Hannah is dancing in her prime as a young Ballerina at Opéra National de Paris. As an outsider in a French dominant company, she is  working her way through the ranks of one of the worlds greatest ballet companies. Hannah has received the prestigious 'Benios de la Danse award' for her interpretation of the title role in "Paquita". A wonderful acknowledgement for a deserving artist. She has shared her experience with auditions both as a dancer and on the panel of adjudicators

Auditions in all forms are a procedure used very often in our industry. Whether it be for entering a dance school , a professional company, short term projects or even for a place in the front line. They all have different criteria and depends on what the school, company or choreographer is looking for but all I can say is the more you go through these experiences, the more confident you get and so the easier the auditions become.

Personally I didn't go through an audition process for my place at The Ballet school but speaking from experience, know that there are always eyes everywhere and every opportunity you get on stage or in a dance studio you shouldn't take for granted. You never know who could offer you an opportunity of a lifetime!

Apart from the obvious physique and technique side of things someone that will dance and share their love for dance is extremely attractive. For a dancer to have patience, concentration and focus also draws attention to someone who is looking to nurture and blossom the next generation.

So far I have only auditioned for one company which I  know is very little. But I had to audition for the same company three times over before I was accepted as a full-time member. The very first cattle call of a hundred-plus dancers was a little overwhelming but staying confident and having faith in all that I had learnt to prepare for this moment in my career definitely helped me. The ability to pick up fast

is paramount. That's one less thing you have to think about while executing the exercises and being able to accentuate quality of movement. At the end of the day that is what everyone wants to see, a dancer who sings the movement.

Years later I had the occasion to be on the other side of the table and was on the jury for the annual audition. We all have this impression that people are there to pick up on everything we have difficulty with but in a fast procedure like this the first thing we see are your qualities and want to see you put them in the limelight. Being street smart helps too. Remember you are not always alone and there is nothing more annoying than someone with no spatial awareness. Don't be shy and let your personality shine through.

Although it seems like a lifetime ago that I last auditioned for my position as a professional dancer, I'm confronted with auditions at least once or twice a year (and for some of my colleagues even more). In our company we have new repertoire and creations very often which is so exciting. For these pieces we will most likely have to audition given there are one hundred and fifty plus dancers in total to choose from.

I have never been a fan of these auditions as I'm often self conscious and scared of judgement from my colleagues or looking silly. With time and experience I've learnt to take these opportunities as learning exercises and the chance to be in the studio with the choreographers. Being a sponge and soaking up information is the best thing I can get out of these moments. There's noting better than getting rid of ego and feeling a bit vulnerable. I believe beauty can come from raw sensations. Being honest and sincere is a very touching quality for movement. Attention to detail catches the eye as well, it shows interest in the choreographers work. Respect is a mutual energy between the artist and choreographer and that is something we feel straight away.

Even though technically speaking dance is an art form, not a sport (so no winners and losers) we're very often cast in situations of choice and preferences that are not always justified. But that's ok. People have different tastes and are  sensitive to different qualities. By staying

curious and open-minded we learn from every experience and with perseverance and passion, oftentimes someone will take interest whether it be a director , choreographer, teacher or a member of the audience.

Hannah O'Neill 2022