BDA's Open Call Audition

by karen Krolak

Thanks Sarah Friswell for rustling up advice on auditions with your triptych interview with Hector Flores, especially since Boston Dance Alliance's Open Call Auditions are sneaking up soon. The Open Call is a magnificent way to get an overview of the Boston Dance Community and to network with other dancers, companies, and choreographers. Last year 90 dancers and 29 choreographers participated.

If you have never attended before, be sure to check out the Dance FAQ's section on their website. You might also want to peruse this interview with Courtney Wagner about her experience at the 2009 Open Call. Her relaxed attitude attracted my attention that day and consequently landed her a gig with Monkeyhouse.

When: Sunday, September 18

11am – 5pm
Doors open at 10 am for registration and warm up

AUDITION TIME

11AM - Ballet  Dean Vollick

12:30 PM - Modern Yo-el Cassell

2PM Improvisation Liz Roncka

3PM Jazz TBA

4PM Hip-Hop Carl Alleyne

 

Where: Brookline High School Performing Arts Building

115 Greenough St

[Entrance on Tappan Street]

T accessible – Green D Line Brookline Hills Stop

[high school on left]

Parking available

For map, please CLICK HERE

 

*Choreographers must be Boston Dance Alliance members to attend.
For more information e-mail BDA: info@bostondancealliance.org

Broadway Auditions: A Real Life Story - Part II

by Sarah Friswell

Here's more from Hector about his experience auditioning in New York City for the past year!

SF: What was it like the first time you auditioned in NYC?

HF: Oh my goodness, my first few auditions in NYC were awful! I was nervous and I didn't know the standard procedures. My first audition was for a production of RENT. I got there bright and early and waited all day, but because I was so far down on the Non-Equity list, I didn't even get to audition! I was irate, but it was a learning experience I had to have.

SF: What was a really memorable audition for you along the way? 

HF: Picking my most memorable audition is hard. I would have to say the invited dance call for In The Heights. When I saw In The Heights on Broadway, I fell in love.  That show has about three or four rounds of dance calls and then there are more rounds of vocal auditions.  Unfortunately for me, I was cut in the third round, which was a vocal round. But they worked us out in the two dance rounds prior! The combination was taught at a very fast pace and the choreography of the show is very specific. I was so invested in booking the show and when I wasn't called back for another round, I nearly cried. Two days later I happened to bump into one of the instructors from the audition and she told me to stick with it and keep auditioning. She said it took her three years of auditioning for In The Heights before she booked it and that really motivated me to keep trying.

SF: What is your best advice for someone trying to do what you're doing? 

HF: The best advice I could give someone is to not get discouraged and stay in classes. You can never have too much technique. If you don't use it you loose it, so stay in dance class to keep your skills sharp!

SF: What have you learned through the audition process?

HF: The audition process has taught me that you can’t expect to just make it in this business. A lot of the times you’ll go and audition for the same casting director multiple times before they even know who you are and realize that you may have something to offer. So it takes a long time to get recognized. I also learned that you can’t be desperate for the job. If you’re desperate, you put too much weight into it and it makes you too nervous and you’ll never perform up to your potential. It has to not matter to you if you get it or not, because then you’ll be yourself and you'll be a more natural actor.

Look for one more post about Hector's stories coming soon!

Broadway Auditions: A Real Life Story - Part I

by Sarah Friswell

I have known Hector Flores for about five years now, since both of us participated in the dance program at the University of Tampa. Hector has always been a very hard worker, and upon graduating, packed up and moved to New York to pursue his dreams! He came out to Dedham for a play reading of Spring Fling with the Fiddlehead Theater Company recently, so I thought it would be fun to talk to Hector about what he's done in the past year to get himself into "the biz".

Photo Credit Rob Sutton

SF: Hector, since this is your first interview with Monkeyhouse, can you tell us a little more about your background in the field of performing and dance?

HF: I have been singing and dancing since age nine and I did my first full scale musical as a sophomore in high school. We did Damn Yankees. I had never seen or heard about musicals until I saw RENT when I was nine. I got hooked on dancing, started performing in high school, and then decided it was what I wanted to do with my life. I knew I had a knack for dancing because I picked that up the fastest. I studied performing arts in college at The University of Tampa.  While in Tampa, I danced with a Burlesque company and after graduation I moved to NY to work as a performer. Within a year I've done a general management internship, signed with an agent, performed in a theatre festival and been in a show called Altar Boyz (Juan and dance captain) at the Cultural Arts Playhouse.

SF: Since you're so new to this business about how often would you say you audition for various shows?

HF: I'd say it averages out to about four to five times per week, although some weeks it can be upwards of eight or none at all.

SF: Where do you find the auditions you go to?

HF: There are a few ways to find auditions. Backstage Magazine is very popular, but I often use Playbill.com because its free. I also have an ActorsAccess account which is also free and you can create one easily on actorsacess.com. I'm signed to Avalon Artists Group, which is a full service talent agency, and my agent sends me out to auditions as well. You will find there is no "right" way to do things in show business. There are a lot of avenues you can take and you just have to find the one that works for you.

Find out more from Hector about what his first NYC audition was like, and other stories, in the next post!

Audition Advice from J.R. Glover

by karen Krolak

After discussing the Samba workshop at Jacob's Pillow with J. R. Glover, I asked her for some general advice about how dancers can stand out in an intense application process. As the Director of Education at the Pillow, J.R. sifts through hundreds of applications/auditions each year. She immediately provided a really articulate answer worthy of an independent post: 

First of all, the Education Department staff is very friendly and helpful. Dancers should always call or email us with any questions they have; no question or concern is too small.  We worry that we miss out on talented dancers because they assume they are not ready for The School at Jacob’s Pillow. In reality, the Pillow might be just the experience they need to push their dancing to the next level! 

We know that some dancers hold back from submitting a video audition for a variety of reasons.  Some think it’s too hard to produce, others fear it won’t be reviewed as favorably as an in-person audition, and others feel that if they can’t make it perfect, they shouldn’t bother. Dancers tend to be perfectionists and very hard on themselves.

We’re really happy to talk to anyone about how to make the video so they are more comfortable about submitting one. They have to remember that dancers from all over the world, where in-person auditions are not held, are submitting video auditions. And, as with live auditions, dancers cannot predetermine what the panel of adjudicators is looking for.  If they want to be considered, they must be in the room.  So it is the same with a video audition, if they don’t apply then there is no way we can consider them.

We are looking for talent and dedication, not a perfectly produced video. Every applicant gets equal, serious, and respectful consideration for a place in The School.  It’s always worth auditioning if you want to train here. Even if not admitted the first time you audition, you will be better positioned for next time. We love to see dancers grow from year to year.