Stand in front of a mirror and have a good look at your posture from the front and the side. Are you standing tall with your lower stomach muscles firmly pulled in? Is your weight distributed evenly between both feet and are all your toes on the floor? Now, relax your shoulders (still keeping your tummy muscles in) and neck and lift your chest so that your ribs don't stick out. Ask somebody to have a look at you, then check yourself every day so that this good posture becomes natural to you.

Again stand in front of the mirror and turn your legs out at the hip into the first position. Make sure your knees are straight and over your toes. When you point your toes in turn out, feel your leg lengthening. You should feel these leg muscles working in every exercise.

From the moment you start your audition warm up, FOCUS. Watch and listen to the person giving instructions. Don’t watch other dancers. If you make a mistake, it doesn’t matter. Even a number of mistakes cannot disguise a good performer or lovely dancer.

Find your confidence and be yourself. A focused thoughtful face is as lovely as a smiling face. Don’t worry about a little nervous tension- it is very natural. If you are asked to do something you haven’t done in your ballet class before, give it a go. Trying new steps is part of working with a choreographer.

GOOD LUCK