In and Out of College Audtions

This week in sociology, we talked about our in groups, or groups that we where a part of. We talked about how they influence us and determine who we are as a person, tying into sociological mindfulness, being aware that these groups define us. At first, I didn't realize how many group I was a part of. Of course I have my school friends, my dance friends, and my family, but my in groups also include people I might not even know. For example, the entire senior class of high school is a group I'm  a part of, or auditioning students at colleges I visit. Upon further reflection, I realized that while, I might not know everyone in my in group, we still had a lot in common.

Last week I had a dance audition at OSU. Walking into the studio was the same as always, awkward and stressful. I decided to break the tension with a casual "so who's nervous?" and suddenly everyone started chatting. I learned where all the auditionees were coming from and what studios they went to. They were apart of many out groups, groups that I was not apart of. However, in the category of aspiring dance majors, we could still bond over the same things like the TV show Dance Moms, famous choreographers like TOKYO, and our favorite traveling dance competitions. It was especially funny when talking about other college auditions we were interested in: "Hey, didn't I see you at Butler last week?" or "Oh, I'll be at Indiana next week too. I'll see you there!"

These other dancers have influenced me in way I wouldn't have thought of. They make me more competitive and driven to get where I want, and they also push me to be a better dancer all around. During auditions, I can quickly learn from their strengths and their weaknesses and before and after the audition, I learn about dance through their own experiences, and get feedback on mine.