The Right Place And The Right Time

Rarely, is a dancer able to navigate international waters without a great deal of support, homework and without a personal connection. The preparation list is daunting:
* Finding out in advance who is auditioning and when
* Plan a schedule that coincides with your own ability to get out of commitments
* Gathering a list of several other companies in the same vicinity so that your money is well spent
* Making sure that you are in the locale long enough so that jet lag isn’t a factor and that you are in peak condition, have a place to stay and remain long enough for a call back …if required.
* Making a travel itinerary around companies, contracting and compiling responses from companies, making sure that all the contact details are correct….

The list is a long one and it has prevented more than a few capable dancers from finding their best employment opportunity or niche.

With this in mind, something very practical has happened and it couldn’t be better timed given the economic climate. Value is king.

Dancers aren’t alone in their frustration. Dance Companies have similar conflicts of schedules, are actively searching for good matches and don’t like to waste time or money either. Cooperation translates pragmatically: if only the Artistic Directors and dancers could meet on common ground, in a common audition, it would be cost effective for all concerned.

Add to the formula that every dancer would come away with training and coaching that would have properly focused them in preparation of the best audition possible, with personal contacts in hand and possibly a contract, and you have a win win proposition. Contract or not, the dancer has the type of hard coaching and personal attention that is a one in a life time experience short of international competitions that are time consuming in their own right.

There are, in fact, lots of great training experiences throughout the world with tremendously talented faculty. The potential ingredients for success are just a bit too scattered, to say the least. But, to have a limited amount of dancers trained personally by a motivated set of coaches, trainers, stagers and instructors for a set audition in a world renowned Opera House before 15 European Artistic Directors, can position a hopeful dancer like no other.

The Hungarian National Ballet Company will host its first Summer Intensive program in 125 years in the Hungarian State Opera House. Under the direction of Gabor Kevehazi, HNBC Artistic Director, 100 dancers will prepare with Hungarian and International staff in preparation for the final public performance and showcase which will act as an audition for the benefit of 15 European Artistic Directors on July 23rd on the Opera House stage.

Applications are being accepted now. The HNBC wants those students who seek an international experience. Artistic Directors and schools of the highest quality want the kind of applicant that knows what it means to professionally train with a goal in mind, who are willing to dance advanced repertory on a world class stage and who ultimately want to be examined by discerning European Companies. The experience alone will be a chance of a lifetime as it is totally unique in the industry."

For further information, please click here or go to the summer intensive link: opera.hu/hnbcsi/index.html .