Dance Audition Information

Thank you to all who auditioned for the 2024/2025 season! We will see you in Fall 2025.

Who Should Audition

FOR Washington University Dance THEATRE: 

All students enrolled in dance classes at Washington University, regardless of level, are encouraged to audition; non-majors and non-minors of the dance program are also strongly encouraged to audition.    

Note: Students may be cast by more than one choreographer and are permitted to perform in several works as your schedule permits.

FOR Washington University Dance COLLECTIVE: 

All members of the Wash U community are welcome to audition.  Non-majors and non-minors of the dance program are also strongly encouraged to audition.

Student Dancers can audition for BOTH WUDT & WUDC!

When & Where Are Auditions

Washington University Dance Theatre auditions will take place on Tuesday, September 3 from 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m

WUDance Collective auditions will take place Thursday, September 5 from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Dance auditions will be held in the Annelise Mertz Dance Studio, in the Mallinkrodt Center room 207. Click here to download a Danforth Campus Map.

For ALL auditions, we recommend you show up at least 15 minutes early to pick up your number, make sure we have your audition form and warm up. 

How to Sign Up

To sign up, simply complete an audition form by clicking HERE.

While we strongly encourage you to fill out the audition form no less than 24 hours before auditions, walk-ups are accepted.

WUDT Residency and Rehearsal Schedules

WUDT: It’s Time

Dance is understood as a temporal art form, each movement capturing the present moment while gesturing toward the past and future. Philosophically, the ephemerality of dance art work speaks to the often disquieting nature of our transient existence, emphasizing the fleeting beauty and immediacy of the performative act. 

“It’s Time,” this year’s installment of the Performing Arts Department’ s annual fall dance concert explores the relationship between temporality and dance, posing the question, “What is it time for?” –in dance, art, history, culture and society. This annual concert dance showcase features diverse and creative choreography by resident and guest artists, performed by select student dancers of the Performing Arts Department.

Artists & Rehearsal Schedules- 

David Marchant:

  • Residency- September 14th – 19th, Sat/Sun 11 am – 2 pm and Tue-Thur 7 pm- 10 pm (No rehearsal on Monday with Maintenance rehearsals TBD)

Elinor Harrison:

  • Residency- November 6, 7, 13, and 14 from 7 pm –  10 pm

Joanna Dee Das:

Guest Artists: 

Stephanie Martinez: https://www.stephaniemartinezchoreography.com/

  • Residency- October 13th – 18th, Sunday 3 pm – 7 pm, Mon – Thurs 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm, and Friday 1 pm – 4 pm in Mertz Studio 
  • Click HERE to see the Audition Cheoragphy Video.

MJ Imani:

  • Wednesdays 8:30 pm – 10:30 pm, starting date TBD.

What to Expect at WUDC Auditions

WUDC: Transcendence 

Dancers are selected through an open call audition by Artistic Director, Cecil Slaughter, and Co-Artistic Director, Ryadah Heiskell, on the audition night. 

Dancers will learn and audition multiple combinations in different styles and are expected to participate in the full audition.

The audition will last approximately 2 hours.

What to Wear

Dancers are requested to dress in clothing appropriate for movement in a wide range of styles, including ballet, jazz and modern.  Shoes are optional for most auditions; Ballet and Jazz shoes may be beneficial for certain dances, but are not required. Knee pads are welcomed if the dancer prefers and may provide additional comfort for some styles of movement.

What to Bring

In addition to your dance clothing, we recommend you bring an additional warmth layer in case you feel cold before or in between dances. A water bottle with cap is also recommended to keep hydrated. Light packable food, such as powerbars may also be appropriate if needed to maintain blood sugar level during a long period of physical exertion.