“Nerves are a performer’s nemesis,” notes Kelly Aykers. “No matter how seasoned you are, the nerves have a way of railroading you just when you thought you had them under control.”
Having spent 50 years in dance (as a student, performer, director, and now as the head of her own school and production company), she has been there, done that. As the Kelly Aykers Full Time Dance campus prepares to welcome this year’s crop of auditionees, she muses on her own career journey and the inevitable cattle calls. From the other side of the fence, she reflects, “Remember, the panel wants you to do your best. They want to pick you and work with you. It’s very rare now to come across a pretentious panel; and if you do, maybe think about the suitability of them being in charge of your future.”
The subtext here is obvious. Dozens of schools, hundreds of promises, thousands of claims. The dance training world is as competitive as its stage counterpart. Like auditionees, Aykers argues, schools need to be noticed to succeed. For this reason, the RTO bearing her name has a threefold focus. “One: industry training. Two: strictly limited intake; no more than 50 students over all five courses. Three: respect; not just for the trainers, but for each other.”
Elaborating, she says, “I’m very proud to let my second year students audition and seek professional work while still training. And I make sure I’m around to mentor them through the process.”
Indeed, being around is something Aykers prioritises. On campus, never distant. “Every single student is known, seen, personally mentored, and personally catered to. This is not a ‘one size fits all’ industry, and our training reflects that. The pressure of a 30-hour training week is taxing on even the strongest of us. Then, you balance that with managing their career and lifestyle; and that is a skill set all on its own.”
Dancers, as she well knows, are not machines, and students are not numbers. “Our vibe here is like a supportive family. We don’t encourage competition between students, and in fact that kind of behaviour isn’t really tolerated.”
Yet, the reality of the industry is stark. Not everyone gets to be a star. Most will need to be resilient and inventive to keep both their passion alive and their career moving forward. “Although our scene is competitive by nature, my belief is that self-confidence is more important in a performer than any ill-willed or competitive facade they might want to hide behind,” Aykers observes.
Insofar as this is relevant to the school’s upcoming audition season, she adds, “I don’t believe, in an audition, that any of us can really know who’s going to make it. Our industry is so hard to predict, so I never just cherry pick the top end dancers in the room.”
Drilling down further, she reveals, “Some of the most successful artists I’ve had through the door fell apart at their audition. Some didn’t realise their strengths, and some didn’t have the belief they needed to show their worth. You know, for me, it always comes down to a connection. How well will they take direction and listen, how focused are they in the room, what attitude do they have about themselves and the people around them? All I need to make a brilliant performer is the desire to learn and show up, not just for my teachers but for themselves. That’s how I choose, and it works for me every year.”
Implicit in this is a commitment to relationship. In a small school, that means the ‘boss’ gets to know you, and vice versa. This is something that Aykers does not take lightly. With a telling smile, she recalls, “My first two years, yeah, I found out very quickly that to be the leader I needed to be, I had to see and know every single student in my care.”
Here again, the deeper reality. Teachers and students are human beings. “Small class sizes mean that me and my trainers are hands-on in the student’s career path. We see if they need help with any mental health issues or insecurities they may have or develop, and really, help them to find their own ‘correct’ path.”
For Aykers, the path has taken a lifetime, and included mainstage, TV, lead roles, YouTube fanfests, cricket world cups, and more besides. But, come June, she will be there in the room at her inner Melbourne campus, attention focused on those in front of her.
“My best advice would be to recognise you will be nervous, and have a management plan in order. For example, be prepared. Simple time management stuff. Get to the venue ahead of time. Also, research the school. And warm up; because that will centre your thinking. More importantly, don’t compare yourself with anyone else; just focus on your own journey and needs, and don’t get caught up on things that don’t go right on the day.”
Because, as Aykers will gladly testify, there will be other days.
For more information on Kelly Aykers Full Time Dance and the upcoming intake auditions, visit www.kellyaykers.com.au.
By Paul Ransom of Dance Informa.
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