A Life on the Insomniac Dancefloor
“I’ve been going to EDC for the past four years, and I’ve been so inspired by the magic that I want to be able to help create that,” chirped Hailey Ryan as she swung her right leg behind her back to stretch out her quads. “I’m just trying to remind myself that I love this, that this is fun for me. I know that I have it; it’s just a matter of convincing everyone else that I have it, too,” she added, with a grin.
The California native was just one of hundreds who showed up to Exchange LA on a recent Saturday with the hopes of joining Insomniac’s dance team through a rigorous dance audition. Hours before the doors opened, the streets of downtown Los Angeles were filled with herds of rave-ready females and a few optimistic males. A line wrapped around the building as women in high heels, crop tops, and colorful wigs clutched their headshots and waited for the doors to open. People on the streets shouted out, “Where are you headed?” to which they replied, “A dance audition.” And many cheered them on as they made their way into the venue.
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Inside, Insomniac’s entertainment director, MsEasy, sat at a judge’s table on the club’s main dancefloor. DJ Hymn was onstage churning out the tunes as a swarm of dancers prepared to climb down the steps leading to the stage. “I’ll only take what I think is really good,” said Easy in regard to what she was looking for during the audition process. “Technique, confidence, poise, stage presence. There are a lot of things that it takes to be up there, for sure, so we’ll see how many people pull it off today.”
An hour after registration opened, Hymn dropped his first beat as the dancers took the stage. One by one, the ladies positioned themselves on either side of the podium and began to show off their moves. To keep them on their toes, the DJ abruptly shifted between songs to see how they would adapt in a real-life festival environment. If Easy liked a particular dancer, she would motion to her colleague who would then intercept the candidates as they made their way off the stage to prepare them for round two.
Immediately following her audition, Noelle Eden, who had performed in an ice princess-themed ensemble, took a moment to catch her breath and reflect. “When I got down there, I just added my own flair, created my own story,” she explained. “I want this so bad! I want to be a bumblebee in the parade, or a clown.”
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Tori Ninetails, who advanced to the second round, said she channeled her rave-loving self and previous dance experience at Las Vegas nightclub Marquee, letting her essence flow onstage. “I blacked out, and I just felt it,” she said of her audition. “And I guess that’s all that really mattered. I just wanted to get in my zone and do my thing. I did that, and I feel fantastic.”
Those who passed the freestyle round were sent into a small studio downstairs to learn a dance routine taught by Robin Oliver. The choreographer summoned her first group of dancers to join in the front of the room. She then pushed play and taught them how to shimmy to Kiesza’s “Hideaway.”
“I’m not such a stickler with every single move. I’m more about that passion and the power,” Oliver revealed. “And that’s what they’ll be doing when they are onstage. They’ll have to mesmerize the audience. If they can’t pull off a triple pirouette, it’s not as important as being an amazing performer.”
An hour into the afternoon, the first male finalist joined his female counterparts in the choreography room. “I’ve actually never been in this dance world, where you have to take auditions and whatnot. I dance mostly in my bedroom and practice outside in the public with my homies,” he said as he dove enthusiastically into the routine.
Maury Wiederanders and Hayley Beriar stood in the back of the room, helping each other through the organized number. “I’m more of a choreographed dancer; she’s more into freestyle. But we’re helping each other through it,” said Wiederanders.
Ashley Morbucks was so obsessed with perfecting the choreography that she mastered the dance enough to teach it to her colleagues while Oliver took a quick bathroom break. “It’s all a team effort. We have to work together. We have to help each other,” she explained. “I just want to dance. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do, and I feel like now is my opportunity to just go for it.”
Angela Tsogtgerel has already danced at seven Insomniac events, but that didn’t stop her from dedicating her entire Saturday to competing for the chance to do it again. “The reason I keep coming back is the Headliners—just seeing them be happy. Talking to them and taking pictures with them, that makes their day!” she exclaimed.
Brigitte Townsend, who arrived well after the auditions were underway, waited in line with her flow wand, which she planned to incorporate into her routine. “I practiced so much. I hope it works out. I’m so nervous,” she admitted.
At the end of the day, the dance team auditions reflected the spirit of EDC: open and inviting to everyone of every shape, size and color. Whether you’re a backup dancer for Lady Gaga—of which one of the dancers trying out touted on her résumé—or a first-timer with some serious moves, all are welcome to join the family—if you’ve got the right stuff.
Check out these images from the recent Insomniac dance team auditions at Exchange LA.
All photo credits go to Shea Flynn.
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