Audition Photos

When you attend an audition for a ballet school, company, etc. you must bring with you audition photos. When you arrive at an audition you receive a number. Photos help the auditioners put a face to a number when choosing dancers.

Below, First Arabesque. This is the quintessential ballet pose and is always required for an audition.

Above, Head shot. Again, used in helping identify the dancer and show the personality.

Update - 12/9/13

Yesterday My Parents and I sat down to make official plans for attending a few auditions for summer intensives. Needless to say the excitement is mounting! The first one will be in 6 1/2 weeks.

A general ballet audition is an hour and a half to two hours long. It is done in flat shoes, with the last 20 to 30 minutes executed en pointe.  Exercises are done at the barre and then in the center, fallowing the normal ballet class routine.  Notification of acceptance varies school to school.

Inspiration - Gelsey Kirkland

When I was little my mom and I would watch the Gelsey Kirkland and Mikhail Baryshnikov Nutcracker during Christmastime. Watching them dance was pure magic. As I have gotten older and have watched and been exposed to more ballet, I have been inspired by many other ballerina's and danseurs. Gelsey Kirkland is still my favorite of them all. This Pas De Deux (French for "step of two") from the Nutcracker is still quite breath taking.

Gelsey Kirkland sadly had a very dramatic career. Issues with partners, directors and eating disorders were a part of her early years in the ballet world. She overcame all of it later and came out stronger then ever. Ms. Kirkland now co-directs The Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet with Michael Chernov, which fosters dramatic storytelling "through a rich understanding of multiple artistic disciplines, cultures, and traditions."