Article from Dance Teacher Magazine by Taylor Gordon, 2010.
Joanne Whitehill, artistic director of Burklyn Ballet Theatre, a summer intensive in Vermont, advises students to wear a distinguishing hair ornament or leotard in order to stand out from the crowd. “Sometimes those of us at the front of the audition will say, ‘Did you see the one with the blue bow or the one with the special ribbon?” Whitehill says. “It helps to place a name with a face when there’s a room full of black leotards and pink tights.”
Teaching dancers about etiquette and respect, both to directors and fellow dancers, is also key. “We don’t want anyone to get injured and we don’t want anyone in the way of other dancers,” says Whitehill. “Students should have a general idea of how to move across the floor.” In a crowded audition studio, maintaining a sense of space should be a priority.