What No One Tells You About Professional Ballet Company Auditions
If you’re like many of the dancers I work with, you are diving headfirst into audition season.
You might be realizing that there are so many things about company auditions that no one really explains. I learned most of them the hard way, just by going out there and doing it.
When I started auditioning for professional companies, I started out feeling pretty confident. I grew up in a pre-professional ballet school and auditioned all the time, for roles in our productions and for summer intensives. I was fairly comfortable auditioning and felt like I knew what to expect.
And then I went to my first professional company audition, and very quickly realized that I did not know how this worked.
Company auditions are a totally different experience from summer intensive auditions. Yes, your training prepares you in a lot of really beautiful ways, but there are some key differences that can really catch dancers off guard if you’re not expecting them.
So I want to walk you through the things no one tells you before you start auditioning for companies.
1. The Audition Starts the Moment You Leave Your House
This is the first thing I always tell dancers.
The audition does not start when you walk into the building. It does not start when you get your number. It doesn’t even start when you do your first plié.
The audition starts the moment you walk out your front door.
You truly never know who you might run into. You could be on the same plane, the same subway, or standing in line for coffee next to the artistic director, and have absolutely no idea.
So be aware of how you’re talking. Be aware of how you’re treating people. Be aware of how you’re speaking about the audition before you even get there.
If you’re complaining, spiraling, or speaking negatively, there’s a chance someone hears you. And character matters just as much as technique in these moments.
From the second you leave your house, you are already auditioning.
2. You’re Going to See the Same Dancers Everywhere
This was something that really messed with my head at first.
Once you start doing company auditions, you realize pretty quickly that you’re seeing the same dancers over and over again. You’re all going for the same contracts and showing up to the same auditions.
I remember seeing dancers I really admired and immediately thinking, “Oh no, she’s here. What’s even the point of auditioning, she’s so much better than me”.
That mindset is so easy to fall into, and it’s also completely unhelpful.
Instead, I really encourage you to talk to people! Say hi, chat in the dressing room, talk before or after the audition.
It’s so important to remember that those dancers you admire are human. They’re nervous and trying to find a job, just like you.
Auditions don’t have to feel isolating. You can make real connections through this process. You might even help each other out along the way.
3. Don’t Dress Like a Student
This is one of the biggest things I wish someone had told me.
I wore a black leotard and pink tights to my very first professional audition at the Joffrey. I walked into a room with about 80 dancers, and I was the only dancer dressed like a student.
You’re taught for years that you’re supposed to wear black and pink to auditions, and that is true when you’re a student. But when you’re auditioning professionally, you’re allowed to dress like a professional.
That doesn’t mean sloppy with messy hair or a ton of warmups. It just means clean and appropriate for the company. You want the director to walk in and immediately be able to picture you in the company.
I always encourage dancers to do your research! Look at the company’s social media pages, watch their class videos and notice what their dancers wear.
When I auditioned for Missouri Contemporary Ballet, I asked a friend who was already in the company what to wear. Because of her advice, I pancaked my pointe shoes, took the ribbons off and wore shorts instead of tights.
Because of her advice I walked in feeling like I belonged, and that changed how I danced.
Dress for the job you want.
4. There Will Be Cuts
If you’re not expecting this, it can be really jarring.
At summer intensive auditions, most of us were never asked to leave. Company auditions are different. There will be cuts.
The first time it happened to me, I spiraled. I thought it meant I wasn’t good enough or that I wasn’t cut out for this career.
But the reality is that most companies only have a handful of contracts available.
They may be looking for something incredibly specific, such as a certain height, gender, role, or pairing. Unfortunately, they typically do not share this information on the audition notice so you’re really going in blind.
Remember that getting cut usually has way more to do with what they need than anything you did.
5. Sometimes There Aren’t Contracts at All
This frustrates me to no end, but it Is something you need to know.
Companies may hold auditions even if they don’t yet know whether contracts will be available. If they are a union company, they may be required to. Sometimes they’re auditioning just in case someone doesn’t return the following season.
That means you could dance beautifully and still not be offered anything, simply because there wasn’t a spot.
It feels personal. But most of the time, it isn’t.
Your job is to dance your best. Their job is to figure out what their company needs. The rest is timing and fit.
6. Expect More Than Just a Ballet Class
If you’re use to summer intensive auditions, you know that you typically will have a 90-minute ballet class followed by a 30-minute pointe class.
While most company auditions will start with a ballet class, they could throw anything at you.
You will be expected to wear pointe shoes in the center. You might also be asked to do repertoire, partnering, or contemporary work. Bring every type of shoe you might need. Often times dancers who make it to the end are also asked to stay for an interview portion.
Also, auditions can run longer than scheduled! Make sure you are stocked up with snacks and electrolytes.
Truly, keep an open mind and be prepared for anything.
Final Thoughts
This process can feel intense, vulnerable, and exhausting. But you are not alone in it. You will find your place.
And if you need support along the way, visit The Audition Hub. I’ve compiled every resource you might possibly need into one place to make this the least stressful (and most joyful) audition season yet!
Meet the Author
Caitlin Sloan is a Dance Educator and Career Mentor based in Madison, WI.
Caitlin received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Grand Valley State University and Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Missouri.
She danced professionally for nine years with companies including Ballet Tucson and Missouri Contemporary Ballet (now Mareck Dance). Caitlin has taught at schools all over the Midwest, most notably serving as Director of The School of Missouri Contemporary Ballet and Youth Company Director for Central Indiana Dance Ensemble. She is currently on faculty at the School of Madison Ballet.
Caitlin founded The Brainy Ballerina® in 2019, a virtual resource providing support and guidance for aspiring ballet dancers. Follow @thebrainyballerina on Instagram for your daily dose of dance career guidance and inspiration.
