Audition360
Sunday, July 30, 2023
Nine tells the story of star-crossed strangers and friends on 1 day in 1999. This 90's fueled alternative tale is an anthem of an age fueled by frustration and depression. Part "Spring Awakening", part "The Big Chill", part "Cruel Intentions". This one is set entirely to 90s alt music with equivalent costuming, but also has 10 main characters (just like the amazing ensemble cast movies to that decade) and speaks deeply to mental health. It will be dark (combat boots) and heavy while holding a respectful light to what happens when someone's mental welfare goes unnoticed, or when we think the happiest person is the most self assured. It takes place at a prep school, cast between classroom, prom, and a funeral, showing how we never know who's hurting most (what's hiding under every single one of our 10's preppy blazers) ... or what an act of kindness can really do for someone else's life.
Company 360 Turns 10
(or rather, it's our 10th original show)
Date and Location:
Sunday, July 30, 2023
Location: Company 360 Dance Theatre
314 Forbes Street, Fredericksburg, VA
*Required Audition Form At Bottom Of Page
(please fill out ahead of time)
So you're ready to be a part of a company of performers leading the way in talent-forward, body-neutral, performance-driven, lending your passion and precision to our culture of excellence and inclusion?
Here is what you need to know:
* We create, perform and disappear into two full length, completely original contemporary dance works per season.
* We aim for "story, not status". Prioritizing world building, character evolution, community connectivity and personal growth over solos, spotlight and stature alone.
* We are not a gym. We are not a competition studio. While we support and respect those spaces locally in our community, we are a company for and of the theater, putting on two original narrative shows per standard school year.
Adults audition annually, though may be able to audition mid-year depending on our needs or current roster.
Youth and trainees audition per show for the experience, but we of course hope they live in Company dance theater worlds for years to come (and, one day, grow to Pro).
Still interested in joining our story-telling corps? Fill out the audition form as soon as you'd like.
Art
Company 360 will operate as an art-first organization, prioritizing quality and expression ahead of stigma and societal expectation.
Advocacy
Company 360 will strive to create movement through movement and lend our art to raise awareness wherever we can.
Access
Company 360 will represent equity in the arts; creating a community of respect and equity for our artists, supporters, audiences and community.
Culture360
The Companies
Pro
Our Adult Company is made of two branches: Pro and Core. Auditionees dance with our Pro Company first; experiencing "we" above "I".
Core is then by invitation only and those invited must have performed at least one show with us, support and live our mission, be exceptional dance performers, and really believe in the culture of equity and accessibility. The responsibility of role modeling and rehearsal time is larger... but the reward is great.
We will also continue to offer space for talented pros only able or wishing to commit to Sundays.
Fall '23 - Professional Schedule
Core: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays
Professional Company: Sundays Only
Our Pre-Professional Company has grown to become an incredible, and unique-to-the-area, opportunity for promising performers to not only gain additional training and rehearsal time, with increased dancing and story-telling responsibilities, but our Pre-Pros get to do so in concert with the mentorship of our Core dancers. They train with and around our Core professionals, as well as are in balanced consideration for character leads in any given show.
Pre-Pros are in consideration based not just upon talent, training and tenure put into Company as a whole, but role modeling, relationship and reverence towards others.
All 360 Pre-Professionals shall perform at least one show with us as a Trainee before being invited to join.
Fall '23 - Pre Pro Schedule
Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays
Pre Pro
Trainee
Established initially as a small troupe of support performers to our Professional Company, our Trainee Company has grown in number, talent, and responsibility. As we continue the forward momentum for this group, and in light of our new home, we continue to offer expanded opportunities for our Trainees. For our Fall 2023 show run of "Nine" a prospective trainee will be between 12 and 17 years old.
Just as with our professionals, we will retain the ability for a small subset to remain only Sundays. Additional training will continue to be encouraged, even for those engaging in an expanded Trainee Company. For this, you may take class with us in studio in supplement to your performance training, take at a local studio, or if you're a homeschool or alternative school student, you may be interested in checking out our Conservatory Coupe concept. Conservatory Coupe is our bold first step toward a Dance and Performing Arts Conservatory right here in Fredericksburg.
Fall '23 - Trainee Schedule
Full: Tuesdays & Sundays
Traditional: Sundays Only
For those younger members of the greater Company 360 community, we also offer the opportunity to join a small group of dedicated Youth performers. This group has the unique ability and responsibility to represent the younger roles in our storytelling, something that an older trainee or adult could never do. For our Spring 2023 show run of "Across" a prospective Youth will be between 8 and 11 years old.
Our Youth performers will rehearse only one day a week, on Sundays. All Youth Company dancers are highly encouraged to take dance classes to supplement this performance opportunity. Company 360 offers in house classes, but all our performance company dancers have the option to pursue training at a local studio. If you don't yet have a home studio, please feel free to look around or join in our class offerings. Additionally, if you're a homeschool or alternative school student, you may also take a look at our daytime Conservatory Coupe arts training track offered at our studio three days a week.
Fall '23 - Youth Schedule
Sundays Only
Youth
The Open Letter To The Prospective 360 Performer
Although Company 360 is a safe space for dancers of all bodies we do believe in crafting the best talent to create movements within movement.
Therefore, as Company 360 rises and continues to rebuild into this new season and beyond, auditioning dancers (at the Training and Pro level) should be able to do the following:
-
A clean double pirouette, en dehors.
-
A clean sequence of chaîné turns
-
A basic développé of their leg with appropriate alignment (not height)
Not only do these things matter to the lines and lineage of what Company is reaching towards, it matters to your health and safety.
Company 360 takes the health of their dancer's seriously. Additionally we look for dancers with an intellectual understanding of technique, a deep passion for the performing arts, and clear communication and self advocacy skills as these are paramount for future learning, growing and grand jeté-ing.
None of us will be perfect at everything and "clean-ish" is definitely a word uttered at times, but we want to work together to make sure you are dancing your very best, while honoring your personal body.
So, yes, even though we expect our Company dancers to be able to execute a clean double pirouette and naturally point their feet when they leave the floor, what will make us different, and what we are truly looking for, is your emotion, your passion, and your storytelling.
Bailey Anne Vincent
Artistic Director
Company Auditions - FAQ
What Do I Wear To Auditions?
Wear whatever makes you feel comfortable. After our season begins, Company 360 wears all black on Sundays for uniformity and cleanliness of line, with hair back from your face as best possible for your texture, however, weekdays you may wear color and celebrate your personal style. For auditions, we want to know who you are and are feeling as confident as possible. Company typically rehearses in socks, but bare feet or dance shoe of choice is also welcome.
When should I arrive?
We recommend arriving at least 30 minutes prior to the beginning of auditions to fill out Company forms (including the one below so save time and complete that one now). If you are under the age of 18 you will need to arrive with your parent or guardian so that the forms may be signed. Additionally, you may want to use this time to stretch and ensure you're ready to dance.
What happens at auditions?
First, you'll meet the Artistic Staff and learn a little more about what we do, as well as the show that is to come. Then, after a brief 3 song warmup, you will learn at least 2 different combinations of varying styles, and perform them in a variety of groupings. We know that some dancers might be feeling rusty or nervous, and so we approach every audition with compassion and understanding.
What happens after auditions?
You will receive an email within 3 days of your audition letting you know what we would like to offer. Your email will include your contract, an overview of our policies and procedures, and a rundown of the season to include schedule, show synopsis, and what you have to look forward to. We will then request that you accept or kindly decline our offer within 48 hours following receipt of your offer email.
When are rehearsals for the Fall 2023 show?
Our first full rehearsal on the journey toward "Nine" will be on Sunday, August 6th, 2023. This rehearsal will be for youth, trainee, and professionals alike. A Company 360 Sunday will include both rehearsal and a company class. If accepted into the Company 360 ranks, exact times will be communicated in your acceptance email.
__________
SUNDAYS
Youth Company Rehearsal: 1:30pm-2:00pm
Youth & Training Company Class: 2:00pm-3:00pm
Training Company Rehearsal: 3:00pm-5:00pm
Professional Workshop/Class (Occasional): 5:30pm-6:30pm
Professional Company: 6:30pm-8:30pm
__________
TUESDAYS
Training and Pre-Professional Companies:
Class: 4:30pm-5:30pm | Rehearsal: 5:30pm-6:30pm
Professional Company (Core):
6:30pm-8:30pm
__________
THURSDAYS
Pre-Professional Company:
5:30pm-7:30pm
Professional Company (Core):
6:30pm-8:30pm
What if I can only rehearse on Sundays?
Currently, Sundays are mandatory in order to be part of the Company 360 Dance Theatre. However, the additional weekday options, which includes training and class, and being a larger part of the show and choreography, will depend on which component of the training or professional company you are in. As we continue to grow as a company, we are allowing a variety of commitment options with the understanding that less rehearsal days will mean less show time.
How much does it cost?
Our Youth and Training Company members have the unique privilege of being part of a brand new show each season while also training, rehearsing, and performing alongside our incredible professionals. If you are offered a spot in our Youth Company, your seasonal investment will be $360 per show. While our Youth Company will remain a Sunday only commitment, Training Company members will have the option of training with Pre-Pro on Tuesday evenings for a seasonal commitment of $600 per show. If you opt to remain a Sunday only Trainee due to availability, your seasonal investment will be $400 per show.
Pre-Pro invitees receive over 6 hours per week of training and rehearsal, some of which overlaps with our incredible pro Core dancers. They will be the role models in dance and life for our other training companies. Typically this group of budding professionals get to carry a large proportion of the dancing in the show. This level of commitment to Company 360 is set at $900 per show.
If you become a Professional with Company 360 (over 18 and have graduated high school, or achieved the equivalent), there are no fees for participation. As your contract will outline, there may be nominal cost responsibilities tied to costuming and minimal travel.
*Each season, Company 360 awards a variety of scholarships. Please come to auditions, see if it's a place you can see yourself, and then chat with us for more information.
I'll be a parent of a 360 Youth or Trainee. What is required of me?
Beyond supporting the financial commitment (unless you're winning the parenting game and your child is paying their own way), sharing the heck out of our posts, and telling everyone you know about Company 360, there's really no expectation of involvement. Of course if you would like to volunteer, there will be ample opportunity to do so, but such involvement will not be tied to your dancer's engagement with Company 360.