If you’re serious about being a dancer and/or choreographer as a career, I highly suggest you start looking into agency representation.
Dance is an incredibly important and popular form of art that has been around for centuries. It is a way to express oneself through movement and can be used to tell a story, convey emotion or simply entertain.
The Big Apple offers endless opportunities for aspiring dancers and choreographers to showcase their talent and hone their craft. From world-renowned dance companies to avant-garde performance art groups, there’s a vibrant dance community in New York that welcomes newcomers with open arms.
Each agency has a different set of rules when it comes to auditioning for them. So I urge you to do your research before signing.
New York Dance and Choreographers Agencies
bloc Agency – bloc is a talent agency representing choreographers, dancers and extreme athletes for feature film, episodic and commercial television, live stage and theatre performances, industrials, music videos and print.
Clear Talent Group – The Clear Talent Group Choreography & Dance Department in New York represents the leading talent in the world of theatre, television, film, music, commercials, tours and industrials. Their mission is to provide the New York entertainment industry with a diverse choice of A-list professionals.
DDO Artists Agency – The theater department represents a diverse roster of actors, singers, and dancers working successfully on Broadway, off-Broadway, in resident productions, and on national and international tours. The department is committed to nurturing established artists as well as up-and-coming talent.
LDC Artist Representation – Based in New York City, LDC Artist Representation prides itself in providing quality service and guidance to the finest directors, choreographers, and artists in the industry.
MSA Agency – MSA is the premier agency representing choreographers. Our clients have won numerous Tony, Emmy and MTV awards. MSA choreographers work in every medium… film, television, music tours and videos, commercial, stage, corporate, digital and spectacle. From character movement with actors to full out razzle dazzle production numbers, their clients are adept at executing any scenario.
How To Audition for a Talent Agency
Most agencies will require dancers to submit a video audition, so you should make sure your video is high quality and showcases your strengths. They will be looking for dancers who are versatile and can execute various styles of dance.
For in person, you should go into you auditions with confidence, knowing that you have prepared as much as possible. You should also be ready to answer any questions they may have about your training and experience.
Be Sure to Warm Up!
This is a no-brainer. Warming up helps prepare the muscles and joints and can help prevent injuries. If you’re injured, you can’t dance, right? If you’re injured, you can’t work. In my mind, warming up for dance is equivalent to a singer warming up their voice before a performance.
There are several different ways you can warm up. You can do a combination of light cardio exercises and stretching. Cardio helps get the heart rate up and gets the blood flowing to the muscles. Stretching helps loosen tight muscles and improves range of motion. It’s important to listen to your body during a warm-up and to stop if you feel any pain.
What to Wear
This obviously depends on what type of dancer you are. The main thing is that you want to wear something comfortable that will allow you to freely move around. There’s no need for fancy costumes, but you may want to choose something that’s form-fitting. If you’re a hip-hop dancer, casual clothes are fine, but be sure not to wear anything that will cause you to trip.
Dance Videos to Enjoy While on the Way to Auditions
Nothing like a little inspiration! Here are my top pics of dance performances. We’d love to see your picks! Leave links on the DirectSubmit NYCastings Twitter feed!
– Tap Dance Kid 1984 Tony Awards
– Gene Kelly – Some of his greatest work
– Jive Bunny And The MasterMixers – Swing The Mood
– Stanford Viennese Ball 2013 – Opening Committee Waltz
– Michael Jackson – 1983 Moonwalk – Billie Jean Appearance
