Digital Degas

Digital Degas
Students from the Santa Clarita Ballet

Friday, November 25, 2016

Auditions: Cutting Dancers at Barre is Stupid

A former student has been given a full scholarship to the RAD Geneé competition. She'll be flown from LA to Sydney, Australia, everything paid for, because she is a brilliant dancer. Out of thousands of eligible dancers from around the world, she'll be one of a small handful to receive a full scholarship that runs into the tens of thousands of dollars, but if you are one of those jerks who cuts people at barre, you'd tell her huh-bye after pliés. She has hip issues that make her grand pliés look awful, but everything else is fantastic. Beautiful legs and feet, spectacular jump, 5-6 pirouettes, strong as an ox, wonderful port du bras. 

Anyone who runs an audition, charges dancers for it (which I think is heinous), and cuts people at barre, is a fool. I know many dancers whose barre work is okay, not from lack of hard work or talent, but who can dance beautifully. I also know dancers who look astounding at barre, but can't move if you put a gun to their heads.

Yeah, yeah, I know, you're only cutting dancers because you need the room in the center. I don't care. They paid you. If you cut them, refund their money. Better yet, give them every chance to impress you. It's only your loss if you cut someone because they're not flat turned out, but can jump like an Olympian, or do nine pirouettes.

Don't be a snob.

See you soon in class (which I will let you complete).

4 comments:

  1. Bravo for the courage to write such !!!
    We do not charge for company audition at BdA for we think that this is unethical. We never cut dancer after the barre or during center work for few simple reasons :
    an audition is very stressful for dancers - A dancer/person may have traveled from very far to attend the audition and spend money for transportation
    -3 ) a dancer that does not do well at a certain time in the audition may do wonderfully at another point in the audition - 4 ) The audition should remain to my opinion a moment of dance :) Voila

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  2. Yes I think you should really give a dancer a chance to actually perform for you. I remember taking someones class (not an audition) and being given numerous corrections at the barre. At the end of the class, I went over to thank the teacher for class and she told me that I was much better in center than at the barre. I remember thinking to myself isn't that what it's all about. Barre is technique and center is a time to put it all together and dance.

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