Another week and another audition can be officially dropped in the trash. I got an email from English National Ballet the other day saying that they could not offer me a contract for the 2011/2012 season.
There was a bit of irony rubbed into it this time. I've not had much work lately due to January being a quiet month. So when I got a call asking me to work front of house at the London Coliseum I jumped at it. It wasn't until later that I realized that I was working on English National Ballet's opening night of Romeo and Juliet! As this was before I knew what was the outcome of my audition, it was going to be a bit of awkward situation because I knew that I would be serving the top brass of ENB including Wayne Eagling, the artistic director! I didn't want to knock back the job because I'm desperate for cash at the moment. Also they probably wouldn't even recognize me because I would be in uniform and out of context. As long as I kept my mouth shut and blended into the background, I should be ok.
Work night came and all went relatively smoothly. It was kind of cool to be in that atmosphere and hear the artistic brass discussing versions of Romeo and Juliet, comparing dancers and debating over choreographers. The only kind of weird point came late in the evening when my boss, Carole, asked me what else I do with my life. I told her the truth which did surprise her a bit. Further conversation led me to telling her that I had auditioned for ENB and was waiting for a reply. The evening continued and Carole was fussing around trying to figure out how much wine the guests had consumed in order to send the bill to a 'Sarah'. I asked her if that was Sarah Malin. This was because all the emails I send to ENB generally end up on Sarah's desk and I was curious to see what she looked like. In a moment where I thought my heart would freeze up, Sarah Malin who was standing on the other side of the bar turned asked what where we discussing that involved her name! 'My sainted aunt's anticlockwise propeller!!' was all I could think! Fortunately, Carole came to my rescue, saving me from dying of embarrassment brought on by an acute case of 'Foot in Mouth' disease. Carole told my story for me and it turns out that they are really good friends. Plus, Sarah was in a really good humour brought on by a couple of glasses of wine. She said that she would look through the files and get back to me.
As you know, the resulting email was a 'No'. Oh well, at least that door is firmly closed now, but just to rub salt into the wound Carole has asked for me to work at the Coliseum not once, but twice next week. "Just think of the money Rodney, just think of the money...."
On a more serious note, as a result of that audition I probably won't be in England for much longer. My visa is running out at the end of May which is going to make it very difficult to find any dance work. If I'm not dancing, I'm just doing crummy jobs at minimum wage just to survive. I would be much happier, and probably much better of if I just went back home. However, there a couple of auditions I want to do first. Poland is coming up at the end of the month and that is where my focus is at the moment. Following that is an unconfirmed audition for Boston Ballet in February which I want to do, even if just for kicks and giggles.
So that's my moment of embarrassment for the week. Hope you enjoyed and I'll be back next week.
Rodney Cuthbertson
DreamChaser
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