What NFL & NBA Dance Judges Actually Score
What judges are actually looking for
Most dancers prepare for the dance portion of auditions. I have judged NFL and NBA auditions for the past 8 years. Judges score many things, depending on the team, but here are the three things I look at: your technique and skill, your entertainment and personality, and everything but your dance skills. That last one covers your intro, your interview, and how you carry yourself, and it is where talented dancers end up getting cut. Here's the thing: every team weights these differently, and no dancer ever sees the scorecard. Here's a breakdown of what you can start training for.
1. Technique and skill
This is the most objective part of your audition. There are three fundamental technique elements that show up at most NFL and NBA auditions: a double turn, kicks, and a leap.
Some routines have technique throughout, and some include only a double turn and nothing else. Either way, most of the time you need to execute them cleanly to move on round after round, unless you are a powerhouse in the other areas.
The second piece is your dance skills. Judges are looking to see whether you can pick up choreography in different genres and whether you can execute it. Being good at dance is partly a matter of taste, but there is a baseline most of the panel will agree on.
Tricks and aerials are not what decides whether you make the team. An aerial may get noted at finals as a nice-to-have, and it never replaces clean fundamentals. Also be aware that missing or falling out of a trick can cost you more than leaving it out if it's not 100%.
2. Entertainment and personality
This part is more subjective, because every judge has their own idea of what is worth watching. One wants to feel something when you perform. Another wants clean lines and power, set to the music.
Teams also have a vibe. Some are straight-arm jazz, some are clean and powerful, and some are urban and gritty. Something one team allows, like sticking your tongue out, another team will not. Make sure you find out the vibe of the team you are auditioning for before you decide how to perform.
There is one thing that is consistent across all teams. You have to dance full out. It is the note a coach gave me after the Suns cut me following one season. I thought I was dancing full out and I was not. I could not see it myself, which is why an outside eye matters.
3. Everything but your dance skills
This is your intro, your interview, your professionalism, and how you carry yourself in every moment outside of your dancing. In the interview, judges look at how you communicate, how you would interact with fans, and whether you could represent the organization and work with teammates. Depending on the team, the interview can be up to half of your score.
It has nothing to do with your dance skills, and it is where talented dancers get cut, because they thought their dance skills would get them on the team.
Each team has its own rules and expectations here, based on how the organization is run. If you are unsure, lean more polished and professional. You can always relax once you see the team is more casual, and you cannot take back a first impression that was too loose.
How you do one thing is how you do everything. Every email, DM, and check-in counts, and so do the in-between moments, not only the time you spend on the floor.
How NFL and NBA auditions differ
The same three categories apply at both. What changes is the weight each team gives them and the vibe of the team, so research the specific team before you decide how to prepare.
Dancers often assume NBA auditions ask for harder turns than they do. The turn expectations are lighter than most dancers fear, and a clean double turn still earns its place.
For the details on each league, read the NFL audition guide and the NBA audition guide.
What judges notice that dancers never hear about
Most cuts come from small, fixable things nobody told the dancer about. These are the ones that come up most.
An over-rehearsed intro that sounds like a resume instead of a person.
Not dancing full out, especially as energy fades toward the end of the routine.
Chasing aerials before the fundamentals are clean.
Facial habits: mouthing the lyrics, licking your lips, winking at the judges, or competition-style faces.
A blank face while you think through the next count.
Treating the in-between moments as off the clock.
From the judges' table
I made finals at my first Suns audition and I was cut. Nobody told me why.
The note that stuck came from a judge. Be the first to say hello to every fan.
That had nothing to do with my turns or my kicks. They were hiring for a job, and I had prepared for an audition. After getting feedback, I made the team the next year.
You can't prepare for something you don't know you're being judged on. I have judged auditions from the other side of the table for the past 8 years, and I have watched dancers lose their spot to the same things season after season. Most of them are fixable.
Frequently asked questions
What do NFL and NBA dance team judges look for?
Technique and skill, entertainment and personality, and everything but your dance skills, which includes your intro, interview, and professionalism. Each team weights them differently.
Do judges score the interview?
Yes. Depending on the team, the interview can be up to half of your score.
Do aerials and tricks help at finals?
An aerial may get noted at finals as a nice-to-have, and it never decides the outcome. A missed trick can cost you more than leaving it out.
Which technique do I need for an NFL or NBA audition?
A double turn, kicks, and a leap. Most auditions include them, and you need them to move on round after round unless you are strong in the other areas.
Is there one scorecard for every team?
No. Each team has its own scorecard, and dancers do not see it. That is why researching the specific team matters.
Why do dancers get cut after making finals?
The most common reasons are preparing for the audition instead of the team, not dancing full out, and not being able to see their own blind spots without an outside eye.
