Audition Power: Working The Hollywood System

"A real asset for working dancers, "says legendary dancer Gene Kelly of this two-tape series, and therein lies the strength and weakness of this guide to survival in the L.A. dance scene. Opening with a humorous introduction by seasoned professional Anita Morris, the first volume features a panel of young working dancers discussing the importance of trade ads, the role of agents, desirability of ballet training, psychological processes which go on during an audition, dealing with the "cut," and more. The production values are minimal, just enough to get the job done (it never ceases to amaze me that productions coming out of Tinseltown tend to be some of the shabbiest-looking on the market). However, the panel discussion--moderated by Morris's husband, producer Grover Dale--is fairly effective, allowing for a candor that's often lacking in a scripted production (of course, on the other hand, it also means there's some repetition and extraneous material). The second tape, following the same format, has three choreographers--Vince Paterson, Anita Mann, and Lester Wilson--in place of the dancers, talking about the importance of personality, addressing the issue of "typing-out" dancers, discussing the benefits of improvisation, and more. Unfortunately, the audience for these tapes is very small: working L.A. dancers. This is not a "how-to" for an aspiring dancer in New York; it's a rap session--albeit an at times quite interesting one--between L.A. dancers and L.A. dance professionals. Recommended for Southern California libraries, high schools, and universities. For others, this is not a necessary purchase. (Available from: Choreographer's Resourcenter, 12439 Magnolia Blvd. #226, N. Hollywood, CA 91607; (310) 275-7425.)