Auditions

*Please plan to arrive at least 30 minutes early for registration.*

Auditions are held three nights during a week in the fall (pick one day), and one weekend day in the spring. However, you only need to attend one audition. There is no pre-registration, simply show up on the day you would like to try out. The audition format for Spring 2005 is listed below, as well as a comprehensive list of skills that are part of the audition. Although we do not expect every dancer to be perfect at everything on the list, we do look to see if there is potential by assesing each girls' effort and ability in each area.

1. Warm-Up
• May include fun activities such as running in circles, jump rope, jumping jacks, etc. just to warm up the body and loosen everyone up before the audition!
2. Stretching
• Basic stretching of legs, hips, torso, arms, and back including splits
3. Toning
• Crunches and other ab work, derrierre strengthening, squats, lunges, and push ups.
4. Across the Floor
• Stylized jazz walks, freestyle, turns (double and triple pirouettes, chainnes, single and double piques), illusions, axels, leaps (straight leg and developpe plain leaps, calypsos, barrels, russians, switches, switch russians)
5. Center
• Fouettes (straight leg and bent), extensions
6. Kicks
   • Short kickline
7. Dance #1
• 2005 Team Competition Piece "Blood On The Dance Floor", which will be part of the 2005-2006 repetoire
8. Dance #2
• To Be Determined
9. Process Repeats in Small Groups

Auditions are run by the Team Coach and Director and are judged by the two of them, the Assistant Director, and the Choreographer. Throughout the audition we look for personal style, professionalism, and determination. Current team members reaudition for the following year at spring auditions alongside new auditionees. In the fall, current team member participate as well. After the master class is over, we take groups of 4 to 5 dancers to show some across the floor and center combinations, kicks, and the two dances. The smaller setting allows us to see everyone in the audition equally. At spring auditions the team for the following year, including returning members who have been accepted back as well as new members, is posted online following the audition. In the fall, after everyone has auditioned we select a portion of the girls to attend callbacks the following weekend. Regardless of when you attend auditions or how far you make it in the process, we invite you to ask questions during a brief Q&A after auditions. We take notes on every girl and will be glad to tell you what stengths and weaknesses we see so that you can keep working hard and come back with more confidence at our next auditions!

Callbacks (fall only):

Callbacks are the final round of auditioning in the fall. Due to reduced attendance at spring auditions, they are unnecessary. Because of the small setting, we get to spend a little more time with the girls who we are considering for the team. Callbacks follow the same format as clinic and auditions, but incorporate more technically difficult across the floor combinations and allow more room for individuality. The two dances from auditions are reviewed, and will be used again in small groups. After callbacks, everyone is welcome to ask questions about the team, how we are run, and what we do. Everyone is then dismissed and the new team roster is posted online later in the evening.

...I hope that the above information has helped you understand the auditioning process! Please feel free to address any questions or concerns you have in an email. We look forward to working with you!

Best of luck!

Brooke Carpin

Director, Texas Dance

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*Next Clinic: Fall 2005*

Clinics

When:

September 2005

*Please plan to arrive at least 30 minutes early for registration.*

Where: RSC-1.104

How much: $10

Clinic is a high-energy intensive day of dancing alongside Texas Dance. Various dancers attend our clinic including those who wish to try out for the team, as well as those who don't. If you are thinking about trying out for the team we encourage you to come get comfortable dancing our style, see how auditions are structured, and get to know some of the team members. Clinic follows the same format as auditions (stretching, toning, across the floor, and center combinations). For those of you who are not sure if Texas Dance is right for you, we especially encourage you to come and see if you like our style before you actually audition. Clinic is not a part of the audition process. We also definitely encourage those of you who do not plan on auditioning to come and dance with us! Whether you haven't danced in 5 years or are a member of another dance group on campus, Clinic is always a fun day of dancing and getting to know your fellow dancers here at UT. We hope to see all of you come out!