DANCER AUDITIONS
LA Unbound auditions are open to dancers ages 18+ in ALL styles, and we are primarily looking for dancers with training in contemporary, ballet, jazz, tap, and/or hip-hop. Our next auditions are scheduled for Saturday, August 19th, 2023 from 2-6pm at Athletic Garage Dance Center in Pasadena. Performances on Saturday, November 11th at the Glendale Community College Mainstage Theater.
When you arrive at auditions, you will fill out a Dancer Info Sheet, get your photo taken, and pay a $40 registration fee. Please arrive early to allow plenty of time to find parking and complete the sign-in process! Auditions will begin with a showcase of each choreographer talking about their piece and showing some choreography. You will have a list of in front of you with each choreographer’s dance and when and where they will be rehearsing. You will select which pieces you are interested in dancing in and submit the form to us. We will then audition groups of dances by style in 20- or 30-minute blocks where you will learn about four or five 8-counts of choreography in that style. The choreographers of that style will watch and take notes.
After the dancer auditions are complete, all dancers will be dismissed and the choreographers will need to stay for a mandatory one hour Choreographers Meeting. This is where all dancers will be divided up into the different pieces.
The Cast List will be emailed to everyone within 24 hours, and then choreographers will contact their dancers with further information about rehearsals.
What to bring to auditions:
- A pen or pencil
- Water bottle
- $40 registration fee – cash, credit card, or Venmo (to @la-unbound)
- Any dance shoes you own: ballet shoes, tap shoes, sneakers for hip hop, etc.
- Please wear comfortable dance clothes you can move in
- NO need to bring a resume or headshot
For dancers who cannot make auditions: If you’d like to dance in the show but cannot attend auditions, you will need to submit a Dancer Info Sheet, a Dancers Choice Sheet, and a $40 registration fee no later than Monday, August 7th. Please email us at LAUnbound(at)gmail(dot)com for the paperwork and details on how to submit.
*Please note: for choreographers who are also auditioning as dancers, the $40 registration fee will be waived for all returning dancers/choreographers. So if you have danced or choreographed for Unbound previously and would like to dance AND choreograph in the show, you will need to pay the $60 choreographers deposit, but NOT the $40 registration fee.
Video of our Spring 2017 Auditions by filmmaker Steven Butler:
NEW TO LA UNBOUND?
If you’ve never danced with us before, welcome! Here is some additional information about our company and how it operates:
What is LA Unbound? LA Unbound is the largest dance company in Los Angeles, bringing together talented local choreographers and dancers of all backgrounds and styles. We produce two original, full-length shows per year (usually in May and November) featuring contemporary dance, ballet, tap, hip-hop, burlesque, modern, bollywood, aerial, and more. Some of our participants are full-time, professional dancers/choreographers/dance teachers, but most have day jobs outside of dance, and enjoy LA Unbound as a fun and non-competitive opportunity to rehearse and perform in their free time.
What happens after auditions? After auditions, choreographers will be given their dancers’ email addresses and will contact them and begin rehearsals. Most pieces rehearse for 1-2 hours once a week. Everyone meets for a full-company rehearsal four weeks and two weeks prior to the show date to run all pieces in costume and get notes. We then have a FULL DAY at the theatre, which includes a dress/tech rehearsal and two performances, followed by a cast & crew and family & friends afterparty!
AUDITION FAQs
How many pieces can I audition for? As many as you’d like! We encourage you to audition for as many pieces as possible. As part of your audition registration paperwork, you will tell us the maximum number of dances you are able to commit to, so we won’t cast you in more pieces than your schedule allows.
Does every dancer get chosen for a piece? We do our best to accept as many dancers as possible. The more dances you audition for, the better chance you have of being cast!
Where and when are the rehearsals held? Each choreographer is in charge of scheduling their own rehearsal days/times and location. We rehearse all over the Los Angeles area, from Woodland Hills to Santa Monica to Altadena. At the beginning of auditions, you will receive a list of all the dances and where/when they rehearse, so you can decide which pieces you’re interested in based on the style/music/choreography as well as the rehearsal day/time/location.
How much does it cost to participate as a dancer in LA Unbound? The only cost is the $40 registration fee. You MAY be asked to purchase a costume piece or two, but the costume purchase will be optional and the cost will be minimal. You are also expected to provide your own dance shoes, tights, undergarments, etc as applicable for the dance(s) you are in.
