Meet Dancers Who Auditioned 3, 4, Even 7 Times—and Finally Got the Gig

Every dancer knows the audition process is full of rejection. But hearing “no” again and again, from the same casting team, and then coming back for more? That takes some serious motivation. These dancers were all cut multiple times from auditions for their dream jobs, took it in stride, and ended up getting the gig.

Marko Germar: “So You Think You Can Dance” All-Star

Marko Germar with Koine Iwasaki on “So You Think You Can Dance” (courtesy Adam Rose/Fox)

Number of times he auditioned for “SYTYCD”:
Three

Round After Round

“The first time I auditioned for ‘SYTYCD,’ in Season 5, I went to Vegas but got cut in the first round. During Season 7, I went to Vegas and got cut during the contemporary portion. I came back during Season 8 and went all the way through to the finale. Each time, I felt like I had to get past where I was cut before.”

Getting an Edge

“In between the auditions, I took class at the Edge studio so much that people thought I was on scholarship there. I was constantly training and auditioning. It taught me how to be professional. That gave me the confidence, and physical and mental stamina, to keep trying.”

Banishing Nerves

“By the third time I auditioned, I had a veteran mentality. There’s no reason to psych yourself out, because you’ve already done it! The judges asked me to dance with multiple partners, which made me think they trusted me, and that helped me to know I could do it.”

Advice for DS Readers

“A setback is a reason to try again. Just because one person says ‘no’ doesn’t mean the next person will.”

Chalvar Monteiro: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Chalvar Monteiro (left), in Kyle Abraham’s “Untitled America” (photo by Paul Kolnik, courtesy Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater)

Number of times he auditioned:
Seven

Commitment to the Dream

“I made a promise to myself that I would never stop trying for something I truly wanted. I learned everything I could at the company I was dancing for at the time, and then took that with me to Ailey.”

Finding Patience

“I learned to stop trying to speed up the process of success. I took the time to understand what I truly wanted for myself as a person, and whether I was making career moves that really resonated with me.”

What It Felt Like to Hear “Yes”

“It was a big relief, but also very daunting. I was the only dancer to be hired that year, and I felt like all eyes were on me.”

A Transformational Journey

“The seven-year process to joining Ailey transformed me into my own biggest support system. I was able to focus on clarity, quality, and spirit. I truly feel I became the dancer I am today because of the beautiful people I worked with along the way.”

Mary Kate Hartung: Wendy, “Finding Neverland” national tour

Mary Kate Hartung (courtesy Anita Dloniak & Associates)

Number of times she auditioned:
Two (“But I auditioned for the same casting director at least 20 times within a year.”)

Booking the Gig

“My first audition for Finding Neverland marked my transition from concert dance to musical theater. I broadened the classes I took, the kinds of auditions I went to, and was blessed with some amazing opportunities that allowed me to grow tremendously as an artist. I came into my second audition with much more confidence and a better skill set to back me up.

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What It Felt Like to Hear “Yes”

“I was scrubbing gunk off my kitchen floor when I got the call from my agent. I couldn’t believe it! I felt like all my hard work had paid off in exactly the way I’d wanted it to, but I’d be conceited to dismiss the importance of luck and timing.”

Emeri Liza Fetzer and Kayla Farrish: “Sleep No More”

Kayla Farrish (photo by Stephanie Crousillat, courtesy Farrish)

Number of times they auditioned:
Three and five, respectively

Loving the Process

Kayla: “When I did my first audition, I absolutely loved the entire process—the improvisation, phrasework, partnering, storytelling movement concepts, and musicality techniques. Every part of it was so exciting, and that’s unusual for an audition. The movement and ideas allow you to bring yourself into a role, while still challenging your skills.”

Necessary Self-Confidence

Emeri: “The first time I auditioned, I was kept through all the cuts, with an extraordinarily talented group of people. It didn’t pan out. When I came to the next open call, I was cut in the first round. When I went back the third time, I had a strong feeling of ‘I’m going to book this job.’ I felt that I finally knew what the casting team needed to see from me. I danced for the show for two years.”

Advice for DS Readers

Emeri: “The audition process changed my perspective on the business of dance. It’s a game of persistence and resilience. Sometimes it won’t be enough to just do the combination right.”

A version of this story appeared in the February 2018 issue of Dance Spirit with the title “When Persistence Pays Off.”