Audition Secrets – Body Language

How to make a great first impression and avoid body language blunders! (Reading time: 3 min.)

Your body language during an audition can greatly influence the way others perceive your work ethic and personality. One thing you have to remember at every audition is that the person in charge is a human being, and human beings tend to form biased opinions about others. Even if you’re the most talented dancer in the room, you might not be selected if your body language shows you’re not eager to work hard and give 110% effort. Follow these body language tips to boost your chances for audition success and to make a great first impression!

Posture And Facial Expression

If you look like you’re not listening, people are likely to assume you don’t care. You might be unaware that your posture or facial expression makes you appear bored or uninterested, which is why it is so important to pay attention to body language. Are you slouching? Staring off into space? Fidgeting? Any of these actions can send a choreographer the wrong message. 

When you listen to the person leading the audition address the group of dancers, avoid crossing your arms. Instead, hold them behind your back with fingers laced to convey an open, humble, and receptive position. Maintain eye contact with the person, react genuinely to their words, and nod occasionally to show that you’re listening. Avoid yawning and looking at anything other than the person talking to you. Again, people form biased opinions about others, so if a choreographer is talking about his work and he looks over to see you staring out the window, he’s going to make the assumption that you’re not interested. 

Show Your Eagerness to Work

Throughout the audition process, there are several things you can do to demonstrate that you’re a hard worker. When a combination is being taught, always do the movement with the choreographer. Even if you think you know the movement and you’ve practiced it a dozen times, continue to review the choreography. If the person conducting the audition sees you just standing there in the middle of the group while others are dancing, you’ll be singled out as lazy or confused.

When a choreographer spends a considerable amount of time demonstrating a specific movement, you can assume that this moment is important. The choreographer will likely watch this part of the dance closely to make casting decisions. Once the person finishes the demonstration, show that you can apply the movement to your own body by trying out the movement a couple of times. Don’t just stand there. Even if you know how to do the movement and don’t feel the need to practice, do it anyway and take all opportunities to demonstrate your understanding. This active participation will express your dedication and willingness to learn.

Be Active The Entire Audition

In most dance auditions, you’ll find yourself spending a great deal of time standing on the sides of the room as small groups of dancers perform choreography. Use this waiting time to practice! Instead of standing and watching, mark the combination on the side every single time it’s being performed. Be respectful of the dancers that are performing and make sure you truly stay out of the way on the sidelines. By practicing the movement over and over again, your body will remember the movement when your turn comes to perform. Give yourself all the practice you can get to feel confident in your performance. Additionally, the choreographer will likely notice your dedication and will take note of your strong work ethic. Choreographers want dancers who go the extra mile to work hard, so show them you have these characteristics from the moment the audition begins. 

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Happy reading and happy dancing!