Each week the Artistic Director of Sonoma Ballet Conservatory will be answering a question from our readers and students about the world of ballet. Please leave a comment today with your own question which might be answered as early as next week!
![]() |
http://balletskills.com |
Why should I audition for a Professional Ballet School's Summer Intensive program?
As audition schedules are now being published online by many professional ballet schools, such as American Ballet Theatre, The Royal Ballet School, Ballet West, etc., this question is rather timely. If you have dreams of professional dancing in your future, it is important to audition for these programs for a few reasons.
First, the audition process itself is a wonderful tool in your dance training. Here at Sonoma Ballet Conservatory, formal auditions are not held and so students have very little experience in this very important process. If a dancer moves or graduates and decides to audition for a production or school, understanding and being comfortable with the audition process is definitely to her or his advantage. Overall the audition process tests and builds character as one is called upon to exhibit professionalism, poise, and grace, whether she or he feels the audition is going well or not. It requires one to do one's very best and with one's best attitude, which, although this is something we encourage here at Sonoma Ballet Conservatory on a daily basis, it is altogether another beast when in unfamiliar and challenging circumstances.
Secondly, and again for the dedicated dancer, auditioning for professional programs offered by some of the best ballet schools in the country or world can open a dancer's eyes to her or his "competition," so to speak. During an audition, dancers are able to see a larger pool of dancers who also have these same dreams of dancing professionally. These other dancers, like you, traveled from near and far to these auditions in order to do their very best in hopes of being accepted by these top ballet schools. Take a close look. How do you measure up within the local pool of fellow dreamers and dancers?
Finally, although you are never required to attend a program for which you audition, being accepted or rejected also builds character. Being accepted is a great feeling which confirms and acknowledges the amount of effort and work you put into your dance education. Being rejected allows you a moment to consider that there is still much to learn and much to train. A true dancer knows she or he never stops learning and growing in craft and art of dance.
If I may offer a bit of advice, even if you have decided to attend an audition for the experience itself, be clear about your goals---write them down. Decide now whether you will attend any of these programs before you audition. The horizon often looks much different through the exciting haze of an acceptance letter.
Best of luck!