Important Information to Know Before Registering

2024-2025 COMPETITIVE DANCE INFORMATION

If you are in 2nd -12th grade, please take the time to read this as rules for the dance team have been revised. *Note: 2nd & 3rd grades are only being offered petite jazz team. 4th and above may apply for any of the teams. (4th graders may be recommended for a year on petite team.)

WHAT IS COMPETITIVE DANCE?  A scheduled dance program offered for students wishing to improve dance technique, performance ability, and to spend more time doing what you love! Competitive dancers are pushed a little harder, expected to be more dedicated, and receive more critique from teachers and judges. 

HOW DO I JOIN?  Submit an application, which is included in this packet.   Students will be placed in classes by teacher placement and recommendation.

Classes offered and co-requisites are listed below: (All classes are 45 minutes with the exception of some tech classes (60 or 30  minutes.) Summer Jazz tech. will be required for all teams (exclude tap and petite.) Students will need to attend 4 out of 7 one-hour sessions offered in July & August (dates TBD) for $5.00 each class. If a student cannot make it to at least 4 of the 7 classes and needs a makeup date –the cost for a make-up class will be $10.00.

Students in ballet tech. will be ENCOURAGED but not required to take a ballet exam in Detroit (possibly in Gladwin if enough students are ready) within two years of taking that level.  Exam fees are similar to competition fees. (I will send more info. on exams before classes begin in the fall, so you understand what to expect in ballet tech.) Students not taking exams most likely would NOT move on to the next level the following year. 

Newer students may require a few summer private lessons to catch up to the class level before the fall.

CLASS CO-REQUISITES AND REQUIREMENTS

*Consideration for senior and/or advanced teams will be based on teacher’s discretion (performance in tech. classes, maturity, attitude and determination, ballet level and sometimes school grade. Must be in at least grade II ballet  to be on Sr. teams that require more knowledge/mastery of ballet tech.) 

1. TAP & CLOG TEAM:  Tap Technique
2. JAZZ TEAM:  Ballet AND jazz technique and 4 summer sessions
3. HIP HOP TEAM: Co-requisite: Jazz AND ballet technique and 4  summer sessions of jazz tech
4. MODERN TEAM: Jazz AND ballet technique AND 3 out of 4 Modern workshops offered throughout the year.  (Workshops held at the studio –dates TBA.) & 4 summer sessions
5. MUSICAL THEATER TEAM: Ballet AND jazz technique and 4 summer sessions
6. POM TEAM: Jazz AND ballet technique and 4 summer sessions
7. LYRICAL/CONTEMPORARY TEAM: Ballet AND jazz technique and 4 summer sessions 
8. BALLET TEAM: Must be in grade III or higher and have taken an exam
9. PETITE JAZZ TEAM: For 2nd/3rd grade & any beginners.  This team will only travel to two competitions.  Jazz tech. Required but no summer tech. needed.
10. SOLOS/DUETS/TRIOS/QUARTET: Co-requisites for competition solos: Technique class most suitable toward your dance.  Private classes are limited; sign up early!  Competitions for privates are optional and based on teachers’ decision for readiness.   Teacher requests will be considered based on seniority and availability.   More rules apply for solos –see contract. 

**TEAM classes may be divided based on the number of interested students. Put ANY class you might be interested in!  ANY type of dance could be divided into Jr/Sr/Int. classes if enough apply!

SCHEDULE:  We attend three competitions during the year.  I try to work around prom & spring break as much as possible.  Exact competition schedules are mailed in the summer as soon as I get schedules from the various competition venues, so that you can mark your calendars early. 

COSTS: Payment information is available on our website and will be updated this summer.  The more minutes you take of class time, the greater your discount!  (Excluding private lessons.)  Dancers may need new shoes depending on the teachers’ choice. You will be responsible for one extra costume per dance.  (Technique classes do not require costumes.)  Team costumes range from $60.00 to $180.00.  We try to keep prices down as best as possible.  You will be responsible for paying competition fees approximately $65.00/dance depending on the competition.  (Solos are usually around $140.00.)  Sometimes a hotel stay is necessary.  Team Warm Ups are not mandatory.  Warm ups are approximately $85.00.     

FUNDRAISERS:  We have various fundraisers throughout the year. Dancers will have several opportunities to earn money.  (Our fall mum fundraiser has been a HUGE success!) 

RULES:  Competing students must understand that to be in a competition class, they must take their dance instruction to a serious level. It will be the students’ responsibility to attend all practices, co-requisites and team classes. If a student is 15 min. late to his or her class, it is considered an absence. If a student misses or is tardy for their technique it MUST be made up within one month in a similar technique class. Students are allowed TWO EXCUSED ABSENCES EACH SEMESTER FOR THE TEAM CHOREO. DANCE CLASSES. Once a student misses a third class for any reason (sickness, weather conditions, family or school obligations, etc.) he/she has two options: 1. Schedule a private make up practice at the regular private class rate.  Make up privates may be combined with other students (same private fee/student) 2. Be removed from the team. *It is difficult to compete in dances that have not been rehearsed with EVERYONE present. IMPORTANT: Instructors do not have a lot of extra time to do make-up lessons, and ONLY 2 make ups will be available each semester for each team. If more are missed, there are team consequences. (Spring attendance AFTER the LAST competition is allowed to be a bit more flexible.) Please be aware that team placement for the following year is also based on attendance record. Students who may be ready to move up a level but have poor attendance might not move up. Team members are also expected to be responsible, respectful students.  If a student (or parent) gives any problems to a teacher, they may be removed from the team. Students MUST attend all competitions. Students who miss a competition for a foreseen, plannable event (vacation, etc.) will not be allowed to compete or participate in team dances in recital.  

**APPLICATIONS DUE MAY 20th. NEW! $50 deposit is due with your application this year so that I can securely reserve our competitions in the summer with a deposit down. $45 of your deposit will be held in your account until the LAST competition, and then it will be applied to that. However, if a student DROPS a class for any reason other than an injury or unforeseen emergency AFTER the first day of class, the fee will go towards re-blocking and rescheduling expenses and no longer be available for use at the last competition.  ($5 of your deposit is non refundable to cover clerical cost.)  Once you apply, your commitment to the number of dances you are willing to participate in is expected. Prompt and decisive responses are necessary so that I can finish our entire dance schedule to take new enrollment. (Students who have quit after applying don’t realize that may result in canceling a class that was already set in our schedule, making it really hard to change the schedule at that point.) We CAN more easily ADD a class, but dropping numbers after we plan on your commitment makes things very difficult. If you have questions, please ask!