The Audition: Nutcracker Edition

Having not learned my lesson this spring, I decided to audition for the supporting cast of Ballet Embody's production of The Maryland Nutcracker this afternoon.

Like the cast of A Midsummer Night's Dream this past spring, the Nutcracker cast is composed of three groups: the professional cast, the student cast, and the supporting cast. The professional cast auditions were held mid-summer, and the student cast shortly thereafter; these groups started rehearsing earlier this month.

The supporting cast is subdivided into children ages 8 to 15, and adults (ages 16 and up). The children's supporting cast audition was held this afternoon, and the adult supporting cast auditions were after that.

I arrived about 15 minutes before our auditions were scheduled to begin. As I arrived, one of the other adult supporting cast members from Midsummer also arrived. Walking in, we found the remaining two familiar faces from Midsummer waiting for the audition to start. Although I should have spent the time stretching, we occupied ourselves catching up.

We got our call a few minutes late, as the kids' audition had run over time. As we entered the studio the kids filed out, and I recognized a few of their faces from Midsummer. Waiting for us were Melissa and Emily, the managing and artistic directors of this company respectively, both now very familiar to the four of us. Unlike the Midsummer audition, where we were all pretty much strangers to each other, the greetings were friendly and relaxed.

We were asked to fill out a simple form showing our availability Saturdays and/or Sundays -- the pro cast rehearses Saturdays, while for Midsummer the supporting cast rehearsed Sundays. I think they may be looking at having us rehearse with the pro cast more this time, which would be fine with me. They also asked if we would be available to start rehearsals this coming weekend. I'm pretty much available whenever, so I said yes to all three questions.

Like any class, we started with a warm-up at the barre, led by Melissa. I take class with Melissa just about every week so I'm a bit more familiar with her style, but the barre routine was different from what she usually gives in my class.

After about 15 minutes we moved to the centre. We did some simple changements, and then a simple allegro combination that included a couple pirouettes. Then Emily explained the choreography she wanted us to learn. Although this is not the first time they've done The Maryland Nutcracker, it will be the first time they've had an adult supporting cast, and she's still working on the choreography. This particular segment has previously been a solo by one of the pro men, but this year the supporting cast will fill in behind him. She broke the choreography into three parts, and we worked through each part a couple of times then did the whole sequence.

Aside from the usual confusion of trying to remember what goes where when, the most challenging bit is a sequence of two cabrioles, the first to the rear (derrière) and the second to the front (devant). I feel reasonably comfortable with cabriole devant, though I think I can get my legs higher with practice. Cabriole derrière, though, I don't recall doing; I can sort-of do it, but I barely get off the ground. I don't have a lot of elevation to the rear in the best of circumstances, so I'll definitely have to practice that one.

Then, suddenly, the audition was over. Unlike the last time, where I definitely felt like we were asked to do specific steps for evaluation, this felt much more like we were starting rehearsals. This may well be true, as we're more or less known quantities this time.

They promised to let us know within a couple of days if we would be asked to join the cast. Last time this happened the next day, which really cut down on the anxiety. I'll be disappointed if I don't get a role, especially because I'd really like to be in their spring production next year, but having had the chance to dance on stage already I'm less anxious about it this time.

Edited to add: I've been offered a role in the supporting cast! We start rehearsals October 8th.