Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Joffrey Chicago Audition

I got many high reviews in regards to Joffrey's younger age group audition, (ages 10-14). However, I had a terrible experience with the 15 and 16 year olds and I will never audition there again.
We arrived while the younger audition was still going on. They turned us away and told us to come back later. We left to go to the bookstore across the street and stayed there for only about 15 or so minutes. By the time we came back, there was an enormous line that wrapped around the building and around the corner. They made us wait outside in the cold for half an hour, and once we were all registered, they crammed us into a tiny studio where there was no room to stretch.
The audition started late and got out late, and I was extremely unimpressed with my fellow auditionees. One boy they had to teach how to do a pirouette, and many others had poor technique.
I myself did not do well in the class. At barre I was fantastic, but when it came to center, I did poorly either because of nerves or my pointe shoes which were very old and dead. I left my real shoes, (Grishkos) at home and wore capezios, which I wasn't used to and couldn't turn on.
We were taught by the Ballet Master of Joffrey Chicago and she reminded me strongly of one of my past teachers, whom I liked very much. We were also viewed by a professional whose name I do not know.
As a side note, Joffrey seemed to be made wholly of tiny hallways and doors and it was confusing to find your way around. And one of the elevators was broken, and groups of 10 or more were trying to squeeze into one.
As a general conclusion, it was certainly not worth the $30, it was overly crowded (we were spit into three groups) and Joffrey Chicago is overrated. However, if you are younger than 15, this might be the perfect place to go for one summer, until you get in somewhere better.

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