Dance Audition

There was a momentary thrill when I learned I got the call back for the dance audition  that quickly was diluted by life.  There were many things at home that I was preparing for and illnesses that I had to battle (boo) but back stage Anticipation was buzzing about.

I was not nearly as nervous about the dance audition as I was about the singing.  I think it's because I have so little experience in dance there was nothing I could do to prepare.  Well, I did take the dance classes at Arthur Murray but my three lessons there would not help much against the gals who have been dancing since they were 5.  The singing audition is scary because it's something that I feel I do have a talent in.  What if they don't like it?  What if I really can't sing and only think I can?  The dance...pfft.  If they don't choose me because of a lack of dance ability I can say, Yeah.  You're right.

They said they may ask some of us to stay and sing again and to watch for an e-mail for new materials.  They never sent new materials and the day before the audition sent an e-mail saying to just be prepared to sing.  So the day before and the day of I worked on my already polished audition pieces.  This was also a comfort because I really wanted a do-over of those songs anyway since the last audition was blurred by nerves and adrenalin.

I would love to share with you about some of the characters that showed up but since there is a possibility that I could be working with them in the near future I had better skip that part.  Yes, be sad because it would make for some great writing!

The first thing the choreographer had us do was walk.

Yes!  I can do that!

She lined us up in rows of five and 5,6,7,8, walk, 2,3,4,5,6,7,8.  This is totally my kind of audition!  This was followed by saches.  Again, a relatively easy move.  I tried to remember to make these very simple things stand out. Walk with your head high and with good posture.  Point your toes on the saches. 

Next she showed us a very basic rumba and salsa.  I felt pretty good about how those went.  (Thanks Zumba! *ding*)  Finally she got down to the choreographed bit.  It was a tango.  She broke it down into two parts and then we put them together.  We were paired off into couples and 4-5 couples at a time would perform the completed dance. 

This whole thing was so fun and a fabulous work out!  I felt really good because twice the choreographer singled me out to compliment something I did and twice she offered to lead since we were short on guys and I danced with her.  The first time I volunteered and the second time she requested me.  YES!  I figured they were good opportunities to get personal pointers. 

After we all danced in our small ensembles the choreographer then asked two of the guys to stay and me and one other woman to stay.  She had us dance with each of the guys.  This same group was then asked to stay to sing.

The other woman had a very lovely voice and good projection but it was almost too lovely and light.  Eva is ambitious and strong.  It was a little scarier performing the songs this time because the others auditioners (auditionees?) stayed to watch.  My voice was shaky.  I'm not sure if that was heard or only felt but I was more present this time and I though, the other woman did well I felt like I out performed her as Eva.  Though, I did notice they told her she did not have to do the reading because they had worked with her before.  So if this was just an off night for her they would know that too. 

All in all it was super fun!  The tango is a blast!  The drama of it!  I'm even a little sore today.  I think the Arthur Murray classes helped in that I knew the proper dance holds; where to place my hands, where to look, etc.  I feel really good about how things went.  We will hear back by Friday.  Praying!!

That 70's Show

I had my first group class at Arthur Murray tonight.  Before heading to that the family headed out to the "sand lot" for a neighborhood kick ball game.  We had Mom's peeing their pants while running to first base and Dad's pretending to not be able to catch a ball so The Littles could make it to base.  Drew thought he legitimately made it around all of the bases every time.  Ha!  In one play Aaron threw the ball a little too hard and pegged a kid, stealing third base, right in the face!  At the time it was not so funny but retelling it on the back patio with imaginary slow motion was a riot.

Back to the Arthur Murray group class experience:

Such a strange group of people that gather at these things...  To start we all were paired off with a partner.  After learning a step and practicing it together we would then switch to a new one.  Another step would be added and practiced with the new partner and then we'd switch again.

My partners were a series of 1970's television characters.  I began with Hoss from Bonanza.  This dude was huge!  He told sorry jokes but he danced quite well. 

SWITCH!

There I was, face to face with Buddy Hackett.  I kid you not!  This guy was only about 3 inches taller than me.  He wore a Hawaiian print shirt and had an unfortunate head of hair.  Even more unfortunate was his breath.  The stench knocked me back to my dental assisting days and I quickly diagnosed the man with Periodontal disease. 

Let me take a minute right here to inform ya'll that peoples with periodontal disease/gingivitis have a distinct smell to their breath.  It's the smell of stale ca-ca. The smell of infection.  It burns my eyes.  Improper brushing and flossing will lead to puffy, red, bleeding gum tissue but the worst is the bad breath.  Many people think they know how to correctly brush and floss but actually do it WRONG.  Maybe I should do a blog on that...

Anywhoo...I was quite grateful for the proper head position while dancing, which is to the left.  Both dancers look to their left which is away from one another.  Thank God.

SWITCH!

Hello Alan Alda.  This guy was a dead ringer for him!  He was built like him too.  It was uncanny.  I thought about telling him but he was a rather unfriendly fellow who had bitterly been dragged to the studio by his wife.

SWITCH!

Charlie.  Charlie was adorable.  He was there with his fiance, Joanne.  They were preparing for their wedding dance!  Poor Charlie...it's a good thing he was taking lessons because he was rather terrible.  He was not too bad at the tango though!  Wouldn't that make for an interesting first dance?

SWITCH!

We were short a fellow or two and so Kelly volunteered to dance the lead.  She was a very tall, string bean of a gal.  College age.  Super cute and fun!  We had a great time dancing together.  I especially appreciated that she had good hygiene, did not sweat when holding my hand, and did not wear cologne.

SWITCH!

Mr. Farley.  Remember him?  Imagine the goofy landlord from Three's Company at a dance class.  He is a smoker so...yea.  Stinky.  He came with his wife who was dressed in a teal floral print dress with a plunging neckline and with a hemline that was a few inches too short for a gal over 65.  Did I mention she was bra-less?  Though The Ladies could have used the support I have to give her kudos for her fabulous gams!  He legs had incredible tone and shape.  When Mr. Farley tangoed with his wife he pulled her in close and ad-libbed some variations from what the instructor taught us.  When it was my turn to be his partner he assured me we would not be dancing together that way.  I guess there was fear in my eyes...

"Once you've been here long enough then we dance rib to rib."

Haaaawt.

SWITCH!