Auditions on Facebook- An Uncomfortable Trend

by Ori Lenkinski

Recently, my sister and I were discussing how grateful we are that we came of age before social media. How difficult it must be to know exactly when you are being left out of a gathering of friends, to see exes with their new partners or any of the other life moments that are splashed all over the Internet.

This came to mind today when Facebook plopped a video, posted by a choreographer from an audition held in Tel Aviv for an upcoming production, onto my phone’s screen. I had never thought about how complicated it would be to have the whole world see me in mid-improvisation with a number strapped to my chest amidst throngs of other dancers.

I don’t see anything wrong or shameful in pursuing work as a dancer. Going to auditions is an integral part of the profession, albeit an emotionally challenging part. It takes a great deal of strength, courage and resilience to run the audition circuit. This is partly because of the sheer competitive nature of the field, the small number of paid jobs versus the enormous mass of hopeful, talented people. It is also because auditions are very often run in a way that does not honor the participants. Too often, choreographers and directors enjoy watching young dancers throw themselves into each and every task, not only because it paves the way to a good cast but because it feeds their egos. I attended countless auditions where it was clear that the people in charge were having a bit too much fun, often at our expense.

At one point, during a stint as movement director for a theater company, I got to sit on the panel for actors’ auditions. They were so completely different from how we audition. Each actor came into the room alone with a monologue that they had prepared in advance. They said their names, told a bit about themselves, performed their monologue and then were given a few tasks to show if they fit the production. The whole endeavor lasted not more than fifteen minutes.

In the dance world, an audition can last anywhere from an hour to days on end. I once attended an audition where I was told in advance that if I was not prepared to break a tooth, rib or finger, I might as well not show up.

And again, all this was before social media.

The added pressure of having these vulnerable moments blasted for all my friends, teachers, employers, colleagues to see, was not yet part of it.

Choreographers have always filmed auditions. Until recently, it was clear that these recordings were to be used for later reference and were private.

However, I have noticed that more and more choreographers are affording themselves the luxury of publishing audition videos online. They are usually accompanied by text like “what a great day! I’m so excited to see how many talented dancers turned up for my new production.”

The dancers are usually not aware that these videos are going to be used publicly and have not been asked to sign a release permitting such usage (even if they were, I find it hard to believe that a dancer pursuing a coveted job would refuse to sign such a waiver).

These videos give me the chills. They constitute an elemental breach of trust and decency between choreographer and dancer. In a situation as emotionally charged as an audition, dancers deserve to be treated with respect and discretion. In my opinion, choreographers and institutions should NOT use footage of auditions to get likes or promote themselves.