Top 10 Tips to Nail your LA Surge Audition

Whether you’re auditioning for LA Surge or any other team, production, or show, confidence is key! At LA Surge, we believe that a strong mindset is just as important as flawless dance technique. No matter where you're auditioning, these 10 confidence-boosting tips will help you walk into the room (or submit that tape) feeling powerful, prepared, and unstoppable.

1. Prepare like you already have the part.
A major source of confidence is preparation! Know the choreography or material inside and out, practice all the tricks and technical elements you plan on showcasing, and review any logistics and requirements ahead of time. This may be expected attire, where to park, how to submit your tape, etc. The more prepared you are, the more natural and effortless you’ll look.

2. Train your mindset like you train your body.
A shift in your thinking from "I hope they like me" to "I’m excited to show them what I can do" can work wonders when it comes to confidence in an audition. A positive mindset transforms nerves into excitement, allowing you to perform with passion and authenticity. Remember–you are an athlete. This is what you do. You are skilled, and you love it whether you make the team or not.

3. Posture is important.
Your body language speaks volumes when walking into an audition. Stand tall, shoulders back, and make eye contact. Walk into the audition room like you already got the part, and have confidence that what is yours will come to you. Even if you don’t make it this time, you are still learning and growing through the audition experience.

4. Take some deep breaths.
Before stepping into the audition space, take a deep breath in and exhale slowly. This simple reset is proven to help calm your nerves, sharpen your focus, and help you feel more in control of your body and your emotions (shoutout to our Psychology degrees!).

5. Showcase your individuality and your strengths.
Instead of hyper fixating on what the other dancers can do, focus on what makes YOU stand out. Maybe it's your precision, stage presence, tricks, turns, legs, or million-dollar smile—embrace your unique qualities and let them shine. No team is ever looking for “cookie-cutter” dancers, and while synchronization and blending is important for a team, showing off your individuality will make you stand out in the judges’ eyes and create a lasting impact after the audition is over. 

6. Be mindful of the way you dress.
Wearing something that makes you feel confident–while still following audition attire guidelines, of course–can make a big difference in how you carry yourself. Your look should be clean, polished, and performance-ready! If you’re unsure of attire guidelines, always be sure to reach out to the organization you’re auditioning for. If no specific attire guidelines are given, simply go with an industry standard. 

7. Don’t fear mistakes.
Every dancer messes up at some point, but confidence comes from how you recover. If you slip up, just keep dancing! Judges admire resilience just as much as they admire skill. They know that in reality, there will be significantly more rehearsal time for competitions, shows, etc. than there is allotted for learning and turning around audition material. A mess-up does not define your audition. 

8. Visualization is a powerful tool.
Before your audition, close your eyes and picture yourself executing your audition exactly the way you want to–hitting every skill, sustaining every pirouette, and performing with power. Visualization is a powerful tool that helps train your mind for success; in fact, your brain often can’t differentiate between you actually nailing your routine and the perfect routine you performed in your mind! There’s a reason why so many Olympic athletes utilize this visualization!

9. Stay engaged with judges and show off your personality.
Judges don’t just look for great dancers—they look for performers. We, as coaches, feel confident that we can refine someone’s dance technique, make them more flexible, and coach them to more pirouettes. It is significantly harder to teach someone to have a personality that commands the attention of an audience. Show energy, expression, and connection with the choreography. Let the judges see who you are beyond the movement.

10. Have fun, and don’t take anything too seriously!
At the end of the day, auditions are just another chance to dance. If you walk in with joy and trust in your training, your confidence will radiate. THAT is what makes a dancer unforgettable.

Auditions for LA Surge are coming up, and we can’t wait to see dancers from all over Louisiana bring their A-game! Ready to take the leap? ⚡🌪️

See the requirements here: https://www.lasurgeworldsteam.com/audition-information