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Audition photos and leotard dilemma for upper school


Flexible Fred

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Hello my lovely lot, me again with further questions that you have all probably seen a million times

Here goes

How important are the quality of the photos for upper school ?

Ie can I do them or would it need a professional ?

Does Dd need to wear the same leotard for photos and auditions for continuity?

Is black a no no colour ?

Any advice on what sort of leotard, ie camisole / classical or does anything go ?

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I took my son's photos...multiples of each position. He choose the one he liked best. They weren't amazing but good enough:)

My dd auditioned successfully for a top ballet school. She wore a red camisole leotard that she felt suited her. She was told at her previous school to keep it simple and classical, without fussy backs and straps.

At RBS finals this year there was a plethora of different coloured leotards on display.

She should wear one she feels she looks good in and feels she dances well in. All through auditions we have gone for colour to draw the eye. To be honest, it's the dancing that matters.

Good luck to dd.

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A couple of years ago on the ENBS audition workshop they advised wearing a coloured leotard that is comfortable but avoid fussy.

 

Ask your dd current teacher if she can help with photos in the studio. They can help with getting the positions perfected but expect to take lots before everyone is happy with them. Aim for a plain background and try not to crop fingers, toes etc, you need to get a long way back especially when they are in arabesque.

 

We always joke we are lucky to live in a digital age where we can instantly look at the photos. If we had to have each set developed it would cost a fortune as dd would find fault in the first 49 before the 50 th was deemed ok to send!

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DD was planning to wear black as she feels she looks best in black. I figure that if she feels comfortable in black she will be at her most confident and hence show herself to her best advantage....Hope that's right as I don't want her to place herself at any disadvantage by her choice. It can't make much difference can it??

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How your dd feels in her leo is much more important than what colour it is. At Dd's auditions there were so many colours that to be honest black stood out! Lol! She wore a different Leo from her photos as she had grown by the time the auditions came round, she chose one that was comfortable and she felt good in and I truly believe that made the difference. Good luck xx

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DD was planning to wear black as she feels she looks best in black. I figure that if she feels comfortable in black she will be at her most confident and hence show herself to her best advantage....Hope that's right as I don't want her to place herself at any disadvantage by her choice. It can't make much difference can it??

Maybe just put something small in her hair just to make her a little different. 

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Despite what was said at the ENBS talk my dd wore navy blue as she felt comfortable in the leotard!

 

She wore a red leotard that she was never comfortable with for her lower school audition on the advice of her teacher as really didn't know better. Six years later my dd still comments on how much she hated that leotard!

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Another tip for the photographs - and do take loads - is to display them on your TV screen to help the selection process. I would always ask a teacher to assist with this step as if nothing else it prevents arguments with dd .

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Fred, if you use the search function in "Doing Dance" to search for "Audition Photos" and "Audition Leotard" respectively (use the inverted commas), you'll find lots of posts which should hopefully help. It may also be worth reading through the pinned thread on "Questions about Upper School auditions".

 

In terms of leotards, I agree - something not too fussy in terms of multiple straps, flattering, comfortable, and in a colour that suits your dd. Black doesn't always show up in photos as well as a colour, but it depends upon the background. Dd didn't wear her "photo leotard" to all her auditions as for Tring and Central she wore her Associate leotard for each school.

 

With regards to black leotards, I agree that putting something discreet in the hair is a nice way to feel pretty. Some schools actually specify a black leotard for audition (Ballet Theatre UK does, not sure about others) so it may be as well to have a nice black leotard just in case.

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Hi my dd wore a simple black leotard that fitted well for both photos and auditions. She got offers at two schools with dada funding. It's important that your dd feels comfortable in what she's wearing and her ability will shine through ! A lot of girls did wear a colour but my dd wore black an as pointed out before its all about the dancing !!! Go for the fit of the leotard first an then maybe colour ?

I also took photos myself at home or dance teacher let her take them in studio . They are just a guide an for reference after audition . Don't stress !!!!! Easier said then done I know . Good luck x

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Thank you all so much for the replies, they are so helpful

I had had to come clean to my Dd as she questioned how I had become such a ballet expert !

Errrr I muttered I joined a ballet form under the user name of Flexible Fred

She is still howling now !

Ok I may be ' cuddly' and yes I am the most un flexible person in the world but stil.....no need for that much laughing !

Giggling myself now

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What about schools wanting passport sized head shots? Smile or no smile? Bun or no bun? My dd went to the photobox last night with the messiest hair. Took her ages to do. Looks like a bird's nest.

Funny! :-)

 

My dd's headshots were taken at the same time as her audition poses. Hair in a bun, makeup on (she was auditioning for upper schools), nice smile. We went with hair up as the headshots are an aide memoir for the panel, so I wanted her to look as she looked in audition.

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Well ive just ordered a lovely Degas leotard in black from the wonderful Just Ballet to serve as audition leotard. DD already has a similar one in burgundy which I may use for photos though. She is adamant about wearing black, but I can see the point of it not showing up well against dark backgrounds in photos so I will probably persuade her to wear a different colour for the pictures.

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I seem to remember from last year that most of the schools want much the same poses for the photos, but they all also seem to want an extra one or two that are different from all the other schools. Talk about making life difficult ;) 

 

As long as they are taken in reasonably good light, the teacher has checked them and chosen the best ones, and you haven't cut off any heads, feet or fingers, then all should be well.

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The schools should really get their act together and have a standard UCAS style form and photos for all - but that would be too easy!!

Oh if only.....

My DD is applying for dance degrees at "normal" universities as well as specialist dance schools and colleges, so we will have some applications via UCAS, some via UCAS conservatoires, some direct to the schools..... and every application is subtly different......it is very confusing. I'm feeling stressed and we haven't even taken the photos yet!! (DD on the other hand is as cool as a cucumber but that will no doubt change!)

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I think a 'Katymac' spread sheet is the only way to help reduce the stress of applications! Closing date for applications, audition dates and the list of photos each required. Can't think at moment what else we made a note of but the above makes it sound simple and there definitely was more to consider.

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Yes, I had started my spreadsheet and all was going well until my husband installed Windows10 which lead to a complete computer melt down of some sort. I lost a lot of stuff including that spreadsheet and still need to psych myself up to start again. There is a lot of angry muttering in our house whenever that Windows 10 advert comes on!!

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