Tool Of the Month: Audition Tips for Staying Sane
        

It's audition season for so many dancers right now and that can mean anything from stress and nerves, to excitement and opportunity; it's a broad spectrum and most dancers fall somewhere in the middle in terms of how they approach auditions. Here are some of my favorite tips to keep yourself sane and get the results you want.
 
Tip 1: Process not Outcome
My biggest tip is to stay focused on the process of the audition, not the outcome.  No matter what you might think, you have no control over the outcome of your auditions: dancers will be chosen for reasons you may not agree with or even understand. This can be frustrating and disheartening if you let it get to you.
 
Instead, focus on what you can control: the process.

How you dance, how you present yourself, and how you engage with the music and choreography are all part of the process of auditioning and they are well within your control.
 
Have you ever seen racehorses in action? They often wear blinders or blinkers- pieces of plastic or leather that restrict their view to what's in front of them, so they don't get distracted or spooked. Among us humans we often refer to someone who has a narrow view of the world as "wearing blinders," but in the case of auditions, this metaphor becomes a useful tool.
 
"Wearing blinders" means restricting your focus to you, rather than allowing yourself to be distracted by the people around you, which is one of the most common pitfalls at auditions. This is not the time to observe and learn from others or to compare your technique to your peers. Instead, it's the time to perform and shine, which are done best when you are focused on your own dancing, just like a performance.
 
Tip 2: Breathe.
Slippery floor, crowded studio, hundreds of dancers... there are any number of reasons why you could lose your nerve in an audition. One of the simplest, most effective ways to calm your body down and reconnect with yourself is to take a few slow, deep breaths.

Dancers far and wide report that this simple tool is their go-to for sudden nerves when auditioning and performing.

Let your ribcage expand completely, and then relax everything as you exhale; facing the wall or closing your eyes can also help. As you breathe, it might be helpful to repeat a calming word, such as "relax" or "easy."
 
Tip 3: Have a plan for setbacks.
It's pretty rare to have a perfect audition, so don't plan on it. Instead, have a plan to deal with setbacks. This isn't being negative, it's being realistic! If you know that you're going to take 3 deep breaths and say "keep going" if you have a setback, then you will be back on track much more quickly than if you don't have a plan. Directors want to see dancers who can recover quickly and not get emotionally flummoxed by a misstep or fall. You can demonstrate your recovery strategy by having one.
 
When you are able to stay in the moment (focus on process), to calmly breathe in the face of anxiety, and to recover quickly, you WILL be able to dance your best.

And dancing your best means that, no matter the outcome, you can feel good about the experience.  

Does this article raise any questions for you? Feel free to send me an email at elizabeth@thedancerstoolkit.com or by clicking on the envelope above.