Application Requirements

Submit a total of two (2) digital videos recorded within the last year that display the full range of your technical and artistic abilities that include the following and in the following order:

• A three (3)-minute ballet technique with music. This should be a sampling demonstrating each of the technical elements listed (not full, extended combinations for each).
  • Barre work: Could be done on one side only. Please include some exercises on demipointe:
    • Tendue battement in fifth en croix
    • Battement tendue jeté in fifth en croix
    • Rond de jambe à terre
    • Rond de jambe en l’air
    • Frappé en croix
    • Développé en croix
    • Grand Battement en croix
  • Center floor work (all combinations can be performed en pointe or in flat shoes):
    • Grand adagio to include développés in each position and promenades
    • Pirouettes from fifth and fourth (en dedans and en dehors), to be included in a traveling combination
    • Petit allegro to include batterie (changements, entrechats, glissade jetés and glissade assembles)
    • Grand allegro to include tour jetés and grand jetés
    • An allegro combination with double tours OR for dancers working en pointe, a combination from corner with piqués and chaînés en pointe 
• A two (2)-minute classical or contemporary solo piece of your choice with a clear beginning and ending. Solos should be accompanied by music that is being played in the room with the dancer and should not be overlaid. Must be performed fully in one take without edits to the recording.
  • Classical – Enter the name of the piece, the ballet it is from and the name of the choreographer in the spaces provided.
  • Contemporary – Enter the name of the piece and the choreographer in the spaces provided. This solo can be done en pointe or flat shoes.

NOTE: If selected as a winner with distinction, you will be required to perform your submitted solo live for the panel during National YoungArts Week and, therefore, must have rights to the choreography for that piece.

Audition Apparel

Dancers should choose garments that support the judge’s ability to see how the body creates shapes and lines in space. We strongly encourage that you select fabric colors that create contrast to the background and remove excess layers of warmups, costuming and jewelry that distract from the performed choreography. Artists may wear regalia appropriate to their cultural traditions and forms.

Recording Guidelines

• Sound: Ensure recording captures good quality sound. Music should be played in the room with the dancer and not be overlaid onto the video.  
• Image: Record your audition in a clearly defined space that is free of background distractions. The choreography should not be site-specific.  
• Framing: The camera should be set at a fixed point of view and left in one position, framing the dancer’s entire body to capture movement in place as well as movement in and through space. Unnecessary panning and moving the camera to follow the dancer is strongly discouraged.  
• Lighting: Make sure the space is well lit with neutral lighting, but not too bright.  

File Upload Guidelines

• Save and name your files individually.  
• Do not put your name or any identifying information in or on your files.  
• When uploading, be sure that the video image is upright (not sideways or upside down) and plays smoothly.  
• Do not submit pre-recorded live performances, such as recitals, concerts, or competitions as these events typically have background noise and/or distractions.  

NOTE: You are welcome to submit materials that have been part of other applications or projects. YoungArts does not own any works submitted to the competition, however if your work has been submitted to other competitions, you are responsible for getting permission to submit to YoungArts, if necessary.