REQUIREMENTS
To be eligible to compete, dancers must be registered in their correct age/level ballet or combo class and also take at least one TRIX class (30 min) a week. Company dancers have the ability to take both TRIX classes for the price of one or attend the second TRIX class at their own convenience. Depending on how many dancers & skill levels we have audition, we may divide the team into two companies, Platinum & Diamond. All competition dancers are required to be in their company’s team routine. Any other competition routines are considered “specialty routines” and are totally optional. If the team is divided, dancers can only be in routines with other dancers in their same level company. Dancers must have a certain score to be eligible to do a solo and must have 1 year of prior competition experience. Private lessons are always available during the year and recommended for all company kids, but especially those currently competing a solo or wishing to do so in the near future.

Auditions are required for all competitors. We will hold auditions July 30th with make-ups being tentatively held August 20th. In order to audition, dancers must bring the $15 audition fee AND the questionnaire attached to this packet. After auditions, dancer meetings will be scheduled to discuss judge feedback and routine placement. We have auditions to see if dancers are truly ready for competition, provide placement in teams & specialty routines, and what types of goals dancers should concentrate on throughout the year to make the most of their competition season.

 

ADDITIONAL COSTS
-Choreography Fees: These are one-time fees paid to the studio that are due by October 1st. Company kids do not pay a different monthly rate and instead pay choreography fees for each company routine they are in. For specialty routines – the choreography fee covers choreography and six 30-minute practice slots to finish & perfect routine. If your routine is not finished within the six private lessons, you will be charged $20 for every extra 30-minute session until it is done, unless fault of teacher (this rule is not in effect for the team routine). This policy was created due to dancers not practicing at home and forgetting the material week to week. In order for a solo, duet, or trio to begin rehearsals, at least half of the fee must be paid. Team practices once a week, every week & does not affect tuition.

            -Costume Fees: Obviously there will be an additional costume for every routine. We try to keep our costume selections reasonable, and like to do very basic shirt and short combos for pieces whenever possible. However, sometimes this is not an option based on routine theme or style. Soloists have the ability of working within their own price limit and can get as extravagant or simple as possible. Solo, duet, & trio dancers work together with their choreographer deciding on costuming for their piece.

            -Entry Fees: For every competition there are entry fees for each routine. These vary at each competition. Prices for groups are usually between $25-35, trios $30-50, duets $40-50, and solos $65-90. Each year we attend three regional competitions. If a competition fee is not paid to the studio by the specified date, there will be a late charge of $5 per routine. Regular class tuition must be kept up-to-date in order to be allowed to compete as well.

            -Convention: *NEW THIS YEAR* Company kids are required to attend one convention. A convention is a day full of classes taught by different professionals with dancers attending from numerous studios. The convention of choice this year is Talent On Parade’s Master Classes being held on SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23RD in Des Moines at the Polk County Convention Complex. For more information visit www.talentonparade.com/master-class-information/overview

            -Additional Fees: A few other additional fees include the required team t-shirt, shorts (these are usually worn with costumes as well as extra community performances – if you have a pair of Katrina’s that still fit and are in good condition you do not need new ones), and a warm-up jacket (we WILL be getting new ones this year!)

 

COMMITMENTS
            -Practices:  BASED ON NUMBER OF COMPETITION PIECES YOU ARE A PART OF WILL COMPLETELY COINSIDE WITH YOUR ADDITIONAL PRACTICE TIME AT THE STUDIO. You cannot expect to do three routines and only be at the studio once a week! Parents, please understand that any chance for practice time of competition pieces is valuable! We want to be at our best and feel ready (stress-free!) at all performances. For this reason, all routines are REQUIRED to practice at least once a week the two weeks prior to competition or they risk ineligibility to perform.

            -Leadership/Rules: COMPETITION REQUIRES A WHOLE DIFFERENT LEVEL OF DEDICATION THAN NECCESSARY FOR WEEKLY CLASSES. Your teachers and teammates expect you to consistently work hard and always be eager. Competition dancers should always be leaders inside and OUTSIDE the studio and always abide to classroom rules and D2X’s conduct policy. Older competition students are also able to have the opportunity of assisting in weekly classes at teacher’s discretion. This creates an awesome experience for those interested in teaching or working with children in the future. Student helpers will be selected based on attitude, leadership, and dance knowledge shown in each of their regular classes weekly. If you are interested however, please let Ashlee know.

-Attendance/Attitude: YOUR ATTENDANCE AT THE SELECTED COMPETITIONS AND TEAM EVENTS IS MANDATORY! Dancer runs the risk of being dropped from routines if attendance or attitude becomes a problem.

-Honor: COMPETITION TEAM IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS ANY OTHER TEAM YOU ARE A PART OF! We put a lot of work into creating events, fundraisers and performances as well as time into creating these routines, so I expect nothing less than your hardest effort & dedication in return.

 

MISC. INFO
Fundraisers are available for those interested as a way to decrease any costs associated with competition. We try to do team fundraisers throughout the year, but individual fundraising is always an option.
Aside from all the hard work, competition is of course full of fun and many great memories that last a lifetime! Opportunities are given to competition dancers that they might not have gotten the chance to experience otherwise, such as taking classes from famous choreographers, experiencing new cities, and networking through the dance-world creating friends from all over the state or even the country!

 

2011 COMPETITION SELECTIONS
-Symposium                 March 24-25                  Iowa Central Auditorium, Fort Dodge, IA
www.symposiumtalent.com
           
-Hall of Fame                TBA                              Omaha Civic Auditorium, Omaha, NE
www.halloffamedance.com

And one of the following choices for our third event:
-Talent On Parade          TBA                              Omaha, NE
www.talentonparade.com

-Revolution                   TBA                              Des Moines, IA
www.revolutiontalent.com

-Legacy                                    TBA                              Altoona, IA
www.legacydancechampionships.com

 

BASIC COSTS

$ 15.00 – AUDITION FEE

$ 20.00 – TEAM T-SHIRT

($ 20.00 – OPTIONAL FAN CLUB T-SHIRT FOR FAMILY/FRIENDS)

$ _____ – WARM-UP JACKET

($ 27.00 – BLACK KATRINA SHORTS)
                        Only if necessary – these are high-quality shorts made for the stage

 

ROUTINE COSTS

$ _____ – CHOREOGRAPHY FEES 

$ _____ – COSTUME FEES

 

EVENT COSTS

$ _____ – ENTRY FEES  
Approx. $25-35 groups, $40-50 duets, $30-50 trios, $65-90 solos

$ _____ – CONVENTION FEE
                        Under 12 - $89, Over 12 - $99

 

CALENDAR OF DEADLINES
July/August – Audition fee & Choreography fees due
September – T-shirt orders & Convention fee
October – Costume deposits due during Halloween week
November – Warm-up orders
January – 1st entry fees due
February – 2nd entry fees due
March – Last entry fees due

 

Please use this sheet to figure out how many routines you are willing to allow your dancer to participate in. You are always welcome to pay ahead or make installments if that is easier for you. Remember, Judy is always in the office and is willing to work with you on methods of payment, no matter the situation.