da:ns focus

Having transformed from da:ns festival to da:ns focus in 2023/24, da:ns focus continues with an exciting year-round season of five themed weekends in 2024/25. Experience interconnected programmes that offer their own counterpoints, dialogues and encounters in a focused exploration.

Open Call Audition: Child Performers for ALICE (in wonderland) by Hong Kong Ballet

Photo credit: Conrad Dy-Liacco | Courtesy of Hong Kong Ballet

Do you have an aspiring ballerina or ballerino at home? Here’s their chance to be part of a large-scale international ballet production!

 

As part of da:ns focus – Ballet by the Bay happening in Feb 2025, Esplanade will present ALICE (in wonderland) by Hong Kong Ballet. This production marks the company’s return to Singapore after 20 years, and is also the first time that a large, full-length family-friendly ballet production and a ballet company from Asia will be part of da:ns programming.

 

One of the highlights of this production is a large cast of child performers from the city the show is presented in. These child performers will be selected through an Open Call Audition, open to ballet students in Singapore between the ages of 7 to 17, who meet the requirements stated below.

 

Please ensure that you read the registration guidelines before you submit your application for the audition.

Audition registration will close on 23 Oct 2024, Wed 11.59pm. Late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted or considered.

 

To register, please fill out and submit the form below. Please kindly note that the form will not send you an automated confirmation of receipt after you submit. Instead, our team will get in touch with you by email within five (5) working days to confirm your registration. If you do not hear from us after five working days, please kindly submit the form again.

 

Please note that we may close the open call once we reach a maximum number of registrations. Once closed, we are unable accept any more applications for any reason.

Key information

 

Dates to take note:

  • Registration period: 1 Oct – 23 Oct 2024, 11.59pm

  • Audition date and venue: 31 Oct 2024 at Esplanade Rehearsal Studio

  • Rehearsal period: 2 Nov 2024 – 16 Feb 2025 (8–10 sessions, 1–1.5 hrs per session)

  • Production week: 18 – 21 Feb 2025

  • Performance dates: 21 – 23 Feb 2025

  • The audition is open to any ballet student in Singapore who meets the age, RAD Grades and approximate height requirements. It will be held according to age groups.

  • Up to 100 children will be selected, with two casts of 50 that will be scheduled to perform in up to two shows.

  • Applicant must be able to:

    • Perform with confidence on stage

    • Follow instructions given by teachers closely and learn quickly

    • Exhibit exceptional classical ballet training (for certain roles for older children above 11 years old)

  • Please ensure that you/your child meets the requirements for age, height and RAD Grade. He/she must commit to ALL of the rehearsals and performances noted below.

 

Age (as of 31 October 2024), approximate height and RAD grade requirements

 

7 – 9 years old

125 – 140cm

Grade 1 and above

 

7 – 10 years old

125 – 150cm

Grade 3 and above

 

8 – 10 years old

130 – 155cm

Grade 4 and above

 

9 – 11 years old

130 – 155cm

Grade 4 and above

 

10 – 13 years old

140 – 155cm

Grade 6 and above or Intermediate Foundation and above

 

11 – 17 years old

140 – 160cm

Advance 1 and above, pointe work

 

11 – 17 years old

140 – 160cm

Advance 1 and above

 

Date: 31 Oct 2024, Thu (Public Holiday: Deepavali)

Time: 9am – 5.20pm

Location: Esplanade Rehearsal Studio, 1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981

Meeting point: Entrance of Esplanade Theatre Studio (Level 4, Esplanade Mall)

 

7 years old

Registration: 9am

Audition: 9.50am – 11.10am

 

8 years old

Registration: 9.55am

Audition: 10.40am – 12.05pm

 

9 years old

Registration: 10.50am

Audition: 11.35am – 1pm

 

10 years old

Registration: 11.45am

Audition: 12.30pm – 1.55pm

 

11 years old

Registration: 1.20pm

Audition: 2.05pm – 3.30pm

 

12 – 17 years old, girls

Registration: 2.15pm

Audition: 3pm – 4.25pm

 

12 – 17 years old, boys

Registration: 3.10pm

Audition: 3.55pm – 5.20pm

  • Each child will be required to attend approximately 8 – 10 rehearsal sessions during the months of Nov 2024 – Feb 2025.

  • Rehearsals will take place between 4pm – 9pm on Saturday or Sunday, with each rehearsal session being approximately 1 – 1.5hr.

  • The dates below are indicative of when the rehearsals will take place for all children performers, please ensure that your child will be available for ALL the dates and timings listed below.

  • If your child is accepted after the audition, they will be assigned to a specific role in the cast and will receive a more detailed schedule for their rehearsal dates and timings.

  • All dates and times are subject to change.

 

Rehearsals Schedules

 

Rehearsal Venue: Singapore Ballet Academy, 5 Stadium Walk, #04-01 Leisure Park Kallang, Singapore 397693

 

Saturdays, 4pm – 9pm

Sundays, 5pm – 9pm

 

2024

Nov: 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24 & 30

Dec: 1, 7, 8, 14 & 15

 

2025

Jan: 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 & 26

Feb: 1, 2, 8, 9, *15 & *16

 

*Rehearsals on 15 and 16 Feb will be held at the Esplanade Rehearsal Studio from 4pm to 9pm.

 

Performance Week

 

Venue: Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, 1 Esplanade Drive, 038981

 

18 Feb 2025, 4pm – 7pm

19 – 21 Feb 2025, 1pm – 10pm

21 Feb 2025 (Show 1), 7.30pm

22 Feb 2025 (Show 2 & 3), 3pm, 7.30pm

23 Feb 2025 (Show 4), 3pm

 

The above schedule is correct as of 1 Oct 2024.

The schedule is subject to change according to the needs of the production.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: If my child is unable to make it to the audition on 31 Oct, are there any other ways to audition, such as submitting videos?
A: The audition can only take place in person at Esplanade on 31 Oct. Please note that the audition will not be rescheduled under any circumstances.

 

Q: My child is not available for the audition time allocated for his/her age group. Can he/she join the audition for other age groups?
A: Unfortunately, we can only allocate audition times according to the age of the child.

 

Q: If my child does not meet the age requirements, can he/she still apply?
A: We will not be able to accommodate children who do not fit in the stated age range. All applicants must be ages 7–17 by the audition date, 31 Oct 2024.

 

Q: My child has no previous experience of performing on stage. Can he/she still apply?
A: All applicants must be able to perform on stage with confidence, take instructions from teachers and learn quickly. They must also meet the age, height and RAD Grading requirements. If a child has never performed on stage before but meet all of the above requirements, he/she can apply.

 

Q: If my child has a certificate equivalent to the required RAD grades, is he/she still allowed to audition?
A: Yes, they may still apply if they have a certificate equivalent to the required RAD grades.

 

Q: Can my child audition for specific role?
A: All auditions are done based on age groups, and if accepted, Hong Kong Ballet will assign roles that best fit each child.

 

Q: What if my child is not able to make it for one of the rehearsals dates, can he/she still apply?
A: All applicants must be available for all rehearsals and performances. Once accepted, if a child misses a rehearsal due to illness or any other reason, the parent must inform the teachers immediately. The teachers and Hong Kong Ballet will advise and determine if the child can still perform in the show. All rehearsals during production week are mandatory.

 

Q: What is the audition process like?
A: The children will learn choreography for the audition for the first 30 mins. Then, they will proceed to the actual audition for the next 45 mins (approx.). Overall, the total duration is expected to be approximately 1h 30 mins per group, excluding the time taken for registration.

 

Q: Can my child register on their own if they are old enough?
A: For applicants under the age of 16, the registration form must be filled and submitted by the applicant’s parents or legal guardians who are 16 years old and above.

Q: Will I receive a confirmation once we submit the registration form?
A: Once we receive your registration form, the Esplanade team will reply to you to confirm your application within five (5) working days. If you do not hear from us after five (5) working days, please kindly submit the form again or reach out to us at dansfocus@esplanade.com

 

Q: If I do not receive a confirmation from Esplanade after submitting the registration form, can my child still come for the audition?
A: No. Please ensure that you have received a confirmation email from Esplanade which will inform you the audition number and allocated time slot for your child.

 

Please note that we may close the open call once we reach a maximum number of registrations. Once closed, we are unable to accept any more applications for any reason.

Q: Where is the meeting point for the audition and how do I get there?
A: The meeting point is at the entrance of the Esplanade Theatre Studio which is located on Level 4 of Esplanade Mall (8 Raffles Avenue, Singapore 039802). You may refer to the wayfinding information in the registration guideline from the open call page.

 

Q: If there are any major changes to the audition schedule, how will the applicants be informed?
A: We will contact you by email at least two hours before your audition time.

 

Q: What do I need to bring on the audition day?
A: Please bring your child’s student ID with the ID number that was used for registration. Please also refer to the Registration Guidelines for more information on attire and other miscellaneous items to bring on audition day.

 

Q: Is there a waiting area for the parents/guardians during the audition?
A: Please note that there will be no waiting area at the audition venue for parents/guardians, since there will be many people present. We appreciate your cooperation in leaving the audition venue after registration. Please kindly return to the registration venue five minutes before the pick-up time for your child.

Q: How will we find out the results of the audition?
A: Successful applicants will be notified via email by 31 Oct 2024, Thu, 11pm. You may also check the ALICE (in wonderland) Open Call page by 12pm on 1 Nov 2024 for the announcement.

 

Q: If my child is not accepted, will I still hear from Esplanade?
A: We will only contact successful applicants.

 

Q: If my child is accepted, what is the next step before the first rehearsal starts?
A: Successful applicants must reply to the email and confirm their participation before 3pm on 1 Nov 2024, Fri, prior to the first rehearsal.

 

Q: If my child is accepted, when will I receive my child's detailed rehearsal schedule?
A: The teachers in charge of the rehearsals will inform you the schedule after he/she is accepted.

Q: Will my child get any kind of certification after the performance?

A: Yes. They will receive a certificate of participation at the end of the production.

If you cannot find answers to your questions in FAQ or in the registration guidelines, please write to us.

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