Technique - Think about your skill level and choose a solo which shows you off to your best advantage. Everything begins with clean technique and beautiful lines, no matter what skill level you are at. One or two beautifully placed turns are much better than quadruple turns which are sloppy.

Presentation - Your dancing should show confidence and strong stage presence. In the audition, you must dance as if you were on stage and not in your dance studio.

Musicality and Phrasing - Are you expressing the ability to listen and physically express the rhythm, melody, nuance, and character of the music through the choreography? Take your time to listen to the subtleties in the music.

Artistry - Is the audience feeling the connection, and sincerity of your performance? There needs to be an emotional connection between yourself, as the dancer, and your audience.

What the Judges are Saying:

"Students need to remember that this is their time to sparkle and shine! Don't be afraid to show your personality."

"Please don't feel like you need to show everything you can do in one solo. It can make your chorography look over-choreographed and frantic. Sometimes less is more; clean technique, beautiful lines, and spaces to breathe within the choreography."

"While clean technique is important, we want to see a real emotional connection come through in the dancing. The emotion can be joyful, painful, confidence, fear or any combination, but it must be authentic."

Jazz, Lyrical, Modern, Contemporary:

All solos should include:

• Movement demonstrating rhythm, musical phrasing and body isolations.
• Combinations demonstrating controlled turns and jumps.
• Movement demonstrating fluidity and command; skill in change of direction.
• Please avoid cheerleading moves.

If dancing Allegro (fast dance) - demonstrating command of rhythmic complexity and speed; small and large jumps

If utilizing Floor work - movement sequence designed in contact with surface of the floor as well as controlled falls from standing, turning or jumping. Keep floor work to a minimum

Tap
The presentation of technique should be designed to display:

• Clarity of taps and clean technique
• Syncopation skills
• Speed and dexterity
• Stylish use of upper body, head, arms and hands
• Connection between upper and lower body
• Slaps (flaps), shuffle (doubles), time step (doubles and triples), buck and wing, soft shoe, clog, cramp rolls and grab-offs (shuffle, pull back, alternating)

• Clarity and precision in footwork
• Strong stage presence
• Complex combinations of movement without excessive repetition
• Rhythmic dance phrases appropriate to the dance
• Emotional connection to the audience
• Connection between lower and upper body, appropriate to dance form
• Relationship to costume and/or props, if using them

• Clean technique and varied dance vocabulary
• Style and Charisma
• Confidence
• Stage presence - Connection to audience
• Musicality and Rhythm