Eleganza 2017 Model Audition Guide
Written by Cynthia Kim and Simone Abegunrin
Midterms. Fall foliage Instagram posts. Pumpkin spice lattes. It’s fall, which can only mean one thing… it’s time for Eleganza 2017 Model Auditions! That’s right, the largest student-run show at Harvard is back for its twenty-third year. Combining music, style, and dance into one of the greatest productions ever, Eleganza works to celebrate fashion, diversity, and charity. While the amazing choreography and beautiful fashion is already worth your attention, our charity is the highlight of the show. Proceeds from our show are contributed to The Center for Teen Empowerment, a Boston-based nonprofit that seeks to empower youth and equip them with the skills and experiences to function as agents of individual, institutional, and social change. Through their training programs, event and resources, TE prepares these youth to spread their own initiatives that address the most pressing issues within their communities. What better reason is there for you to join the Ganza fam?
For those interested in joining us through model auditions, here are some tips to help you get through this exciting process:
10 Tips for a Successful Eleganza Audition
1. Plan Ahead
We do three different dates for a reason — don’t audition on the same day you have three papers due at midnight and a midterm the next morning. We know you’ll never not be busy, but try to pick the day where you only have 999,999 things to do instead of a million.
2. Practice
Three songs will be released, and you get to do two walks. One walk is a traditional, America’s Next Top Model- type walk, while the other is a fun, dancing walk so we can see your personality! For the first model walk, practice walking on beat with the music in a way that’s fierce but natural and posing with a smize — basically practice until that sentence makes sense to you. For the second dancing walk, it’s helpful to have anywhere from a few moves to a full routine choreographed, depending on your skill level. For both walks, you will be going in a T shape: down straight, turn on walk a little one way, turn and walk all the way the other way, return to the center and walk back. Everyone will be doing that path, so think up some things to turn that process into your own!
3. Dress for Success!
Wear a power outfit you can move in! We want you to wear something that makes you feel good, comfortable, and ready to take on the world (through dance). Depending on the person, that may mean wearing spandex and heels or sweatpants and fuzzy socks (for the record, we also frequently see sweatpants/heels and spandex/fuzzy socks combos) — whatever you feel will bring out your best self!
**hint: while some people are amazing at dancing in sky-high heels (shouts out to the incomparable Micah), please DO NOT wear heels if you are not comfortable dancing in them. If you do want to wear them, think about wearing lower ones with a sturdy, thicker heel**
4. Bring friends!
Going alone to audition in front of a six-person panel can be scary, especially if it’s your first time and you’re surrounded by people who have performed in the show before! Thus, you should bring at least one friend (but the more the merrier), who can be someone also trying out or someone who would never dance in public in a million years – as long as your friend can hype you up and give you that last confidence boost before going in!!
5. Hydrate
Besides giving you something to do with your hands, drinking water helps with the stress and keeps you feeling loose as you wait for your number to be called. Trust me, it’s a good idea.
6. Warm Up and Stretch
You don’t want to have come this far only to have your muscles rebel against you and cramp up! Some people repeatedly practice their walks full out until they’re called to audition, while others may do some simple floor stretches. Doing a little something to get your blood pumping before you dance goes a long way in both physical and mental pre-audition preparation.
7. Relax
Breathe. Clear your mind. Don’t worry about who went before you or who is coming after you or that you think should have worn those other pants or that maybe you should try and call your fifth grade jazz teacher for some last minute advice or — stop. You can do this. Go in there and kill it!
8. Don’t worry about mistakes
See? Beyonce almost fell in front of millions of viewers nationwide!
The worst thing you can do during a dance audition is stop dancing. If you miss a beat, trip over your own feet and literally land on your face, forget a move that you had worked super hard to perfect, get up, shake it off, and get back to doing your thing! No show is perfect, and if we see someone who is able to bounce back from a mistake and come back even stronger, that is definitely a person we would want in our show!
9. Have fun
Model auditions are fun!! There’s awesome music, tons of friendly people, and a great excuse to get out of your dorm room for a few hours — enjoy it! Everyone on the Ganza wants to have fun and see people bring their best selves; the more fun you’re having, the better you’re doing, and the happier we are!
10. Believe in Yourself
“Confidence is the most important criteria for being an Eleganza model. We get so many talented, incredible people auditioning; confidence makes a person stand out of the pack” – Haylee Smith, Executive Producer
Yes there’s tons of amazing performers all doing splits and triple pirouettes, and it’s easy to compare yourself to them. Instead, appreciate that they’re doing their own thing and remember that we are not looking for one type of person with a specific skill set. You have your own stuff you can bring to the table – own it! YOU ARE A BADASS WHO IS LITERALLY AUDITIONING TO BE PART OF ONE OF THE BIGGEST PERFORMANCES OF THE YEAR. Like, think about that. You’re freakin’ awesome.
Armed with these tips, you’re sure to slay at auditions. With all this fun, fashion, and charity, what’s not to love? So come to Eleganza 2017 Model Auditions (RSVP here), on November 3rd, 5th, and 6th at 8 PM in the SOCH Penthouse. For more information, check out our Facebook page or email us at eleganza2017@gmail.com
Come through, it’s lit. #GanzaLove