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Hi! My DD will be auditioning next year for dance and drama colleges but I have a few questions so that I can be well prepared!! Please help!

1. What should she wear? I know its leotard and tights but I was wondering whether there is anything different colleges look for i.e. makeup/hairstyles/a certain 'look'?

2. I've heard they ask what other colleges you are applying for.. Why is this? Should she answer this question honestly? I dont really know why they ask this?!

I hope someone has an answer to help me out!!
Thank you xxx

It is hard to answer this without knowing which schools you are considering as requirements vary from one to the other. My dd only auditioned at dance schools and, if I recall rightly, most said what should be worn when the audition was confirmed. I don't remember having to say which other schools she was looking at, either, so perhaps that is only true of drama schools?

Agree with funnygirl, depends on where you are auditioning - the requirements for dance/MT seem to be quite different to Drama. My dd auditioned last year and is now at Laine. Some colleges do pre audition week/days where they give info on what is expected - for dance/MT I would say well groomed/full make-up/change of clothes for ballet/jazz/singing but they will tell you what is required once you get audition date. I would say answer honestly if they ask about other auditions it won't put them off I think they would be more surprised if you were not auditioning anywhere else. I'm sure others can give useful info for drama courses - there is loads of info on here if you have time to look and I'm sure others can help with Drama audition requirements - Good Luck

another agreement that it depends on where you are auditioning. My DD applied for dance and was given information for what to wear with audition confirmation. I would answer the question on other places applied for honestly - or maybe just give a few if she is applying to a lot. I remember DD being asked this and I don't think it has any bearing on the audition process - it perhaps just shows a college who are they are up against if they want your DD and perhaps that your DD has done her research and selected colleges she feels will suit her. Just guesswork as to reason but as I said I don't think it affects the audition/offer process at all.
Make up and general appearance - I agree with the well groomed comment. I'm not sure that my DD wore full make up for all her auditions - but I think it may vary from college to college for expectations. In any case I think it also depends on individuals and their colouring. My elder DD has such long dark eyelashes she looks like she is wearing mascara anyway. Her blonde younger sister looks pale besides her and would need more make up in an audition. Hairstyles - all of DDs auditions started with a ballet class so it was a classical bun to start the day and then a change to pony tail or other style for different dance styles so be prepared to be versatile. I am aware that the order can be different depending on group - it just happened that DD always had ballet first.
I would suggest that when you have a free afternoon you sit down and use the search facility on here to look through some past threads on auditioning and specific colleges as there is so much information on this forum. Good luck

I can't answer the question from a dance and drama college perspective, but it's quite normal in job interviews to ask why you want to work for xxx company rather than yyy competitor - so on the same basis I would def be honest and say she is applying for others. They would expect you to be looking at others. I would then expand to explain what appeals in particular about xxx college eg more niche/ broader training, excellent reputation for xyz, whatever you believe ....

Good luck

I don't think full make-up is necessarily a requirement. I think you should go as you would normally be made up and neatly turned out with hair off the face (this is more from the point of view of MT than dance). When ds auditioned, nobody changed into different clothing. The panel are looking at you and not what you are wearing so I would stick to something neat and comfortable that you can move freely in. Ds wasn't asked which other colleges he was applying for at any audition. He was asked quite in depth questions about his favourite shows etc so it pays to really know your subject. I presume what you wear is more specific if you are applying for dance courses though.

Thank you everyone, all of your answers have been very helpful and I will be sure to research more of the website! I'm new to this sort of stuff haha

My DD hopes to audition mainly for dance schools i.e. Urdang, Bird, Laines etc. So if anyone has more specific advice regarding these please let me know!!

I agree with the makeup comment, she wasn't sure whether others would wear a full face as she feels more comfortable with less on her skin when she is dancing so these tips will come in handy!

I can't really comment on the dress-code element, but I would imagine the schools ask about which other schools as a means to identifying if the other schools applied for 'line up' with the discipline strength of their own, and thereby understanding a bit more about their potential student. If a student were to tell them they've applied for LAMDA, Mountview and, say, BRIT, that creates a bit of confusion as to the direction the student is wanting to go in, or their understanding of what they do there. I would imagine they are looking for an element of consistency, which would help affirm why the student would, or may not, be right to choose their school, rather than standing in front of them via a bit of a 'hat plucking' approach.

Can't say for sure, but that's what comes to my mind immediately anyway.

My DS did the pre audition week at Urdang last summer and was told that they wanted them very well groomed at all times (the philosophy was that you never know who else will be using the building so you should always be well turned out). They said they wanted the girls in full make-up everyday, even for the pre-audition course. They also wanted smart clothes (and heels for the girls) for the singing and monologue part of the audition. Laine seem to be the same. There was time between ballet and jazz to change to different dance wear.

Mountview on the other hand want very little make-up. The girls who auditioned there with him were advised to go and remove make-up if it was obvious. At Mountview they only wear black for the first two years, with no logos and no make-up as they want them to be a 'blank canvas' so that they can learn about themselves. They didn't ask for all black at the audition though but a lot of people were wearing it anyway. I don't think they had time to change between disciplines there either.

Hope this helps and good luck.

Yes I would agree that the requirements are different for each school, and it's important to check before the audition. As a general rule, the more 'dance' ones i.e. urdang, bird, performers, Laine etc want well groomed and full make up, and will expect you to change between disciplines. The more Actor/singer style ones i.e. Central, Mountview, LCM prefer no make up and do want to see that blank canvas. They will usually specify which one they want. As for being asked about other auditions, I would say be quite honest. DD was asked at Italia Conti to order her choices, and she put them second choice behind GSA. She still had an offer from them so I don't think they expect you to always say they're your first choice. They seemed to be just interested in what your other options are, and commented that she had picked the more 'acting' based ones such as Central and GSA, which they agreed was her strength. Maybe we should have a general tips thread for people applying next year. I feel so much wiser now after going through the process. My advice would be do your research, and pick the right schools to apply to, hedge your bets and don't be too dismissive of less recognised courses, and prepare! (Also, have a plan B at least).

Yes, I agree with being honest about other schools. My DS was asked at Bird where else he had auditioned and about any offers. When he told them the offers he had, they offered him the degree course on the spot so I think knowing that other schools were interested in him too actually helped.

I totally agree with all the comments about being honest. Once one school heard my dd had offers already they stopped the interview and started explaining to her why they thought that she should attend their school. They also ended up making a verbal offer.

All the schools that dd applied to were very specific about what they wanted and sent information when the auditions was booked. Also the students who were helping during audition dates were really helpful. If someone looked like they needed advice they would quietly pull them aside and say things like - "do you have any lipstick with you...if you do have a brighter colour you should go and put it on..."

Hi everyone! Posted here a few months about my central audition.
Since then, I've managed to get a recall for GSA which is tomorrow!!
i was just wondering if anyone had any experience with guilford BA acting recall auditions and what they typically entail?
In my first audition I only performed my contemporay audition and I have read that in the second audition they will ask you to perform whatever you did not previously perform.
HOWEVER, i've also read its best to go with your most confident audition piece regardless of what you did first time? I would be worried doing this, getting caught out and being rejected on that basis.
Any advice on recalls in general would be very useful. This is my only recall out of the 4 drama schools i applied to which is understandable with it being my first year so i really want to make this one count.
THANKS X