NIDA's Singer Dancer Actor

Afternoon everyone. I've recently graduated from 4 years of Acting School for the Meisner Techniqe and am now looking to branch into musical theatre. I'm seriously considering an audition for NIDA's Singer, Dancer, Actor - if anyone has any information or advice on this it would be GREATLY appreciated. I have no idea what to expect at the audition or the standard at which those accepted are performing at (although I would expect it to be high). Thanks all.

Hi, i did the course a couple of years ago, and loved it to pieces. it was definitely the toughest year ever, but also the best - one thing i'd say is that if you've just come out of 4 years of straight acting don't expect that to carry you through - they put a lot more emphasis on singing and dancing than they do acting - at one point in our year we actually had to request more acting classes. as far as i know the auditions are still the same as they were for me - you all learn a group dance number, which is probably split into 2 sections, one for everyone, and a second for people with more dance experience - then you'll sing your 2 prepared songs (well, not necessarily, they might only need to hear one), and then they call people back for the acting. Avigail (the course director) does have high standards, she always knows what she wants. she can be a little scary, but she has sooo much knowledge and experience. i'd say if you're interested in musical theatre then go for it, it's a good course.

Hey Kitty. I'm currently doing the SDA course at the moment and I think it would be well worth your while auditioning. It's a great course (although it'd be nice if we could do it for longer than a year) and rumour has it that the course will be accredited next year (a little bonus, perhaps). Course wise, the focus is on storytelling as a holistic base. But all other mediums (singing, dance, music theory, history, physical theatre etc etc) are covered extremely well. Avigail's tuition as a singing teacher and acting through song teacher is most definitely worthwhile. And all the other tutors are industry professionals. The dance component isn't _huge_ but you're always going to want more of everything. The course culminates with a showcase at the end of the year - it's mostly for industry - agents, casting directors and whatnot. My recommendation is that if you have already done a longer course in performing arts then doing the shorter 1 year course would be a better prospect than a longer degree (but I suppose that is just my opinion and I don't want to seem preachy!) Audition-wise, take in songs that you can act. Commit to a character, tell their story to the best of your ability and don't belt your tits off (Av hates that). The audition has a few rounds all done on the same day - the first round is dance and singing. They split the group in half, one learns a dance routine (it's not too hard if you've had a little bit of dance training and it's definitely not the most weighted part of the audition) and the other group sings both (or one, I suppose?) of their songs. Then there is a cut and those that remain will do their monologues and if they are good enough - they will be workshopped. And you'll be asked to redo some aspects of the piece a different way etc etc. Then people are shortlisted and you wait. At least that's what happened at my audition and I assume it's the same every year. The panel is only Avigail Herman. The rest of the people involved - accompanist and choreographers - are not involved in the selection process at all. Also, there's quite a few posts on here about Avi being scathing and horrible. She's not. She's a really hard taskmaster and will crack down on students but she only has her student's best interests at heart. She treats each student as an individual and has different methods for procuring results from each student, depending on their demeanor and personality. But overall, her criticisms are designed to help the student improve. If everything was always niceties, we'd never get anywhere. So, I suppose I'm just saying, don't be put off by the comments of others. She's not the warmest person in the world but she knows how to get the best out of her pupils. Hope this helps!

awesome post "jc". i think i know who you are.... willard?? i did the course last year and loved every second of it. i agree with everything said above and encourage you not to be put off by any of the posts on here about avigail - its true, she can be full on, but in the end you will appreciate everything she does, as its all in your best interests. if you already have a solid training background behind you, this would be a great course for you - almost everyone is at different levels and avi tailors the course to the needs of each group. good luck for the future, whatever path you pursue

Ah perfect - I can't thank you enough that was brilliant, solid advice. And you're right, I've heard a mix of those saying 'belt it out', 'don't belt it out' etc, so it's great to get insider information. As for Avigail, I haven't heard anything about her but I work well with a hard taskmaster and I find those types to actually care the most. Well on that note (excuse the pun) I think I will take the plunge. Good luck with the remainder of the year, and we may well see you on the big stage soon. Thanks again, Melanie.

Hi there people. I, like Kitty, am also considering auditioning for this course at the end of the year. I'm just wondering if my chances are really low, considering I don't have any professional experience like others with their courses and degrees. I'm a 19 yr old male, and have taken lessons in singing and very little in dancing. Without sounding up-myself, they say I'm not that bad and I have potenitial. Do you think I even have a chance of getting in??? Also, how many people are accepted into the course?

Hey Victor Audition! I was 19 when I auditioned as well. I had taken only 2 years of tap and 1 year of Jazz when I auditioned. I had no acting training. Only the experience in amateur shows that I had done. (I had one 'professional' gig - doing a contract at Tokyo Disney). The range of experience and age in our course this year varies greatly. There are four 18 y/o, the bulk of us between 19-21, and then a few older ones, the oldest being 27 (she was 26 when we started). And experience wise, four or five have degrees (only one in performance related skills tho'). The usual number of students accepted is 12; however, this year there are 14 (I think owing to the extra contact hours the course now includes - got to think of the budget, right?) Hope this helps! P.S. Potential is a big criteria at the audition. If Avi thinks that you could go somewhere and that she can teach you the skills to get there (i.e: you're an amiable person who's easy to work with), then that's at least a shoe in the door. And yes Poonie, Willard here ;).

Hey Victor, I was in the year previous to jc's and we only had 12 in our group. it was also a much younger year (the eldest was 23) so age really doesn't matter as long as avi thinks you're mature enough to cope with the demands of the course. just go in, do your darndest (we had one guy in our year that had never danced AT ALL, and he got in) and see what happens. also remember to really ACT your song - as in, really try and communicate the meaning, think about the lyrics and what your character is trying to say, as I would say that thats probably the biggest component of the course. good luck!

(hi poonie!) we had 14 in our class, and i was the youngest, i was 17 when the course started, and the oldest turned 28 during the year. we had a guy and a girl who had never done any dancing at all, and another guy who had never done...well, anything, but we also had a couple of people who had done semi-pro stuff in melbourne, so don't worry about whether or not you're experienced. and as the others have said YES absolutely they look for whether or not you've got potential, and whether or not you'll fit into a group. go audition!

What is the number of people that actually audition for the course? i read that there are only 12 - 14 in the course each year so how does that compare to the amount of people wanting to do it? I've never had singing lessons but can sing and have danced for a long time. do you think i stand a chance if i audition?

Sorry Lulu but no you dont stand a chance. I have been to the auditions and my gosh some of the auditionees are semi pro before they start the course. The singers actually get into the course before the dancers

Kitty, you don't know. Lulu may have the sound and look that they are looking for. Then again she may not. Lulu, try anyway, never assume you can't do it. It is a training course and if the potential is there they may take her. Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. www.tonymoore.id.au

Hey everyone, I'm also auditioning for this course in November. How does the selection process work? Do they make their decision from the main audition or are there callbacks? Coming from Auckland to audition for it - so I need to know these things!

Ok, so I'm not sure exactly how the sydney days work, as there is always more than one day of auditions in sydney, whereas melbourne and brisbane there's just one, but i'm pretty sure its the same. if you're from auckland and couldn't stay for a callback (if thats what you're worried about) then i'm sure avi would take that into consideration. but basically the process is : *the usual "hi" and talk from avi, any questions you have you can ask here. *everybody sings *everybody dances (cattle call style audition, but no "cut" as such. *Avi does a cut/cull (whatever you want to call it) those that make it through the first round are asked to stay and do their monologues. *Those who stay do their monologues(be prepared to do it more than once, taking into consideration avi's direction) *Avi does another cut *All those asked to stay do an interview with Avi *Avi then decides who will be shortlisted. If you are shortlisted you are asked to do one of your songs again which is filmed. *You can leave! You are then notified by phone if you got in. Avi's pretty good with letting people know as quickly as she can. Not sure how you find out if you didn't make it - letter perhaps. Anyways, this is how my process went - I assume its still pretty much the same. All the best with your audition!

thanks for that! I've decided on the two Audition songs - "Come What May" from Moulin Rouge & "King Herod's Song" from Jesus Christ Superstar... what are peoples thoughts on these two songs? Cheers Todd :)

Just heard that Avigail despises all things Lloyd Webber. is this true? Probably best that I don't do the JC Superstar Song..