Workshops and Auditions in Scandinavia

What do the workshop and audition involve?

By booking an overseas audition you will automatically be invited to attend a 1 day workshop which will take place the day before the audition and will be free of charge.

The workshop will include tasks and activities which will be encountered in the audition.

1. What are we looking for in auditioning potential future dance artists? How do we see and assess this? – Discussion around the criteria and process used for selection.
2. Improvisation – how do you respond with a sense of play, and enquiry around specific tasks or movement ideas? How can you demonstrate understanding of the task through your responses? How can you ensure that you respond authentically and stay with the concept or proposition presented?
3. Work with voice – how do you overcome anxiety about using the voice? How can you ensure that you respond to tasks with every physical resource available to you?
4. Technique sessions – how can you pick-up the ‘important’ aspects of the material? How can you show your individuality and creative flair and performance quality in technique classes?
5. Solo – what do we look for in the solo? What makes an engaging performer?
6. Critical thinking – at NSCD we believe that critical thinking is important for a dance artist. How can we see your capacity for critical thought in the audition?
7. Verbal presentation – how can you deal with the pressure of a conversation or discussion in interview?
8. Group work – at NSCD we believe that the ability to relate to others and work in groups is important for a professional dancer. How can you work effectively with others?

Student case study- Emilie Karlsen

Emilie graduated from Northern School of Contemporary Dance in 2016.

Originally from Norway, she started out participating in dance competitions before moving on to studying music, dance and theatre. She was part of the youth company På Tå Hev led by the Norwegian Opera and Sarah Da Fonseca with guest artists and companies such as Random Dance Company and Christopher Kettner from 2011- 2012, before going on to study for a year at ‘Spin Off Forstudium i Dans’ in Oslo.

After graduating from NSCD, Emilie worked with NSCD alumnus Jamaal Burkmar Dance, winner of the inaugural 2015/16 New Adventures Choreography Award (NACA), as part of his piece ‘16 bars’. In 2017, Emilie joined Joss Arnott Dance, an internationally touring, classical contemporary dance company based at the Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield in West Yorkshire.