VIDEO AUDITIONS
The video should be approximately 5 to 10 minutes in length and show the student in practice clothes doing an abbreviated class with the following barre and center exercises. Pointe work is required. Please see the bottom of the page for the specifications by age.
We recognize that students may not have access to a ballet studio for filming their audition video. If you are recording your video application at home or in a non-traditional dance space, please only include the listed steps that can be safely executed. The pointe work requirements listed below may be modified as needed based on the limitations of your floor surface.
Please do not include any variations or performance footage in the video audition.
All applicants must submit two photos on the application form: one in tendu à la seconde and one in relevé first arabesque. Photos do not have to be professionally taken and should be taken in practice clothes.
BARRE EXERCISES (for all ages)
Please film barre work from a side (slightly front) angle. Position the camera as close as possible but ensure that your entire body is fully visible from head to toe for both barre and center work. The video should be filmed in a landscape/horizontal orientation. All should be simple combinations.
-
Two demi-pliés, one grand plié, and a port de bras in first, second, fourth, and fifth positions (one side)
-
Tendu (both sides)
-
Rond de Jambe (one side)
-
Développé (both sides)
-
Grand Battement (both sides)
CENTER EXERCISES (for all ages)
Where applicable, please include combinations that demonstrate both sides.
-
Battement Tendu
-
Adagio – incorporate dévelopé devant, dévelopé à la seconde, and promenade in arabesque
-
Pirouettes – Single and double pirouette from fourth position
-
Glissade Assemblé
-
Glissade Jeté
-
Petit Allegro with Battu (ages 14-18)
-
Grande Allegro with tour jeté and grand jeté
-
Boys – Single or double tour en l’air
POINTE REQUIREMENTS
To ensure safety, if you have not begun learning any of the below-required steps in your pointe classes, please omit or modify the step.
12 to 13-year-olds:
Complete all barre exercises on flat. Wear pointe shoes and show the following in the center if you have begun training these steps without the barre.
-
Relevé in 1st, 2nd, and 5th
-
Echappé to 2nd and 4th
-
Passé relevé
-
Pirouette from 5th
14 to 15-year-olds:
Complete all barre exercises on flat. Wear pointe shoes for the following center exercises.
-
Single or double pirouette from 4th and 5th
-
Echappé to 2nd and 4th
-
Relevé in arabesque
-
Piqué turns across the floor
16 to 20-year-olds:
All barre and center work should be done in pointe shoes, if possible. If floor circumstances are not ideal, wear your pointe shoes only for barre/center exercises that can be completed safely.
UPLOADING YOUR VIDEO
All videos must be uploaded to a streaming service such as YouTube or Vimeo. You will be required to provide a link/URL to your final video as part of your application. YouTube is the preferred viewing platform for our faculty and instructions for uploading your video to YouTube are included below.
-
Navigate to www.youtube.com
-
Sign in, you can use your Google account to log in to YouTube. If you do not already have a Google account, you can sign up for one here https://accounts.google.com/SignUp?hl=en
-
In the top-right corner, click CREATE Upload videos.
-
Select the file you’d like to upload. Please only upload one video. You can combine video files in programs such as iMovie before uploading to YouTube.
-
As the video is uploaded, you will be asked to include a title. You may title this video anything you like, such as “NJB Audition Video”. The title does not need to include the applicant’s name.
-
Under “Audience,” please select “No, it’s not made for kids.” This video is intended for viewing by our faculty, not children. In previous years, we have had difficulty with some videos being taken down when “Yes, it’s made for kids” is selected.
-
Under “Visibility,” please select “Unlisted.” An unlisted video is secure and private as it can only be viewed by individuals with a direct link. An unlisted video will not be searchable on YouTube and will not show up on your public YouTube channel listings. “Private” videos cannot be accessed by our faculty and we do not recommend uploading a “Public” video.
-
Your video will be published once your upload finishes and you save all your settings. You can then copy the video Link/URL and add this to your NJB application form.
-
You can also watch a video upload tutorial here www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAneLjJzg6w&t=0s
PLEASE NOTE: Video submissions will be accepted starting January 1st, 2025. The deadline for video submissions will be March 1st, 2025
Summer Intensive
Have Questions?
Email NJB School at info@njballet.org