Audition season is fast approaching, and with it comes the dreaded video submission. This short video highly determines whether or not a company will invite you to audition in person. With variables like camera quality, lighting, and editing to consider, the process can seem overwhelming.
Pointe spoke to experts on both sides of the audition table to learn their tips for nailing your video submission.
Mindset Matters
Watching videos of yourself dancing can be difficult, especially if you, like many dancers, struggle with perfectionism. That’s why Cy Doherty, a corps member at American Ballet Theatre who moonlights as a video editor, recommends filming with a friend. If you have a tendency to pick apart your dancing, he says, “it’s nice to have someone there to say, ‘No, that was really good.’ ” The same friend can also help you start your music and frame your shot.
Mackenzie Davis, a content creator and dancer at Azara Ballet, says that filming herself dancing for social media has improved her reels. According to Davis, regularly taking videos of yourself moving can help you feel more comfortable evaluating yourself on camera and correcting your form.
Play to Your Strengths
One advantage of the video audition is that you can choreograph your own class and choose your variation. Kate Linsley, rehearsal director at Nashville Ballet, suggests dancers make choices that suit their strengths and ability level. “Let technique and artistry lead every choice you make,” she says. If there’s a more complicated step you don’t feel comfortable doing, leave it out or simplify the combination to make your classwork look as strong and flattering as possible. Linsley looks closely at classwork in each audition video, and she recommends that dancers stay away from “classography” to avoid overcomplicated exercises. Highlight the style you’re trained in and feel most confident dancing. “You can design a class that really shows who you are,” she says.
Davis also recommends rehearsing a variation for a few weeks before filming it. “Variations can take a while to get into your body,” she says. She also recommends working with a mentor or dance teacher if possible. Davis’ first-ever audition video was made with the help of her ballet coach at the time. “He choreographed all the combinations and really tailored them to what looked good on me,” she recalls.
Be Yourself
With the stress of filming, you might forget to focus on your performance quality. Doherty says it’s important to maintain energy in your face and let your personality shine through. “You need to show people that you love to do this,” he says. “Most companies are looking for people to put onstage, not in a studio. If you can show what you would look like in a performance, that’s best.”
Editing Tips
Linsley notes that less is more when it comes to editing your video. She recommends combining all footage into one video file for easy access and including your name in the corner of the frame. Doherty cuts any pauses or transitional moments out of his videos to keep viewers engaged. “You want to make sure there’s no room for people to be distracted,” he says. Both Doherty and Linsley recommend against overlaying audio onto your video—it risks misaligning your music and your movement.
Quickfire Do’s and Don’ts
- Do film different sections of your video on different days to avoid exhaustion, says Davis.
- Don’t forget to share access to your video with the company you’re auditioning for, Linsley says. Make sure the link is current and easily accessible.
- Do read all video-submission instructions thoroughly, Linsley adds. Some companies use a standardized set of rules called International Audition Pre-Selection Guidelines (“IAP Guidelines”), so you can use the same materials for multiple auditions.
- Don’t feel the need to buy fancy filming equipment—Davis says a phone camera and a tripod will do.
The post Audition-Video Boot Camp: How to Film Your Best Reel Yet appeared first on Pointe Magazine.