Auditions

KEY DATES

Montreal (QC): February 8-9-10, 2019

Deadline for audition applications: January 28, 2019 (at 5 p.m.)

Final audition: March 9-10, 2019

Written confirmation of final results: early April, 2019

The above dates may change.

 

Photo: Adéral Piot | Dancer: Brontë Poiré-Prest

PRELIMINARY AUDITION

Every year, more than 150 people register for this audition. All applicants who submit a complete application file are sent a written invitation to take part. The preliminary audition is held over two weekend days and each applicant is invited to attend either on the Saturday or the Sunday. The evaluation committee is made up of the École de danse contemporaine de Montréal's faculty.

A free master class open to all young dancers interested is offered in each city. 

Contemporary dance technique class

The technique class lasts two hours. During this time, the evaluation committee evaluates the candidates’ physical potential, their mastery of the technical elements of contemporary dance and their talent.

Improvisation class

The structured improvisation class evaluates the candidates’ potential and artistic qualities. The evaluation committee pays particular attention to:

• The originality of their performance;
• Their personal expression;
• Their ability to interact with the members of the group;
• Their openness with respect to the trainer’s instructions.

FINAL AUDITION

Whether candidates are accepted or not, all are informed in writing of the results of their preliminary audition. Two weeks after the preliminary audition, approximately thirty people will receive a written invitation to take part in the final audition, which is held over a weekend. Candidates must be present for the entire weekend.

1- Technique class 

The combinations for the technique classes for the final audition are more difficult than those for the preliminary audition, but the evaluation criteria remain the same.

2- Repertory class 

A choreography from the School's repertory is taught to the candidates by a faculty member. This activity serves to verify the candidates’ sense of movement, performance qualities, memorization abilities, coordination and musicality.

3- Improvisation class 

4- Composition class 

The composition activity is a collaborative exercise in which candidates are asked to create a short choreography both in smaller groups and as a whole. It serves to evaluate the candidates’ ability to work as a team, their communication skills and their openness.

5- Solo

Each candidate invited to the final auditions must perform a two-minute solo in contemporary dance before the evaluation committee. This may be their own creation or that of a choreographer. For the solo, the candidate may send their music digitally or bring it on a CD or a Mp3 player. Wearing a costume is not permitted.

6- Individual interview 

The interview is intended to determine the motivation and personal objectives of the candidates. This is also an opportunity to answer their questions and provide information about certain aspects of the program.

Limited enrollment: twenty spaces are available in total. Twenty candidates will thus be invited to register for the program and a certain number of qualified candidates will be placed on a waiting list. Candidates on the waiting list will be called if any of the accepted candidates decline.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Please wear the appropriate attire (unitard, leotard, etc.). Applicants may change and leave their street clothes in the changing rooms during the audition. Applicants are required to dance barefoot. However, please bring appropriate footwear for walking between studios. We strongly recommend that you bring your own water and food with you. A microwave oven, refrigerator and beverage vending machine are available for your use.

A maximum of 20 students will be invited to enrol in the program. A certain number of qualified candidates will be put on a waiting list and contacted should a place become available. Please do not call for your audition result.
Considering the large number of applications and the nature of the information in question, no audition results or feedback concerning the auditions will be given over the phone.

Photo: Luc Lavergne | Dancers: Catherine Dagenais-Savard, Sovann Rochon-Prom Tep

EVALUATION CRITERIA

Physical potential

• Posture Mobility of torso, limbs and pelvis
• Neuromuscular control and tone
• Coordination
• Efficiency of movement

Technical skills

• In-depth knowledge of the basic vocabulary common to modern, classical and jazz techniques (pliés, legwork, turns, jumps, adages and floor work)
• Ability to dance to different tempos
• Dynamics
• Memorization

Creativity and originality

• Ability to improvise through exploring personal gesture

• Ability to interact with other dancers, space and music while still focussing on one’s own movements

Personal expression

• Expressiveness
• Ability to express oneself through improvisation
• Ability to convey feelings, emotions and ideas through movement

Open-mindedness

• Responsiveness
• Sensitivity to others
• Ability to listen actively and be open to others’ ideas
• Experimentation and willingness to try new things

AUDITIONING BY VIDEO

If you live more than 1,000 kilometres from Montreal and cannot attend the preliminary auditions, please send us your complete application no later than the date mentionned at the top of the page, along with a 20-minute video, which must include the components below. Please note that attendance at the final auditions is compulsory.

Exercices to be included (maximum of 2 minutes per exercice)

• 1 complete body warm up exercise on the floor
• 1 standing exercise that mobilizes the torso
• 1 tendu exercise
• 1 dégagé exercise
• 1 adage including extensions (leg at 90 degrees)
• Triplets crossing the space
• Small jumps on place and moving across the space
• 1 long movement phrase travelling across the space and on the floor
• Big jumps travelling across the space
• A 2-minute contemporary dance solo
• 1 short contemporary dance improvisation

Please note the following :

As required for auditions held at the School, you must wear form fitting dance attire so that the evaluation committee can assess your full potential. If the studio walls where you record your video audition are white, it is best to wear black or navy blue.

You must demonstrate musical precision in relation to the musical accompaniment for the exercises on your video audition.