Auditions Tips for Dancers

Emily Lu
Dance director for 24:7:365

What’s the audition process like?
Our audition process typically takes place over two weekends. In our first round of auditions, we conduct a warm up and teach two combinations. From there, we select a smaller pool of dancers to attend the callbacks the following week. It might sound a bit daunting, but trust me – it’s really fun!

What qualities do you look for in your dancers?
I look for dancers that have great attention to detail, strong musicality and bring lots of great energy!

What do you do to destress the night before an audition?
I pack everything I need ahead of time so that I don’t need to rush the following morning. I like to get everything in order so that I can get a good night’s rest without stressing.

​What tips do you have for dancers who have to perform unfamiliar routines during an audition?
It sounds clichéd but just do your best! I deeply value a dancer who’s willing to learn, even if they’re thrown into the deep end and have to face the unfamiliar.

What should a dancer do if they forgot their steps during an audition?
Don’t make a face! Just try to catch up to the choreography as quickly as you can. If you’re completely lost, just keep improvising.

What was the most unforgettable experience you’ve had as part of the audition panel?
At last year’s auditions, we had a lot of HKYAF alumni return and assist for the dance portion. It was great to see them again and amazing to watch them dance and perform after several years of training abroad. They had all become more seasoned performers and it was incredibly encouraging to see their growth.

What impresses you most about HKYAF’s dancers?
The young performers at HKYAF have an unmatched level of creativity, enthusiasm and technique. They are some of the brightest minds and most skilled performers I’ve seen in our city. I feel honoured to be able to work with them!

Any final words of advice to the actors ahead of the audition?
​Enjoy the process! It’s an enjoyable time to learn new choreography and meet other like-minded dancers. We can’t wait to see you!