Dance Audition Interviews - What to Prepare and Expect

What to prepare and expect for professional dance and cheerleading audition Interviews. We are taking you through the ins and outs of how to prepare for a dance interview.

Auditioning for a dance or cheerleading team and wondering what exactly that will entail?

Well - you will need to prepare for more than just dance routines and brushing up on technique. You need to make sure that you are preparing for the interview portion of the dance or cheerleading audition just as much as any other part of the audition process. The interview is always an important aspect of dance auditions, whether you are trying out for a college dance team, a company, or a pro dance team/pro cheerleading team.

Being a professional dancer, specifically as an NBA dancer or an NFL cheerleader, means more than just being an amazing dancer or incredible at dance technique. You are acting as an ambassador on behalf of that organization and it is important to treat your dance audition interview, as you would a job interview - as this is a paid job position within that team’s organization.

If you have never been to a dance audition (especially a pro dance audition) this is a vital portion of the audition and can easily become a make-or-break moment. Yes, it is possible to not make the dance or cheer team with the interview being a deciding factor. It is vital to put the time into being the best you can be when it comes time to showcase yourself in front of the judging panel during your dance interview.

What are dance audition interviews?

Every dance and cheerleading audition will entail a dancer interview in front of your judging panel. For professional dance teams (NBA, NFL) this is generally a panel anywhere from 5-10 judges in a closed room with you while you are interviewing. Your interviews may be individual or in small groups, depending on the dance team or cheer team and the round of auditions that you are in.

The dance interview runs similarly to a professional job interview, while of course basing majority of your talking points around your biggest passion! The judging panel will go around and ask various questions to get to know you more in-depth, outside of the dance room.

How dance audition interviews work:

You will be given a specific date and time within the audition for the interview portion. When your interview time comes around, you will arrive at your given destination, which is generally the stadium or arena for the team you are auditioning with. If you are unfamiliar with the chosen interview premises, you will want to arrive around 30 minutes early to give yourself enough time to find your destination. Overall, you want to check in for the interview no later than 15 minutes early to your scheduled interview time.

You may want to run through some of your “prepped interview questions” before heading in. You will be escorted to the interview area where you will join the judging panel (that you are most likely familiar with from the dance audition.) This can be intimidating as you generally have no less than 4/5 judges in a room with you. This may be in groups or individual, which you will be aware of before the interview takes place. *Deep breathes!

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Prepping for interviews:

I know it may be easier to just walk in, be yourself, and hope for the best but I promise that interview preparation will make a drastic difference (not only in your answers but in your confidence.) This portion of auditions is as much a part of pro dance preparation as the dancing itself, the technique, and so forth.

What to be preparing for dance interviews:

Studying interview questions and preparing your answers.
Studying the sports team and organization.
Knowing and understanding proper interview etiquette.

Not sure where to start? In this article we go through how I prepared for pro cheer auditions and dance interviews:

13 Things to Prepare for Dance Auditions

Dance interview attire:

An interview for dance auditions is the exact same as a professional job interview and should be dressed for as such. You want to keep it simple and classy, wearing business casual attire. Something as simple as your interview attire may end up throwing off the judging panel, giving them an incorrect impression, or may even unintentionally rub them the wrong way. This is a profession where aesthetics matters as much as artistry, and your outfit reflects how the judges view you and your potential.

Ideas for what to wear to a dance interview:

Slacks and a business casual top
A classy business casual dress
A business casual skirt with a blazer/top
Casual heels or flats

What not to wear to a dance interview:

Baggy clothes
Jeans or casual clothes
Sneakers or stilleto heels
Revealing clothing

Interview etiquette:

Of course the interview is all about showcasing your personality and sharing your passion for dance, but it is also important to stay professional and understand the fundamentals for interviews.

Dance interview etiquette:

Interview preparation
Knowledgeable on the sport, team, and organization
Arrive early (no later than 15 minutes.. but also not too early)
Stay professional
Wear appropriate interview attire
Be respectful
Be yourself
Stay upbeat and positive
And remember.. less is more in interview answers. Keep it short and to the point!

Post dance interview:

At the end of your interview, make sure to thank the judging panel for their time and exit the room professionally.

For dance auditions, it would not be typical for any kind of “follow up or follow up email.” This is a part of the dance audition as a whole so you just have to know that you did the best you could - and if not - make sure to prep more for next time, understanding the parts of the interview that you can improve on.

So, you didn’t make the dance team:

Make sure to always handle rejection with grace. I found in my 6 years of dancing professionally that holding your head high and checking your perspective in that moment, will get you far as a dancer. I know it gets tough, but at all costs avoid being the dancer that storms out of auditions with a poor attitude or rude behavior. Yes - you can cry and get upset, but wait until you are in your car, away from the premises! You have to understand that this is a part of the dance world and you have to have thick skin towards rejection. Always remember - it is nothing personal.

You will be encountering the judging panel again in the future, especially if you have your eye on a specific dance team or cheerleading team. You do not want to burn bridges with a bad attitude.

The next step is to focus on improving in the areas you felt or were told that you need to work on.

Dance audition interviews are a vital part of pro dance auditions, so as you can see, make sure that you put the time in to prepare!

The biggest thing to remember is to be your truest self in the most professional manner.

GOOD LUCK and have fun!

Questions or comments about dance and cheerleading interviews? Leave a comment below!

XO,

The Sideline Secrets