Your first step onto the stage begins long before the audition call. Here's how to prepare for the spotlight.
So you've fallen in love with jazz dance—the syncopated rhythms, the expressive movements, the sheer joy of executing a perfect turn sequence. You've put in the hours at the studio, and now you're wondering: How do I turn this passion into a career?
The path from dance student to working professional can seem mysterious and daunting. But like any journey, it becomes manageable when you have a map. This roadmap will guide you through the essential steps to prepare for, find, and excel at gigs and auditions.
Phase 1: The Foundation - Before You Even Think About Auditions
You wouldn't build a house on sand. Don't build your dance career on a shaky foundation either. This phase is all about honest assessment and targeted improvement.
- Master the Fundamentals: Can you execute clean double pirouettes? Is your jazz square precise? Audition panels would rather see perfect technique on basic steps than sloppy attempts at advanced tricks. Solidify your basics.
- Identify Your "Type": The industry often categorizes dancers. Are you a powerful, athletic dancer? A classic Broadway stylist? A commercial jazz performer? Knowing your strengths helps you target the right auditions.
- Build Your Versatility: While knowing your type is key, versatility gets you hired. Take classes outside your comfort zone—modern, ballet, tap, hip-hop. A strong ballet technique, in particular, is the backbone of exceptional jazz dancing.
- Create a Training Schedule: Treat your craft like a job. Schedule consistent technical classes, stretching, and strength conditioning. Cross-train with cardio and weightlifting to build the stamina required for long rehearsal days.
Phase 2: The Toolkit - Your Professional Materials
You are your own business. And every business needs the right tools to market itself.
- The Dance Résumé: Keep it to one page. List your training (teachers and studios matter!), performance experience, special skills (tumbling, aerial, instruments, accents), and contact information. Format it cleanly and proofread it meticulously.
- The Headshot: This is your first impression. Invest in a professional photographer. You need a clear, friendly, and current headshot that looks like you on the day of the audition.
- Dance Reel: This is your moving résumé. Keep it short (2-3 minutes max) and put your best, most versatile work first. Include clean full-body shots of you performing jazz, and if you have other skills, include a short clip. Label the video with your name and contact info.
Phase 3: The Hunt - Finding Auditions & Gigs
Jobs won't find you; you have to find them. Become a master researcher.
- Online Resources: Websites like Playbill, Backstage, and Dance/NYC are staples. Follow casting directors and dance agencies on social media.
- Network, Network, Network: This is the most powerful tool. Take classes regularly at reputable studios. Teachers, choreographers, and other dancers are your network. Be professional, kind, and engaged. Let people know you're looking for work.
- Open Classes & Workshops: These are often unofficial auditions. Choreographers frequently cast from their classes. Perform well, be respectful, and introduce yourself afterward.
- University/Community Theatres: Don't snub non-union or local work. It's vital experience for your résumé and reel, and it helps you build those all-important professional relationships.
Phase 4: The Arena - Nailing the Audition
Audition day. This is where your preparation meets opportunity.
- The Night Before: Hydrate, pack your bag (résumés, headshots, shoes, water, snacks), and get rest. Plan your outfit—something that flatters your lines and fits the style of the show.
- In the Room:
- Be Early: On time is late.
- Be Ready to Learn: Watch the choreographer demonstrate closely. Don't mark the combination half-heartedly.
- Find Your Light & Space: Be aware of your surroundings and other dancers.
- Perform Immediately: From the first count, you are "on." Smile, connect with the choreographer or panel, and sell the movement. Energy and performance quality can often outweigh a missed step.
- After the Cut: If you're kept for additional combinations or to sing, stay focused and confident. If you're cut, thank the choreographer or monitor on your way out. Never leave without thanking someone. Gracefulness in defeat is remembered just as much as talent.
Phase 5: The Mindset - Embracing the Marathon
A dance career is a marathon, not a sprint. You will face more rejection than acceptance.
Reframe rejection: it's rarely personal. You might be too tall, too short, not the right "look" they paired with another dancer, or simply not what they envisioned for that particular role. Your value as a dancer is not determined by one "no."
Every audition is practice for the next one. Learn from each experience, and then let it go. Stay focused on your long-term goals and continue to train, network, and put yourself out there. The dancers who succeed are not always the most talented, but they are always the most persistent.
The spotlight is waiting. Your roadmap is clear. The journey requires immense dedication, resilience, and a relentless work ethic, but for those who answer the call, a career in jazz dance is a challenging and incredibly rewarding adventure.
Now go forth, and break a leg.
