So you think you can dance auditions

So You Think You Can Dance Auditions
Atlanta, GA
Post Date: 2007
Thanks to Kathryn for contributing this account. Reprinted with Kathryn's permission.

The people who posted before me nailed what happened in the audition process. To anyone who wants to audition, this is probably obvious, but on that first day get there EARLY. I got there right around 8am(way too late) and was close to the end of the line. I had to sit in the auditorium all day until around 10pm that night. At that point, you're so tired of sitting you almost don't care anymore and just want to go home. Also, bring food. I brought some sandwiches in my dance bag. Once you enter the auditorium, you aren't allowed to leave and no one can meet you inside to bring you food.

Now, having said all of that, the experience was amazing. I went in not really knowing what to expect. I, unfortunately, was cut that first day. However, it just inspired me to work on my free styling ability and try again this year. I was not prepared for the process. You go in in a group of 10 and stand kind of in a semi-circle around a dance floor. That first night we weren't even on-stage yet, so you don't have much room. We were asked what style of dance was our best and the producers would play a song of that style. However, be ready for random songs: a group before me got "The Macarena" and another group got "C'mon Ride That Train." When the music starts, the first person in line comes to the middle and dances; after a few seconds a producer will say "next" and the next person comes out to the middle. We were told the key here was to catch their eye. Not to bust out our best moves, but to perform well. Smile, look at them (not the floor), and get them involved. While waiting in the auditorium, a producer actually came out and said he was tired of seeing fouettes; if anyone else did them, they wouldn't be chosen. He wanted to see a good performer. After our group of 10 went, the producers talked things over and either asked to see a couple of us again, or had us line up and handed us a gold piece of paper if we were to come back.

If you do make it past this round, make sure your solo music is on an actual purchased cd. It can't be a download, or on a burned cd.

Dress to stand out. The producers referred to us by what we were wearing, not our number, so help them remember you. (i.e. girl in the pink skirt what style of dance is your best?) Think it over: 60% of the females where I auditioned had pink on their body somewhere. Probably 60-70% of people had on black bottoms of some kind (pants, skirt, hot shorts, etc.) Do something different and eye catching. Sparkles and rhinestones are a plus, but don't overdo it. It's a very fine line, lol. On the opposite end of the spectrum, don't wear something baggy that would hide your body.

If you can't decide whether or not to go, I say go. You don't want to look back and always wonder what would have happened. Just keep in mind, somebody has to win. Even people like Sabra started off in these huge auditions just trying to catch a producer's eye. :) Good Luck!

Okay, well I'll answer those questions based on what happened last year. The first day is the huge cut of everybody. If you get asked to come back for the next part (where you will possibly do you solo in front of the judges) you'll come for another day. The whole audition was over 3 days last year. You went in the first day and then were assigned one of the two other days to come back. So, if you made it the whole way, you'd only be auditioning on two days, but if you have to drive a long way (like I do), it's better to allow for all three days in case you have to come back the last day instead of the next day. I know it's kind of confusing, but does that make sense? Last year Atlanta was the last stop of auditions (it was where I went). The auditions went from Thursday-Saturday. If you made it to Vegas, you had to leave that Tuesday after it. So Vegas is literally right after the last audition.

Also, I don't know if any of you are in school, but if you make it to Vegas, you'll probably miss your finals at school, and will need to plan to make arrangements for that. I'm in college and Vegas week fell right on our finals week.

Other tips I can think of: bring entertainment. Maybe bring music to help keep you calm. Bring cash in case you need to pay to park. Cameras are not allowed. If you try to bring one in, it'll either get taken up forever, or you'll have to hike back to your car or hotel to put it away and lose your place in line. On your way in, you're going to have your bag checked, so don't try and sneak one in that way. If your caught taking a picture on a camera or phone once you're in, they'll kick you out. Try to keep what you bring in the smallest bag possible. In Atlanta, we had to sit in a auditorium all day that first day. We had to stay in our seat, we were discouraged from moving around a whole lot. That's a small space, and you don't want it cluttered with tons of stuff. Also, if you make it back a second day, where the same thing you wore the first day so that (hopefully) someone will remember you. You'll have to wear a big sticker label with a number on it, so keep that in mind when picking out your top. The label will go over your chest, so make sure you have enough room for the sticker, and know that it's pointless to have an elaborate front because of that sticker. Also, don't wear something a sticker wouldn't stick to because you don't want to be worrying about whether or not your sticker is still on when it's your turn.

The hardest part of this is watching groups get up to audition. It's nerve racking because we would watch them stretch and practice a bit before they went to the next room. You're just like, whoa, they're so good. The key is to not get psyched out by it. Also, before the auditions, have a friend or family put on a random song (one that is in your style of dance) and practice freestyling for up to 30 seconds. Have them tape you so you can get a feel for how you look and practice on looking put together and performance quality. Also, practice doing all of that in a small space. Picture your basic area rug for a living room or something. We didn't have much more space than that, and there will be people standing all around you. For example, you'd have room for a leap, but not two in a row most likely.

I agree that it doesn't seem to be about the best dancers. I saw so many wonderful dancers in Atlanta who had probably been dancing all their lives get cut. But on a positive note- if you have been dancing a while, I'm sure you're familiar with performances. Treat this as a performance, not an audition. That was my big mistake. It's all about the right frame of mind.

Well, I know that's a long post, but I feel the need to pass along every little thing I think of, lol. Let me know if you
have other questions.

On your solo, the actual judges will be watching you. There will be cameras all around you, and the judges have small tvs so they can see you from all angles, as well as from where they are sitting. This is your chance to show "the whole package". Day one seems to be more along the lines of "do you catch my eye?". With your solo the judges want to be entertained. They want to see that you can actually dance as well as perform and keep them interested. I could be wrong, but my goal is to keep them occupied as long as possible. I don't want to be cut off after 10 seconds. I want to keep going to where they won't want to stop watching. This will most likely be the deciding factor in whether or not you go to Vegas. Show the judges that you belong on the show.

On the first day, there is no limit. They'll keep going for however many show up that morning. That's why it lasts so incredibly long, there are so many people, and the producers will watch them all. Although, because there are that many people, I imagine it would be wise not to be at the end of the line where the producers are tired and bored by the time you get a chance to go.

I auditioned last year in Atlanta. For the first day we were split up into groups of 10, but it had nothing to do with your style of dance; it was just the order you came in the door. When it was your group's turn, you stood in a semi circle and the producers asked you which style of dance was your best. I know there was hip hop, lyrical/jazz, contemporary, and ballroom. There is the occasional tap or pointe dancer. There aren't set categories, it's just what you tell them you're best at. If you were ballroom, you were asked what area was your best. We were then put in order in our group next to someone with similar style. For example, lyrical, jazz, and contemporary would stand next to each other. The producers would then play a song of your style, and anyone else's similar. So, for example, if there were 2 contemporary dancers, 2 jazz dancers, and 1 lyrical dancer, one song would be played for all of them. Each person gets up to 30 seconds to free style. The producer will start the music and the first person will come out. After a few seconds, a producer will say next, and next in line will go. I don't think producers played more than 2 songs per group, so you may have to settle for your second favorite style. For some groups, after everyone had gone, the producers would ask everyone to come out and free style for a few seconds while they made up their minds. In a some groups, a producer asked to see another dancer again. If they like you, you'll be given a gold piece of paper (your "golden ticket") and come back the next day for interviews, more free style, and your solo. Does this make sense?

Here's some advice: be prepared for any song. A group that went in Atlanta had to dance to the Macarena. The song choices are truly random from current hits to choices like the Macarena. If you freeze and don't dance, you won't move on.

Also, the first day, you aren't actually on the stage. You're in a small area with a dance floor that's been put down. Think of your basic living room area rug. You won't have much more room than that to dance. So while one leap is possible, a series would be nearly impossible. If you make it to the next day, you'll be on the stage for your solo, so that'll be normal.

Bring your music for your solo the first day. If you make it past round one, you'll have to turn in your music then. Make sure it's the actual artist's cd. Last year burned cds and copies of the song were not accepted. You'll end up having to choose from a list of songs they provide if that happens.

Day one is truly more about your look and performance than dance skill. I'm not saying don't do any dance skills, but last year one of the producers came out and told us "If anyone else here does fouettes, you'll be eliminated. Show us you can perform." They're looking for basic things: look at them (not at the ground) while your perform, smile, wear something that stands out, and look happy to be there (even if you've been sitting down for 12 hours). You just have to remind yourself how badly you want this. They want to see that you have that "x factor." I saw so many wonderful dancers that should be performing in companies, who didn't make it past round one.

When picking out your outfit, keep this in mind: if I had to guess, I'd say 75% of the dancers there last year had on some black item of clothing whether it was a top or bottom. At least 50% (probably more) of females had on pink somewhere.

It's a long process. Come prepared with food and water. Once you get in, you can't leave for food. Bring a book you've been dying to read. Leave your camera in your car, or it'll be taken up and not given back. Your bag will be searched on the way in. Also, they won't allow any family member or friend to come in with you.

If you're one of the lucky few who make it to Vegas, be prepared to not have a lot of time to plan. If you're still in school, you'll probably miss your finals. Last year Vegas week was the same week as my university's finals. Last year, Atlanta was the last stop. We had auditions on a Thursday-Saturday. You had to be in Vegas that following Tuesday.

Let me know if you have any other questions, I'll be glad to help. I felt so unprepared last year. I had no idea. I'm trying again this year, and I want to help out others who have never been.:)