Audition Procedure for entry 2023

As we prepare for new student application and audition processes that suit current conditions, our students’ and guests’ health and safety will always be our priority and we will continue to remain responsive to Government guidelines and local requirements to ensure we always uphold our civic responsibility.

We have successfully returned to allowing prospective students to audition for any of Millennium Performing Art’s courses through LIVE auditions. We continue to accept submission of a VIDEO recording as an alternative to the live audition, although we strongly encourage students auditioning in this way to also plan a visit to MPA College before they enrol. If you are interested in any course, please start by completing the Application form on the website and we will then be in contact as soon as possible.

The Practical AUDITION for MPA College

Criteria: Physical Talent, Performance Quality, Determination / Mental Suitability.

PROCEDURE LIVE AUDITIONS:

Musical Theatre options: the day will include solo work performed by you of your own pre-prepared material; one song and one monologue, please. You will also be asked to take part in a range of group dance classes (Ballet, Jazz-Isolation Technique and Contemporary Dance).

Dance Diploma option: you will be asked to take part in a range of group dance classes (Ballet, Jazz-Isolation Technique and Contemporary Dance). You may choose to perform a solo song of your choice; however, this is not compulsory.

Please note:

Your song or monologue can be from any genre and please provide the sheet music for the song but also a backing track, to be played from your phone. We advise that your choice is age appropriate and plays to your strengths. Our Audition Day usually begins around 9:00am and concludes around 5:00pm.

PROCEDURE VIDEO material:

We are keen that each individual student can show their talent, so we ask that you use your discretion and if there is something you truly feel we need to see, please do include this. Normally all auditionees would be asked to participate in the full day of the audition, so we would have ample opportunity to see you at your very best and this needs to translate to what you show us in your video.

We ask that an auditionee records about 15 minutes of dance, including some technical Ballet or Contemporary Dance exercises and at least one Jazz Dance or Contemporary Dance routine of minimum 60 seconds long. If the student is auditioning for a Musical Theatre course, please include one solo song and one monologue, each of at least 2 minutes duration. The best format for us to see a student in is MP4, although others are acceptable, however please be aware that any issues in us being able to view the material will mean we would need to ask you to resubmit the video in a format we can view.

The audition panel would grade the students. The grading is simple and consists of the following marks:

Excellent ~ The student is able to display a skilful level of control and understanding of the subject being marked. A student must show commitment and respond immediately to direction.

Good ~ The student is able to demonstrate capable control and understanding of the subject being marked. The student must show commitment and respond easily and willingly to direction.

Satisfactory ~ The student is able to demonstrate sufficient control and understanding of the subject being marked. A student must show commitment and willingness to improve.

Poor ~ The student is unable to show control, even though there may be some understanding of the subject being marked. The student must be eager and willing to improve.

The preceding markings relate to technical merit; marking for performance quality in each subject is along the same values and a final combined mark will be awarded. We aim to keep the same format for marking the video material. Should we feel it necessary, we may ask for additional material. The successful candidate must have the majority of marks in the satisfactory category or above to gain entry to MPA College. The students and families are invited to raise any general question they might have through email to the audition secretary. Occasionally the audition panel may request further information.

We would be able to provisionally accept a student on video evidence basis and we would then invite every successful video auditionee to come and visit us. We feel it is important to have a good inkling of the situation awaiting you in your training. A final decision would be made after the visit and on agreement to proceed by both parties.

Some further background information:

ALUMNI:

These are just a few of our alumni who have gone to live their dream and perform on stage for a living, many of the below professionals also teach at MPA College, when their schedule allows:

Kimball Wong – Former principal dancer with Australian Dance Theatre, Adelaide, Australia during which time he was a multiple winner of ‘Best Male Dancer’ awards.

Cassidy Janson – Olivier Award recipient for her role in ‘& Juliet’. She has also played Carole King in the hit West End show ‘Beautiful’ and has co-starred with Kelsey Grammer in Man of La Mancha at the London Coliseum

Kellianna Jay – Ensemble Dreamgirls, UK Tour

Daniel Davidson – Freelance dancer & choreographer, most recent work: ‘Hover’ for National Youth Ballet. Formerly with Rambert Dance Co.

Danny Collins – principal dancer with New Adventures; appeared in ‘Cats’ (film)

Curtis Angus – appearing in Hamilton, West End

Yuki Abe; Jasmine Leung– appearing in Wicked, London

Ross McLaren – appeared as Luca McIntyre in Doctors on BBC; currently on UK tour with Singing in the Rain

Jackson Bews – appeared in the Emmy Award winning episode of Black Mirror called ‘San Junipero’. Also starred in Catch 22, directed by George Clooney and in Maleficent with Angelina Jolie