How do you pick a variation?

[Ballet Bunnie]

I need a variation for an audition coming up, and my teacher want me to pick this time. I seriously been trying to make up my mind the entire night till now, but the list is still very long -- they all sounds like very interesting, and I want to do them all!!!

In terms of strength, my classmates voted that I look the best on adagios. But normally,adagio does not have the "boom" feeling that people would get from allegro variations.

There is a time constraint though -- I don't have too much time to rehearse the variation since the studios are very booked. I can always try to mark things on my own, but that feels very different than actually dancing it. Thus, my teacher suggest me to do something that I have done before. Unfortunately, most of them have been allegro. The only true adagio I've learned is prelude from Les Sylphides, which does not have those fancy turns, and I am worried that it might appear to be less challenging.

So, how should one choose a variation, especially for an audition? Any suggestion to my case (I have better port de bras and presentation in adagio, strong back and high arabesque/attitude, strong ankles, and I like beats)?

 

Variations currently on the top of my list:

Don Q. Kitri (Done it too many times, ready to go, but might not be challenging enough), Coppelia, Act 1., 2nd shades from La Bayadere, Sleeping Beauty Aurora, Prelude from Les Sylphides....

[Victoria Leigh]

It sounds to me like the lack of studio time really makes it a better idea to do one you know, however, with any variation you really do need as much rehearsal time as you can get before performing it at an audition. I would not worry about finding an adagio variation at this time, just select the one that you have done the most and feel most comfortable dancing. I would not suggest the Prelude from Les Sylphides as the best idea for an audition. Of the ones you mention, probably Shades or Aurora would be my choices, but without seeing you dance that is very hard to say with any certainty.

[Ballet Bunnie]

Thank you, Ms. Leigh! My list is now down to Sleeping Beauty, Shades, and DQ. The first two probably fits me better, but I definitely need more time to rehearse them than DQ. I will show these three to my teacher today, and see which one she likes better on me!

Another possibility is that I can book the studio in really weird times, but without a teacher. Not optimal either. But at least I have a backup option.

[Victoria Leigh]

May I ask if this is a company audition or a college audition, Ballet Bunnie?

[Ballet Bunnie]

Its for an extension program of a SI... I am thinking about applying for graduate programs in dance as well, and thought that if everything goes well, I would just reuse the variation... Does it make a difference between auditioning for school or auditioning for company?

[ballerinahk]

Personally I have found that Shades is a variation which really pops, especially if it is done with a lot of control. For your time to practice problem, are you allowed to rehearse late at night, because that is what I do. Also if you can do the balancing for Shades, and the extensions, it could be very nice!

Edited March 8, 2012 by Victoria Leigh
Change "u" to you, and add punctuation.

[Victoria Leigh]

Which Shades variation, ballerinahk?

[Ballet Bunnie]

Just an update, I ended up doing the Aurora variation. It worked out fine considering I only had 3 rehearsals to go over them... But anyway.... Lesson learned here: Always always have a variation ready, just in case!