Soon is an audition. This important day is closer than ever to you now. Your desires and wished at this moment could come true, especially after a good training and preparing before. But earlier than go to the ballet room to see the examiners you should know more information about what is expected from you and your body’s shape.
First of all you should pass a “medical exam” because your health ought to let you to studying in the ballet school. It means that doctors look at you and check your total health and anthropometric measurement in general. If you have any physical defects you should correct it with a doctor’s advices (special gymnastic, courses etc.) and try again later! Anyway don’t be afraid – this “medical exam” helps you to have strong healthiness (with or without ballet)! If the doctor’s conclusion is positive – well done! Now you and your parents can be sure that your health from this moment and later (if you pass the main exam on the ballet audition) be stronger and stronger!
After the “medical exam” the audition itself is waiting for you. Sleep well before and don’t eat much, but eat without fail (not “hard” food)! You must have power and feel fine!
Presentation (you should be dressed in white leotard, white socks; your hair should be clear and accurate). During my own audition I told only my name. As usual children say their names and only in a situation when the examiners ask you something, you must tell them all needed information (your age, height, weight, how long you have studying the ballet art or how long you have made all necessary exercises, etc.). Well, before the audition learn your parameters! It could be a good assistance for you!
Valentina Vasina, a ballerina and a ballet teacher, has a great experience in auditions and have seen a huge number of different children. As she said, during the presentation the first look of the examiners defines all following impressions from you. Therefore the best and appropriate figure for Ballet Art ought to be with good proportions.
The main moment is a correspondence of a height and a weight. The difference between them is an index of your good\bad ballet form. Try to count your own parameters in such way: “height” (centimetres) – weight (kilograms) = 115 (in perfection!) For example, if you have 160 cm height and 40 kg weight so your parameters are the best: 145 (cm) – 30 (kg) = 115
Congratulations! The first part of exam you could pass without any problems. This count is for you. The professionals look at you without knowledge of your height and weight and only their experience and practice tall them all about you. They look at your arms and legs – they should be long and harmonious. They look at your bearing – you should stand straight and don’t be round-shouldered!
But initially you shouldn’t be nervous; your body ought to be unsuppressed and flexible. Don’t think about severe examiners! They are those persons who want to help you to find your own talents, open them and develop in the right direction!
Thus good proportions and shapely figure in general really attract to you and help you to be in the centre of the examiners’ attention. Think that even if you have some diverse parameters don’t be disappointed! You know your goal and have enough time to reach an appropriate physical and psychological condition! Be assured and you won!
When I’ve passing my own audition to the professional ballet school I was 5 years old. In truth I was a little afraid but when I entered the ballet room I forgot about all and looked with a great interest on new people around. They looked at me, some of them were smiling, some weren’t, but all given me a lot of attention. I was good preparing before (I mean my physical form) and all exercises weren’t new and difficult for me! Believe that you also want to be calm; therefore I write for you the basic stages of the next part of the audition.
Checking the abilities. After looking at your figure, its alignment and proportions, the examiners start to check your body’s condition. The main are:
  • appropriate foot composition
  • flexible hip joint
  • strong ankle joint
  • movement range
  • total flexibility
  • backbone condition
  • longer arms and neck
  • achilles tendon
  • rhythmic feeling
As you know yet all this parameters depend on your nature abilities but most of all on your practice in the gymnastic exercises before. If you’ve done the set of trainings (see other my articles), you know how the audition will be. The movements of feet, bends, “fold”, “frog”, “twines”, “cat”, “bridge”, jumps – all of them prepared your body for the audition. As usually one examiner takes you and checks all necessary parameters (see photos). Others are looking at you and make their decision.
It will be great if you have opportunity to prepare a dance composition for the audition. Not difficult, but musical! In some ballet school this is not necessary, but helps to make an opinion about your rhythmic feeling. If you don’t sure about all abilities of your body, so you could dance and subdue the examiners with your dancing skills!
After passing the audition you have to wait the results. Remember, that it’s not easy to enter the ballet school, but with a good preparation and big desire you could do it!
But if not – don’t be disappointed, because you’ve had a great and interesting occurrence which could help you in other different spheres of your life! My congratulations! You’ve already started an exciting period of your life, with or without Ballet in your future!