Navigating international opportunities

I’m writing this in real time while I’m sitting alone in a cozy-enough-but-wishing-I-booked-the-earlier-flight Hampton Inn. Why does it always seem like I over-budget the time I’m really needed onsite at a ballet intensive drop off? PS: I’m not on vacation

I don’t know when I’ll post this because there are a lot of moving pieces going on with this upcoming week, but I also know I don’t want to forget what’s going on because I’m tired, so here’s a recap of my 24 hours in Canada and how the heck we got here.

Back in December, Stella asked me if she could audition for the Royal Ballet School’s year-round program. I know she loves the program but, A) I’m not sure I can send my teen to live over the international date line, no matter how good a job I do to prepare her for independence, and B) the deadline for auditions had already closed. Mark me safe from navigating this hurdle (for now). The appeal to train outside of the US stems from the way ballet is more highly respected in other countries. But also that many schools have a dorm program and student life activities.

I suggested she look into Canada’s National Ballet School because it was a program that checked a lot of her boxes and also had some ties to other programs she has attended, so it might be a nice experience. The kicker: she would have to do a video audition. Dancers HATE video auditions. Well, mine does anyway.

Video auditions can take a long time to film. Sometimes, a dancer is working with a teacher who is off camera and helping them with their combinations, and has them start and stop again chasing perfection. They can be a valuable tool for sending off for programs that do not have first-round in-person auditions or for international programs when a dancer cannot attend an audition. Some dancers don’t like the fact that someone’s audition video is super-rehearsed and a total highlight reel versus participating in an in-person audition that is set up like a traditional technique class. Again, I didn’t dance, so I am assuming that whoever is on the receiving end of video auditions has a rubric for review that may look a little different from in-person.

Video is also valuable to have in your back pocket in the event you get sick/have travel drama/whatever other wrench keeps you from your dream audition that year. It is annoying that every program wants something different for video auditions, so that’s another thing to navigate, but let me tell you…do not let perfect be the enemy of good. Authentic is what you’re going for here.

There was a short window to film and edit this audition video, so as I’m trying really hard not to insert myself into things, I’m also trying to help be a timekeeper/advocate for opportunities. No pushing, but she was going to need to get that video done in a weekend if she wanted me to do what I was willing to do: edit and upload and complete the forms (which had to be done by me, the parent, anyway!)

I am so proud of Stella because the last video audition she filmed was in January of 2023, and she had tons of help as she was not yet ready to put work together on her own at age 11. This time, she put her entire audition together on her own, including selecting the music. I don’t know if Ballet Class with Taylor is the preferred choice for videos, but Marjorie and Cruel Summer hit different at the barre. Me and my iMovie skills aren’t too bad either. Sent off the audition and filed this under the ‘important professional skills to craft for ballerinas-in-tech,’ and anticipated never hearing back on this submission. Not because I didn’t think she deserved consideration, but again, video….the volume of applications is stacked against you.

I was wrong. I also didn’t really know anything about how NBS’s auditions worked. Stella received an invitation to attend the second (and final) stage of year-round auditions. In Toronto. For a week. Some days, I open my email assuming everything is coming from a marketing email list instead of a personalized message. Again, not because I don’t think she deserves an opportunity, but more because these are the very things we have been praying for as a family for a while, and I guess I haven’t fully let those prayers go up with a bow of faith attached to their packaging. Oh, I’m tying one of those big, curly, over-the-top bows from now on.

Most programs are a 2-ish hour audition on site at the program’s facility and may include a Q&A or tour of the campus. This was a week! In the back of my mind was the fear of taking a week away and being penalized for this, but also putting my advocate hat back on….you would never turn down a job interview if you were unemployed, so it’s kind of the same when you’re hoping to get into a professional training program.

I have no idea what the outcome will be, but looking at this opportunity as another way to experience a different program as an intensive or to even self-assess what it is you do or don’t want in your training is valuable. NBS is also structured similarly to Royal, as in the campus is turn-key if your dancer is living away: room/board, academics, training. I’m pretty sure Stella also saw the students perform Serenade recently, and that lured her in ;)

We flew into Toronto direct, and it’s a pretty easy Uber ride to NBS. Points scored for this because I’m always thinking of ease of transportation if I’m ever not in the mix for travel with my dancer. Checking into the dorm was easy, and I helped her get set up for the week and took back a few things she didn’t need. I snapped a few pics outside, and we visited The Shoe Room, then said our goodbyes, and I walked back to my hotel a block away.

It’s been snowy and cold for a Southern girl, so I was worried she might not be warm enough, but after texting a few different times, it has been confirmed that she is cozy. Moms, don’t skimp on a quality puffer coat if your kiddo heads down a path to the north. You cannot get by with what’s at Old Navy.

I made it known that I am making a conscious effort not to ask too many questions so she doesn’t feel pressure. Justifiable to ask things like, ‘Are you warm enough/do you have enough to eat/are you making friends,’ but that’s got to be it. Unless it’s volunteered to me, I’m not asking ‘did you get any corrections/etc.’ She will tell me what’s important!

That’s all for now. I’ll report back with what we both learned this week as I continue to use this platform to share this journey.