Researching Audition Requirements: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go 

Audition season is exciting—but it’s also filled with logistics, deadlines, and fine print that can easily slip through the cracks. Once you’ve created your list of dance auditions for the season (👀 check out our blog post on Making a List of Auditions), your next step is understanding exactly what each audition expects.

With BalletScout, this process becomes a whole lot easier. Our audition listings include all the information you need to prepare—saving you hours of research and guesswork.

Here’s how to break it all down and walk into every audition with confidence.

🔍 Step 1: Review the Basics

No matter what level you're auditioning at—summer intensive, year-round program, trainee, or dance company—you’ll want to double-check the following:

• ✅ Date & Time – Know the audition start time and whether there’s a separate registration time.
  
  
• ✅ Location – Confirm the address and any parking or studio access notes.
  
  
• ✅ Registration Instructions – Do you need to pre-register or can you register in-person? (Some auditions now only accept pre-registration.)
  
  
• ✅ Audition Fees – Some must be paid in advance, others can be paid at the door. If the company is part of AGMA, audition fees may be waived for members—just bring proof of membership.
  
  

These basics are listed clearly on each BalletScout audition listing, so you never have to dig through multiple pages to find them.

👕 Step 2: Know What to Wear

Many auditions will list a specific dress code, especially for school and summer intensive auditions. Others—like company auditions—may be more open, but that doesn’t mean attire doesn’t matter.

Make sure to check the audition listing for dress code requirements and read our full blog post: What to Wear to a Dance Audition

As a quick checklist:

• For Women: 
• Solid-colored leotard (typically black for young dancers)
• Pink/flesh tights worn under the leotard or over the leotard (more common at professional level)
• Ballet shoes and pointe shoes (if required)
  
  
• For men:
• Clean white t-shirt
• Black tights
• Ballet shoes 
• Reminders:
• Neat hair & minimal jewelry
• No warmups, skirts, or shorts unless specified (or unless you're at a professional level and it's common in the environment)
  
  

📸 Step 3: Gather Required Photos

Some auditions will ask you to upload or bring physical copies of audition photos. The most common photo requirements include:

• Headshot (preferably in color, with hair up)
  
  
• First Arabesque
  
  
• Tendu à la seconde
  
  

If you’re not sure how to take these, we’ve got you covered with our task list post: Take Your Audition Photos

🎥 Step 4: Check for Pre-Screen Requirements

In recent years, many upper-level dance auditions have introduced pre-screening videos—especially for college programs or company auditions.

If your audition has a pre-screen requirement, it will be listed in the audition details. These videos are sometimes reviewed before you can be invited to the in-person audition.

If no specific structure is provided, default to the International Audition Pre-Selection (IAP) Guidelines, which are widely accepted by major companies and schools.

✨ IAP Guidelines (via iapguidelines.squarespace.com)

Your pre-screen video should include:

• A short classical variation of your choice (from standard repertoire)
  
  
• A short contemporary variation (original or excerpted from rep)
  
  
• 3–5 minutes of barre work (both sides)
  
  
• 3–5 minutes of center (adagio, pirouettes, petit & grand allegro)
  
  
• A CV (resume)
  
  
• A headshot
  
  
• 2–3 dance photos showing your body, proportions, and line
  
  

🎯 Pro Tip: The IAP Guidelines are a great default. You can always add more to tailor a submission, but you’ll rarely need to take anything away.

🎓 Tips for Specific Types of Auditions

Company-Level Auditions

• Check if an AGMA membership waives the audition fee
  
  
• Know whether a prepared variation is required
  
  
• Expect some portion of the class to be en pointe and to include repertoire or contemporary segments
  
  

Year-Round or Summer Intensives

• Pay attention to age-based audition times
  
  
• Expect classical ballet only (usually no prepared variation unless specified)
  
  
• Pointe may be required depending on age and level
  
  

College Programs

• Often require early pre-screen submissions, sometimes as early as October
  
  
• Be prepared to include academic materials like transcripts, essays, and letters of recommendation
  
  
• Check if auditions are included as part of a university-wide arts application
  
  

🎯 Your Action Plan:

1. Use BalletScout's audition listings to find the most up-to-date information.
   
   
2. Favorite your upcoming auditions to easily track them in your dashboard.
   
   
3. Make a checklist for each audition with the materials you need.
   
   
4. If a pre-screen video is required, give yourself time—at least a few weeks—to rehearse, film, and edit.
   
   
5. Use our To Do Task List to ensure you are prepared for upcoming auditions.
   
   

💬 Final Thoughts

Doing your homework on audition requirements helps you show up prepared—and preparation leads to confidence. The difference between a good audition and a great one often lies in the details.

At BalletScout, we’re here to help you streamline the search and shine when it matters most.

🩰 Ready to get started? Head over to www.balletscout.info to start building your audition season from the ground up.

📌 Bookmark this post and check out:

• Make a List of Auditions
  
  
• Take Your Audition Photos
  
  
• Create Your Classwork Video