<p>Hi, I am auditioning for PSU at Chicago Unifieds, and I’m terrified for the dance portion. I am VERY strong in acting and vocals, but not so much the dancing. I have a natural rhythmic inclination yet I haven’t been formall trained since the 3rd grade. How worried should I be?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Wish I could tell you not to worry but my d thought the PSU dance audition the most difficult (it was at NYC Unifieds and she has a strong background.) Just give it your best shot and have a lot of personality and enthusiasm- you never know what they are looking for!!Not sure also how different the dance auditions are at the different sites. People have had varied experiences- check the threads about this.</p>
<p>My D thought the dance audition (on campus) was very hard, but it was the one she had the most fun at. When we attended the NYC unifieds, we sat near the PSU room and the kids coming out of the dance audition were the “sweatiest” we’d seen after a dance audition. But with that said, my D was not strong in technique. She hadn’t taken formal dance classes since she was 8. But like you, she moves well and has good natural rhythm. She did take 5 weeks of dance classes (ballet and jazz) the summer before auditions and she worked with a local ballet instructor one-on-one for about an hour every other week in the fall to focus on terminology and basic technique. So she did “cram” some dance training in right before auditions. This may not have been the best way to do it, but it certainly helped.</p>
<p>My daughter did the Unifieds in LA and said this about the dance: "The dance audition consisted of a basic ballet combination and jazz combination. The dance audition was challenging, but not too extreme. I would say it was as difficult as the audition for CCM. I think the ballet portion threw some people off. " I know she had a really good time with the dance portion. If there is any way you can get some ballet in before the audition, do so. Try to become familiar with the terminology so that you are comfortable during the audition. Most of all, get up there and show them “attitude”! No matter what, keep smiling and have fun. You never know exactly what they are looking for, but they want to see someone with good stage presence and a good attitude. Good luck!</p>
<p>Just have fun!! I know its easier said than done… but they aren’t looking for you to have the combination perfected in the quick amount of time they teach it. They want to see that you have rhythm, can pick up a little bit of the combo, and have personality. PSU doesn’t want cookie cutter students–they want to see what you bring to the table with your uniqueness. On campus and in NYC, Spence (the head of dance at PSU) gives a pep talk and says to forget about being perfect and focusing on having a good time! Hope this puts you at ease a little bit :-)</p>
<p>Does PSU hold dance auditions at the Chicago Unifieds? For some reason I didn’t think they did. Or am I getting my schools mixed up…</p>
<p>The past few years at Chicago Unifieds, the dance portion of the audition has been considered a “callback”. I am not sure how its being run this year–I usually run them if I can, but I’m on tour this year! 
Generally the only auditions where there is a dance portion as well as singing/monologue prior to any callback is on campus.</p>
<p>Great, thank you all so much!</p>