For the summer of 2012, The School at Jacob's Pillow will host professional advancement programs for dancers in ballet, tap, contemporary, and jazz/musical theatre dance. Auditions will be held in New York; Miami; Los Angeles; Toronto, Canada; and Paris, France.
The auditions in January, February and March are the first step in a two-part process, which concludes with the selection of 24 dancers for each program. The dancers will learn to work as an ensemble and part of a professional company during their summer at the Pillow.
Master class auditions are scheduled for the contemporary, jazz/musical theatre dance, and tap programs from January 14 through March 25. If applicants are unable to attend auditions in person, video auditions by DVD or video-hosting websites are highly encouraged, and all video auditions will be given the same consideration as in-person auditions. All ballet program applicants must audition by video (see below for details).
The School at Jacob's Pillow Audition Requirements for Summer 2012
All auditioners should be advanced dancers, ages 15 and up. Dancers should submit all application materials in advance and bring $15 audition fee (cash only) to the locations listed below.
In-person auditions are structured as a master class, and no cuts are made during the audition. This gives dancers an opportunity to take a professional class and gain audition experience. Professional dance attire is required, and dancers should arrive in time to register and warm up. Parents, teachers and friends are not permitted to observe.
The School at Jacob's Pillow Summer 2012 Audition Schedule
Contemporary Auditions
Saturday, January 14 - New York, NY
Registration: 1:00-1:45pm, Audition Class: 2:00-4:00pm
Led by Milton Myers
New York City Center Studios, 130 West 56th St, Studio 4
Saturday, January 21 - Miami, FL
Registration: 1:00-1:45pm, Audition Class: 2:00-4:00pm
New World School of the Arts, 25 NE 2nd Street
Sunday, January 29 - Toronto, Canada
Registration: 6:00-6:45pm, Audition Class: 7:00-9:00pm
Canada's National Ballet School / L'Ecole nationale de ballet du Canada, 400 Jarvis Street
Sunday, February 19 - New York, NY
Registration: 1:00-1:45pm, Audition Class: 2:00-4:00pm
Led by Milton Myers
New York City Center Studios, 130 West 56th St, Studio 5
February 27-March 3 - Paris, France
Centre International de Danse Jazz
Saturday, March 3 - Los Angeles, CA
Registration: 1:30-2:15pm, Audition Class: 2:30-4:30pm
The Colburn School's Gallery Studio at Japanese American Cultural & Community Center, 244 South San Pedro S
Sunday, March 25 - New York, NY
Registration: 1:00-1:45pm, Audition Class: 2:00-4:00pm
Led by Milton Myers
New York City Center Studios, 130 West 56th St, Studio 5
Tap Auditions
Saturday, February 18 - New York, NY
Registration: 1:30-2:15pm, Audition Class: 2:30-4:30pm
Ripley-Grier Studios, 520 8th Ave, Floor 16, Studio 16D
Saturday, March 3 - Los Angeles, CA
Registration: 6:00-6:45pm, Audition Class: 7:00-9:00pm
The Colburn School, 200 South Grand Avenue, Studio B
Saturday, March 24 - New York, NY
Registration: 9:00-9:45am, Audition Class: 10:00am-12:00pm
Ripley-Grier Studios, 520 8th Ave, Floor 16, Studio 16D
Jazz/Musical Theatre Dance Auditions (prepare 2 songs from published musical theatre works; max 8 minutes total; bring sheet music for accompanist)
Sunday, January 15 - New York, NY
Registration: 9:30-10:15am, Audition Class: 10:30am-1:30pm
Led by Bill Hastings & Andy Gale
Ripley-Grier Studios, 520 8th Ave, Floor 16, Studio 16D
Saturday, February 18 - New York, NY
Registration: 9:00-9:45am, Audition Class: 10:00am-1:00pm
Ripley-Grier Studios, 520 8th Ave, Floor 16, Studio 16D
February 27-March 3 - Paris, France
Centre International de Danse Jazz
Sunday, March 4 - Los Angeles, CA
Registration: 4:00-4:45pm, Audition Class: 5:00-8:00pm
The Colburn School, 200 South Grand Ave, Studio B
Saturday, March 24 - New York, NY
Registration: 12:30-1:15pm, Audition Class: 1:30-4:30pm
Ripley-Grier Studios, 520 8th Ave, Floor 16, Studio 16D
Auditions by Video for The School at Jacob's Pillow Summer 2012 Programs
Video auditions are required for all prospective ballet students, and are encouraged for all other dancers who are unable to attend an in-person audition. The postmark deadline for all videos is Friday, March 23.
Footage must be relevant to the program of choice, no more than six months old at the time of submission, at least 20 minutes in length, and include a Table of Contents listing the choreographers for the works shown.
If dancers wish to upload their audition reels to a video hosting website, they should provide the complete URL address of the video on the Program Application Form, Section III, or attach a DVD to the application. All DVD cases must be labeled with the dancer's name, program choice, and date recorded.
Video auditions should be organized as follows:
1. Brief verbal self-introduction
2. Technique
a. Ballet, Contemporary and Jazz/Musical Theatre Dance - should include grand plies, ronds de jambe, extensions and balances in center floor; turns, jumps and leaps in across-the-floor progressions
b. Ballet - must include adagio, pirouettes, petit and grand allegro, and at least one full variation (pointe shoes required for females)
c. Jazz/Musical Theatre Dance - must include a brief tap dance (heels required for females for at least some portion of video)
d. Tap - must include exercises and drills of differing rhythms and styles
3. Combination/Repertory/Improv
a. Demonstrate a range of dynamics, levels, tempos and styles (name choreographers for works shown in Table of Contents, as applicable)
4. Vocals (Jazz/Musical Theatre Dance only)
a. Include two songs from published musical theatre works (a capella), maximum 8 minutes total
Summer Programs and Directors for The School at Jacob's Pillow 2012
Ballet: Anna-Marie Holmes - June 11-24
Tap: Dianne Walker - June 25-July 8
Contemporary: Milton Myers - July 9-29
Jazz/Musical Theatre Dance: Chet Walker - July 30-August 20
Terry Finch - Terry Finch is a dance teacher and choreographer in Central PA with an extensive training and teaching background in many forms of ...
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