12/1/2022 Apprenticeship

As some of you may know, my daughter is in her second year of Apprenticeship with Prestige National Talent. She just finished up her first convention of the season earlier this month. This year's tour is the "Icon Tour".

What is an Apprenticeship

The program my daughter is with is comprised of serious dancers looking to grow their skills. Being a member of this apprenticeship has given her the opportunity to train with new artists, travel (which she loves), perform at the National Competition closing show (which was pretty cool), and introduced her to what it's like to be a professional in the industry. The PNT program is geared toward dancers who want to continue with a dance career post-high-school. Not only does it help with growth on the technique and artistry side of dance but the professionalism side as well.

Benefits of an Apprenticeship

Connections

My daughter has experienced many benefits from her time as an apprentice with PNT. For starters, connections and new friends. It's amazing how many connections she's made, with different dancers, teachers, choreographers, photographers, and others in the industry. I highly recommend, if you are considering having your dancer audition for any type of apprenticeship, do it! Her being a member of the apprentice team last season opened so many doors for her. She ended up getting connected with an amazing photographer and being a member of her modeling team. She was a part of several different video shoots. She's never been a part of dance videos, so that was a pretty cool thing to add to her CV. She got to be a part of the launch of a new workshop called The Branch, which focuses on mental health and well-being for dancers. The videos that were produced for The Branch were beautiful, and she absolutely LOVED the mission of the workshop (more on that to come soon!).

Audition Process

The audition process alone was a learning experience for her. In order to audition for the PNT apprentice program, she had to choreograph her own audition video, talk about herself and give the best version of herself within a short time frame. This was a new process for her. She LOVES choreographing, so that was easy for her. When it came to talking about herself and telling them about who she is, she was nervous about that, the first year. I think it's important for dancers who want to be successful in the industry as they get older to be exposed to ALL elements they may encounter during their career, that includes auditions of different types, landing the role, AND not getting the part. I think learning to take the positives, even if you don't get the part/position you wanted, is a great skill to have. You need to be able to take something away from the experience and learn and grow from it.

The Ins and Outs

Another thing she has been able to gain experience in is just the ins and outs of how conventions, competitions, and intensives run. Of course, she's exposed to this as a dancer, but it is a whole different world behind the scenes. She gets to see the process and be a part of team meetings, award ceremonies (handing out awards), judges tables, assisting the teachers when they teach dance classes, working backstage at competitions, and more. It's really been an eye-opener for her regarding how the "dance world" operates from both sides of the curtain if you will.

Not only does she get to help during the events themselves, but she gets to perform in the final performance of the National Competition Closing Ceremony. They have long and late hours of rehearsal. They learn the initial choreography via a video that is sent out a week or so before the event. She has become a pro at learning choreography via video over the last 2-3 years. Then, all the apprentices from different studios that have never really performed together, come together, work hard, and late with evening rehearsals and then put on a fantastic show for everyone to close the season. It's pretty cool to watch it all come together and they all look like they have danced together for years.

Prepping for Future

I would say the last important thing that being a member of the PNT Apprentice program helped her with is having the confidence to audition for other programs. At the end of last year, she did her first BIG audition for a very well-known convention/competition company. We knew going in that this is her first year auditioning and really putting herself on their radar, and that she was going up against the best of the best from all over the United States. She prepped herself with "this is one more opportunity to get my face in front of them". Even though her nerves were the highest they ever have been, she prepped her CV, gather her new headshots, headed to the audition, and gave it her all. She did not make it this year but was so proud of herself for doing it. I've got to say I was pretty proud of her as well, not only for how she handled the audition but for how she handled not making it. She's prepping for auditions again this year (next summer). I think her experience with PNT has proved to her that she CAN do it, even if she doesn't get there the first time, she knows she is capable of doing the job.

So for my closing thought.... if you or your dancer are considering auditioning for a program, do it! Even if you know this year won't be the year, it's important to learn to handle not getting it on your first try. Plus, they may remember you the next time you walk through their doors. Take advantage of opportunities to gain experience and make sure of connections. Connections in the dance industry are important, especially if they want to do this for a living. That being said, research the programs (and start early) and what it has to offer your dancer, what their morals are their requirements, and their standards. I like to gravitate towards programs that support training within your home studio first, as I think that is the most important. Their home studio is where their foundation is built and you must have a strong foundation to grow on.

Well, that's all for now. I hope you and your family have a great holiday and a great start to the new year! Peace out 2022!!

-Rothrock Mom