Everything is virtual now. You can expect auditions to be virtual too.
Recording yourself dance, watching it back, cringing, redoing it all over again is not the business. In fact, it makes me exhausted just thinking about it. We are our worst critics, so there’s nothing more daunting than having to put yourself out there by way of a video and having to watch yourself do a piece over and over again. Then, getting sick of the music because you have listened to it...what....like a thousand times already? Speaking for myself, I somehow end up getting 40+ takes because I'm never satisfied with any one take and then I get all sad about it and settle for the least worst one. (#Dramaticmuch?) At least when you’re at an in-person audition, you get one shot, just leave it all out on the table and hope for the best.
Given the current state of affairs, everything is virtual now and in-person auditions are practically obsolete. So you can definitely anticipate any kind of program or entry to include a video submission of some sort. Setting up for a video recording is also a huge task that can get easily overlooked. Because, let's be honest, the dance is the most important part. The video is secondary. However, being a visual art form, the setting is just as crucial.
The downside to a video is that it takes way too much time and is a bit distracting from the actual dance practice. The little details that go into it don't feel worth all the effort for a performance that won't have an audience. Especially now, when most performances are fueled by an engaged audience, not having one is incredibly demotivating.
The upside to sending a video is that you have all the control in making the video perfect. You can make sure that all the elements you want highlighted are presented just the way you want and you can take as many shots as you want. You can also do it at your convenience and not have to worry about time slots and getting to a location on time and waiting around for your turn.
Though this new reality seems frustrating, think of it this way: if you can manage to get a great video and end up securing a place in whatever program you are applying to, you are opening the doors to new opportunities, building your network with inspiring people, and furthering your dance education that might actually motivate you to pursue something special. Even if you don't get in to the program, you created a video for your own benefit, whether it was to have a reference to not forget the item, or put it up for your own social media.
Through my experiences with submitting an audition or being a part of a judging panel, I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t. Just like a normal audition, you want to be able to give it your all and present yourself in the way that best represents you.
Here are some tips to help you create the best video!
[In the event that your audition/performance is through a video call, these tips will help you too!]
1. Lighting
Make sure you have warm light coming at you from three angles. One is dead center, one from the right angle and one from the left. Use a warmer, yellow tint, not a bright white. You want to avoid any lighting coming from behind you as this will create a shadow on your face and the judges will be unable to see your face. Keep all the lighting at eye level. This is key to avoiding any unnecessary shadows on your face! If possible, turn off lighting from above and just have the lighting coming from eye level. This sounds strange, but lighting from above will give you dark circles on your eyes and will affect your expressions.
Be wary of really harsh lighting! Adjust the levels so that it is bright enough for your face but resulting in the smallest amount of shadow in the back. Natural lighting is also great but keep in mind that direct sunlight is not evenly distributed and will change over the course of your filming and you may need to adjust your camera. You might also succumb to overexposure, which is harsh on the eyes when watching it back. For this reason, having control over your lighting is best.
Don’t have lighting equipment? Yeah, neither do I. Use desk lamps or bedroom lamps and prop them up on chairs/boxes/tables, whatever you have, to eye level. Use a lamp shade ( if you have one ) to direct the light towards your face. If you don't have a lamp shade, you can use a cardboard rectangle, wrap in aluminum foil, and place it behind the lamp to act as a reflector!
2. Solid background
Use or create a solid background. Neutral colors with nothing on the walls behind you work best. Black will also take in the shadows from your lighting so the focus remains on you/the dancer. You can also take two King-size bedsheets and pin them to the walls to create a studio curtain effect. Avoid taking video outside in greenery, as this can be distracting. You want to make sure that you are the focus of the video, not the scenery. If you cannot avoid performing outside, find a background that is as bare and neutral as possible.
3. Bright colors
If you are allowed to, wear an outfit that is bright and contrasts your background! Avoid shiny and sparkly material as it will reflect too much with the lighting and give off a pale look. Go with matte, solid colors. If there are no requirements listed, I strongly recommend wearing a bright dance saree with earrings, bangles, and a small necklace. Cotton or silk sarees will look the best and are the neatest when draped. Dress to impress but don’t overdo it.
4. Do your makeup!
Think of this as a stage performance. You’re going to sweating a lot from the number of takes and heavy lighting in a small room. In addition, you want the audience to be able to see your facial expressions. Wear some light powder and put on some eyeliner and lipstick. Avoid heavy glittery eyeshadows and keep everything matte. I always like to think of it as doing 50% of what I would do for a stage performance. Keep it neat!
With every take, keep a couple of napkins handy to absorb sweat and reset your makeup. (Chipotle napkins work the best! Weird, I know, but trust me on this)
5. Stable Camerawork
Use the highest quality camera you have propped up on a tripod. I highly recommend NOT having someone take the video for you. Shaky videos are incredibly distracting and take the focus away from the dancer if not done correctly. The camera should be at eye level. Do not have anyone zoom in and out of the video during the piece. You will be doing the piece many times, so make sure ahead of time that you have enough storage on your device. If you are filming on your phone, use the back camera instead of the front. I know devices are getting more equipped to have better front facing camera, but watching yourself on video as you dance is actually distracting for you, and you'll keep trying to watch yourself dance instead of actually dancing.
Watch out for shaky videos when stamping on the ground. Sometimes, the shock waves and vibrations from the floor will get picked up by the camera. If you notice this happening, place a towel underneath the tripod. The towel will absorb some of the vibrations and will reduce the shakiness.
6. Framing
After setting up your camera, get in front of the camera and take a video of yourself just moving around. Use a front flip camera to see where your feet and hands are getting cut off. Flail (yes, I said flail) your arms around (like the tube man outside of car dealerships) to see if your arms get cut off when you raise them. The video should have the camera as close to the focus (you) as possible and the least amount of dead space (empty background). Using this reference, position your camera accordingly to allow yourself to move freely but in a confined space. The most 'effective' videos have the most amount of movement in the least amount of space.
7. Mark off the area with invisible tape
Normally I would say use an object or a long string to mark off the area. But after so many failed attempts of not having the object be in the video or the string accidentally flying into the frame during a good take, I do not recommend this method. Instead, use a bit of invisible tape to put on the floor, right where your feet get cut off in the frame. Then take a small piece of tape, fold it upwards and on the tape you just placed so there is a little flap that you can feel with your feet as you move around. This gives you a small marker that you are going too far, without having to look down. Mark the front of the space and the sides of the space.
8. Precision
With regards to your piece, do everything your Guru tells you to do. Show her/him the piece at least once before filming. Have a conversation with your Guru as well on how to stand out in the piece. You are in consideration with many people at different levels among numerous styles and genres. Across the board, there are a few standards that the judges have set to keep it as fair as possible for all the participants. Having been on a judging panel, here are few things that I would be looking for:
Consistency
-Is the dancer maintaining the same level of energy throughout the piece?
-Are the movements clean and hitting every angle that they were meant to?
-Is the dancer finishing the steps they started?
-Are they paying attention to the little details, like tribhangi, aramandi, soushtavam,
as it reflects/applies in their style?
Delivery
-Is the dancer able to communicate the meaning of the piece or the enthusiasm to
their audience?
-Is the dancer engaging? Or does it seem lazy?
-How well does the dancer know the piece and presenting with confidence?
-Is the dancer able to weld both power and grace?
-Is the dancer utilizing the space appropriately?
Overall
- When watching, was I interested in the piece from start to finish? Or did I want to
stop in the middle?
- Does the dancer have potential to improve on their movements, if needed? Do they
show promise?
9. High quality audio
Make sure that the audio you are using is the best quality. If it is allowed, add on the audio in video editing software and remove the audio from the actual video. If you are only allowed to send in video, make sure that the audio is placed close to the camera and in a small cup to amplify the sound. Choose a setting where there are no background noises, preferably in a tight, enclosed room. A smaller room will have less echos. Do a couple of test runs if you are using this method. Check to make sure that when you are recording a video, you are getting the best possible audio without any muffling or static noises.
Pro tip: Every time you learn an item, record yourself presenting the entire piece! Not only will you have a reference to remember the item, but you have a video to submit for any upcoming audition! And we all know that those deadlines creep up on us when we’re not paying attention. Get them done when you can!
As always, double check your requirements for the application and make sure that you are following what is required. It is disheartening to realize at the end when you have wrapped up that you forgot to address a detail. Start creating a checklist as soon as you get the application and come up with a plan to go through the process as smoothly as possible. Factor in enough time at the end (as in when you are gathering everything to submit the video) to anticipate slower upload times, check for mistakes or re-runs if something is missing.
If you have never done this before, all of the above may seem daunting. However, this is just another skill to work on and will benefit you in the long run. Once you get the hang of it, it becomes like clockwork. Do this for yourself and for your learning. It becomes so much more enjoyable that way!
And obviously, don't let this be too much of a distraction from your actual practice! All of the things mentioned above are to help elevate your performance but are never a replacement for actually performing at your best. Set aside time for each piece of the process and do this over the course of a few days. Don't leave everything for the last minute as this will result in so much unnecessary confusion, mistakes and frustration. Everything takes time and patience, but the end result will be worth it!
A.U.D.I.T.I.O.N.S