Studio Directors, what is your view on re-auditioning your company members every year? It’s definitely, food for thought.
The most obvious reason is it gives new dancers an opportunity to move up from either apprentice, junior company, performance groups, etc. It also gives new dancers to the studio an opportunity to audition and get a sense of what the commitment entails; i.e. how "company" works.
For returning dancers, sometimes there is a preconceived notion that it’s a given that once they're in, they're in. Not the best mindset for students to acquire. Dancers at any level need to continually feel challenged and self-motivated to want to progress. When students get into the habit of thinking they are in company automatically, it’s inevitable that some attitudes and effort may potentially shift. There is nothing wrong with keeping dancers on their toes and giving this little reminder of the hard work and dedication expected and required of them year after year.
Being in a company is a privilege, NOT a given. Dancers that have been in company for one or two years have to be aware they should be dancing and behaving above and beyond anyone new to the auditions. The expectation should be greater, not lower....they already know the ropes and should be an example to others. By re-auditioning, you're also getting a chance to see who really wants this 100%. Be mindful, it's also perfectly acceptable for those dancers who decide the rigor and commitment of company and performance groups is not for them and prefer to stay on a recreational level. The issue comes into play when dancers say they're invested in it and provide mediocre or half-hearted work ethic and performance. Again, not a precedent you want to enable.
Remember to always keep it positive and explain why this re-auditioning occurs. Be clear and make all expectations transparent. You don’t want students to think you hold these auditions just to be mean. There are credible reasons behind every move a studio director makes. These decisions support and nurture a student’s growth. That growth is our responsibility.
Ultimately, one's own individual performance, attitude and enthusiasm will be the deciding factors and those who are not presently a good fit for company (for varying reasons) will weed themselves out. Keep in mind that re-auditioning gives you a fresh eye on students as a new season begins. It will give you insight to where they're at heading into the year, how hard they've been working over the summer and how badly they "want it." We want all of our dancers to achieve their goals and feel proud of the wherewithal and dedication they put forth in themselves to achieve them, whatever they are, year after year.
Good luck.
See you in the dance studio…
Jess
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