This week’s song is Taste by Sabrina Carpenter. The phrase is a sample from an interlude that I choreographed for Orchesis Dance Company, which will be performed in our 2024 fall show. Being that Sabrina Carpenter is currently on tour with her song Taste, it seemed like a good week to talk about backup dancing, and a few things to consider when pursuing a career as a backup dancer.
Berklee College of Music wrote an article about finding work as a backup dancer. While it is helpful to have some form of technical knowledge/training when perusing a career as a backup dancer, today’s industry is made up of dancers with a variety of training backgrounds. Whatever your dance background looks like, doing well at an audition is your key to success.
Following, Berklee’s article stated that auditioning (open call or closed) is currently the only way to land a backup-dancing job. Open auditions, as they sound, are open to anyone. Closed auditions are invite-only. The ability to quickly learn new choreography, and follow directions will help carry you through the audition process. A few other important elements include having a resume or portfolio, a video, and a professional headshot. These things will highlight your dance experience, and showcase your movement quality. Accordingly, remember to have grit and keep working at it. As you persevere and build rapport, you will be on the road to taking the stage!
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