Are there some clothes that works better than other in an audition? Will a funky tights like the one to the right help you get noticed at your next audition?
In my experience, the best you can do is really to do "dress up" as little as possible, and no, I do not mean wear as little as possible. Chose clothes you feel fine in, what you'd wear in a normal class (although, if you wear any of these outfits: re-evaluate!) A company will hire you for who you are, your personality and skills, the way you are able to present yourself through the dancing. So basically, there is no rules here, I can't really advice anyone to do this or that - if your personality is best shown through a psychedelic multicolored tights and a leather jacket, then thats what you should wear!
But keep in mind that regardless of style, fashion statements or crazy dressing habits, the jury would like to see you dance. Your body is your instrument, it needs to show. The one-piece (may it burn) is not the right outfit for any dance-audition. Actually, I don't think a one-piece is the right outfit at all. Ever.
The style of the company you are audition for should give you some direction in what to wear - don't bring your b-boy-gear to a ballet audition, and if your auditioning for a MTV music-video, you can probably leave your pink tights at home…
What do you think? What do you put on when you 'dress to impress'? Do you have any favorite audition-wear?
Read more dance-related How to's on Tights and Tiaras
