Dance and vocal workshops help students with musical auditions
Students run through dance moves during the dance workshop in late October.
November 21, 2014
A large group of students file onto the stage, some show anxiety as they stretch and converse with peers. Theatre Director Stephanie Smith stands in front of them and excitedly begins to explain the workshop. Their hopes high and adrenaline running, they prepare themselves for what is to come. A song starts to play on the speakers and the choreographer begins to demonstrate a jazz square.
The students have gathered to learn the dance routine that they will perform at auditions for the fall musical, Oklahoma! The two workshops were held Tuesday and Thursday Oct. 21 and 23 after school in the auditorium. While some students were already use to the rigorous preparation for auditions, some were new at it.
Teachers Jennifer Bussear and Stephanie Smith lead students through the dance audition workshop.
“It’s my first time ever auditioning,” freshman Michelle Galvez said. “Plus, a lot of seniors and juniors who are experienced too? It’s very scary.”
While Galvez waited nervously, freshman Gabriella Trevino-Bandy was full of anticipation.
“Auditions are normally pretty easy,” Trevino-Bandy said. ”I will just go out there with confidence and hope for the best.”
It’s not just the auditions that had everyone going though, the workshop itself was adding some new fear and excitement too.
“The workshop took away some of the fear,” Trevino-Bandy said. “But at the same time it added some things that I’m worried about.”
Not only did the students have to learn a dance routine, they learned a song too, but that’s only made Michelle Galvez more confident.
“I feel pretty confident about memorizing everything,” Galvez said. “So hopefully it will go good.”
Along with the new skills Galvez acquired for auditions, she also met some new faces.
“We had to switch with people all the time,” Galvez said. “So it helped my trust and confidence. Plus, you can’t really be shy in theater.”
Although some may found the workshop nerve racking, Trevino-Bandy believes that it will help everyone, especially new comers.
“I think this workshop was extremely helpful,” Trevino-Bandy said. “Especially for those who are trying theatre for the very first time.”
Theatre will host the spring musical Oklahoma! Jan. 22-24 in the auditorium.
