| Now that you decided to join a ballet company, | | | | find out BEFORE your first audition. |
| after years of training in yourhome town, "what | | | | Being in a professional ballet company at an early |
| do I do now?" You now have to audition for that | | | | age is a feeling of pure magicand fantasy as well |
| ballet company. | | | | as joy of accomplishment. Not too far from the |
| Have you decided which company? | | | | time whenyou were a child and saw your first |
| Here are a few questions and some answers you | | | | ballet performance. One of the more |
| have to find out; | | | | popularballets to see for the first time for a child |
| *Have you picked a dance company you want to | | | | or parent is the "Nutcracker". To dancein it is |
| join | | | | MAGIC, FANTASY, ACCOMPLISHMENT! You also |
| *In which City/State | | | | will get a feeling of mixed emotionsjust before |
| *Is the dance repertoire classical, moderen, Jazz | | | | and during your dancing on stage for a LIVE |
| or a combination of all | | | | audience and will experiencethese emotions every |
| *How large is the company (dancers), how many | | | | time you dance on stage. |
| boys/girls | | | | These feelings are very different from rehearsals |
| *Are there corps de ballet, soloist, principal ranks | | | | in a studio. No comparison. |
| or is it grouped into onelarge dance company | | | | Rehearsals can be very hard, hours of intensive |
| without any ranking | | | | work, repetition of the same steps,choreography, |
| *How long is their season (in weeks) | | | | day in and day our and even for several weeks, |
| *How many performances are there during a | | | | perfecting everythingthat needs to be done |
| season | | | | BEFORE the curtain opens to a paying public. |
| *Does the company tour the states, for how | | | | Your reward is only by the amount of applause |
| many weeks | | | | from the audience you hear as thecurtain closes. |
| *Do they pay a salary, how much and for how | | | | You may even hear BRAVO!. That can be |
| many weeks | | | | considered as the ultimatereward giving you |
| *If you have a lay-off can you collect | | | | praise for your ACCOMPLISHMENTS. |
| unemplyment insurance | | | | Enjoy your dancing whether it be in a studio or on |
| *Does the dance company provide ballet and | | | | stage. The MAGIC is there and thereis nothing like |
| pointe shoes, costumes, tights, | | | | a live audience applauding your dancing. |
| (most all do, but make sure)you provide your | | | | Don't forget to take care of your Pointe Shoes. |
| own stage-make-up | | | | They are your magic shoes, just likethe famous |
| These are some of the questions you have to | | | | movie called THE RED SHOES. |