Sarah Fader grew up as tomboy, not a ballerina.

“I was kind of a tomboy when I was little, and my parents wanted me to be their girlie-girl, so, they stuck me in dance classes,” Fader said.

Auditions were held Tuesday for the Southern Illinois Dance Company in an effort to expand the group and prepare for its annual spring concert.

Fader, a freshman from Arlington Heights studying civil engineering, said she was nervous about auditioning for the SIDC because it had been two years since she danced.

Donna Wilson, artistic director of the SIDC, said the company currently has 19 dancers. Wilson, an associate professor of dance, said she expected 10 to 15 dancers at the audition, but only seven came to the one night audition.

She said she does not put a limit on the number of dancers in the company, which is an organization for students and community members to train and perform dance.

Wilson said she is looking for someone who can do basic turns and jumps and can learn choreography quickly.

“I’m looking for someone who has a real ability to perform,” Wilson said.

Wilson said some dance experience is helpful, but not necessary to audition.

Fader has been dancing for thirteen years and said it is a good way for her to express herself artistically and get a good workout.

Performances at the spring concert include modern, jazz, hip-hop and ballet routines.

Wilson said tryouts are open to everyone who is interested in dancing, not just students. Auditions are held every semester. Members pay a $10 fee each semester, but the majority of the money needed for the company is raised through concerts, bake sales and car washes.

“The concerts we put in the fall and spring pay for much of the items we need, like our costumes,” Wilson said.

Allison Gegenheimer, a senior from Oak Park studying hospitality and tourism, said she wants to end her college career doing something fun.

“This is my last semester and I figured I should give the dance audition a shot,” Gegenheimer said.

Maria Capati can be reached at 618-453-8244 or at [email protected].