Dynamic Dance Company2010-2011We are excited that you are interested in our Dynamic Dance Company. This information packet should explain many of your questions about the DDC, the pre-requisites and the requirements..
The DDC is a group of dedicated dancers ranging in age from 7-18 years old. These dancers have chosen dance as their dedicated sport because they enjoy dancing and learning. The DDC requires a large commitment on both the dancer and the parent’s part. Please remember that this love of dance must be by the dancer not the parent. These dancers must have a true passion for dance if they are going to stay motivated through the many hours of classes and rehearsals. For the dancer who chooses to be a part of the DDC, he/she will grow and mature through their dancing and the team atmosphere. It is a great way for children and teens to be a part of a positive team doing something they love.
Our DDC is divided into several smaller teams based on age and level. Teachers place dancers with other students of the same level and similar age. We try to keep dancers within three years of age within a given team. For example, a team may be made of 4th, 5th and 6th graders because that is within 3 years of age. We also place dancers with students of the same level. The staff of Dance Dynamics has developed a system of leveling classes that includes lesson plans, requirements and advancement plans. This system is unique to Dance Dynamics. If you are moving to us from another studio, the names may differ but rest assured that we will place dancers in the class that will be the most beneficial for them.
Our team’s goal will always be POSITIVE team effort, good attitudes, good sportsmanship and disciplined fun. We want our DDC dancers to have a great time learning to dance in a positive, supportive and loving atmosphere. However, we want them to feel some of the rewards for their hard work and effort. Although winning the best scores is not our ultimate goal we do want the team to be competitive with the other performers. In order to be competitive, the DDC must be a disciplined and elite team working to meet higher standards.
Requirements
Dancer should have at least one current year of ballet, tap and jazz at Dance Dynamics
(Exceptions made by the director for students new to the area or who attend summer intensives)1 Ballet class each week
1 Jazz class each week
1 Tap class each week
1 Mandatory technique class each week
ALL Mandatory rehearsals set prior to the school year
-We will have a monthly group rehearsal which will be scheduled prior to the beginning of the year.
-We will have several specific choreography rehearsals scheduled prior to the beginning of the year.-We may have a guest choreographer for one or more of our dances. In order to participate in that dance, you will have to attend the choreography session in its entirety.ALL Mandatory competitions and conventions set prior to the school year
ALL Mandatory dress rehearsals and recitals
Please note that scheduling for company classes may begin as early as 4:30pm and will likely involve at least 2 days of the week for the younger dancers and more as they grow older.
Consequences
Dancers are only allowed to miss 3 unexcused days of class during a semester. This does not include sickness with a note from a doctor or, if a minor illness, from a parent. It also does not include mandatory school functions. A doctor’s note is required the week of competition. An unexcused day means that a dancer can miss one entire day of all of their classes. For example, if a student has ballet and tap on a Thursday and misses a Thursday, they will have 1 unexcused absence. When he./she misses their third class, he/she will receive a notice of probation in their file. The student must attend a make-up class for each of the subjects missed and receive a signature on their probation form. When the form is returned to the teacher of DDC class(es), the teacher will still have the option of continuing probation until the student knows the choreography.
Teachers take attendance at the beginning of each class. Tardies of more than 10 minutes constitute an absence.
All dancers are required to attend classes the week before a competition. If a dancer is sick they will need a note from a doctor to allow their absence. If a dancer misses class the week prior to a competition for any other reason, the dancer will not be allowed to compete the dances that they missed . The formations will be changed and the absentee will be removed from that specific dance for the competition. Exceptions will be made by the director only.
If a dancer misses any of the preset rehearsal times without permission, the dancer will automatically be removed permanently from the dance they missed. Parents and dancers must understand that the DDC is a strict commitment and the dancer will have the option of moving to a regular class schedule but not necessarily performing in the recital (because of costume ordering). The instructor of the rehearsal and the director of the DDC will have complete and indisputable discrepancy in determining exceptions which include but are not limited to illness (with an official doctor’s note) and family emergency.
Audition Process
Dancers must submit the online audition form to reserve a spot in an audition. The teachers/judges will observe these students during the audition class. For parents who are unsure whether their child is ready for an audition, the parent may request a meeting with the director so that the teachers can make a recommendation to the parent. Especially with young children, we try to advise a parent if we feel the student needs more time before auditioning. We do not want to disappoint a young dancer by allowing them to audition when there may not be an appropriate age group or level available for them. However, the best way for us to see whether a dancer is ready to join the DDC is for them to attend the audition classes with the other dancers.
What should the dancer wear?
Dancers must wear a leotard and tights and bring all of their dance shoes. They do not need to have anything pre-prepared. Dancers will participate in a ballet class, a jazz class, a lyrical class and a tap class. They will show off their technique, learning abilities and their charismatic personality.
What are we looking for?
Dancers with training in ballet, tap and jazz as well as other subjects. Dancers who perform with energy and excitement. Dancers who love to dance and can’t hide the passion. Dancers who are disciplined enough to understand that real dancers want to learn and want to advance and know that this will require some normal muscle pain and definite exhaustion. Dancers who show their teachers during every class how excited they are to learn. Dancers who prove to their teachers that they do practice at home because they return to class the next week with challenging steps fully accomplished and the choreography memorized.
What are we not looking for?
Parents who want their children to be dancers even though the feeling is not mutual.
Dancers who come to class each week but do not smile or act enthused. Dancers who attend class but show no energy or excitement. Dancers who have to be continually reminded to pay attention to the teacher and not daydream. Dancers who love to dance but do not understand the discipline that it takes to remember choreography. **Please note that dance is a great form of exercise for all children and there are many children and teens who absolutely love to dance. However, being a part of a competitive team is not for everyone. The discipline, time and competitive nature of dancing talent does not allow for every single child to be a part of this particular team.
Audition results
Audition results will be posted on the website by auditionee number and final results will be mailed to all auditionees.
What is a convention or competition?
DDC dancers attend dance conventions to take master classes from instructors from all over the world. These conventions consist of one or two days of classes that usually start at 8am and last until approximately 3pm. It is an exhausting but wonderful way for dancers to learn different styles of choreography and see all of the different types of dancers. Dancers advance so much quicker by allowing themselves to leave their safe atmosphere and learn challenging new choreography from different instructors. Our dancers are required to take every convention class. They are only excused from class by an instructor. We take role during each convention class. If someone misses class or leaves early without permission, they will be removed from the DDC permanently.
A dance competition is much like a very long recital. Competitions can last from 5 hours to 3 days. We receive the competition schedule the week prior to the competition. The dances are adjudicated by three of the teachers from the convention. The judges critique technique, personality, costuming, music choices, choreography, age appropriateness, and overall impression. Some competitions give every dance an award based on their score. Other competitions only give awards to the top 3 or 5 from a category. (So it’s possible to go home with no awards at all.) The teachers receive score sheets and/or tapes so that we can discuss the performance with the dancers and try to improve for the next time.
Many of you were shocked by some of the choreography we witnessed at the competitions this year. I want to make everyone aware that we will see risque choreography and age inappropriate choreography and costuming when we attend these competitions. There is no way around that. However, I assure you that the staff of Dance Dynamics strives to teach our dancers age appropriate choreography in respectful costumes. We can be fun, entertaining and competitive while not compromising to the epidemic we witnessed this year.
What fees will I need to plan for as part of the DDC?
The tuition plan remains the same. The amount of tuition is based on the amount of time a family spends in class. Please remember that an extra two classes are required.
The cost of the costumes remains the same. We try to spend only $70 on each of our company costumes. However, if the costume requires more or less money, we will charge you or credit you for the difference.
The price of each convention ranges from $100 for a one day convention to $200 for a two day convention. The competition costs approximately $26 per dance competed.
The DDC fee will be $50 per family per year. This fee covers the cost of the incidentals and allows Dance Dynamics to pay its instructors for at least some of the monthly rehearsal time.
If we invite a guest choreographer to come in either to teach master classes or to choreograph a competition piece, the price may range from $50-$200 but we will make you aware of this before we begin.
Do we allow non-competing dancers?
We will no longer allow non-competing dancers in most of our classes. Exceptions will be made by the teacher of the class only and only when there is no comparable class offered by Dance Dynamics. Scheduling issues are not a legitimate reason. Non-competing dancers will be required to audition with everyone else. Non-competing dancers will be required to abide by all of the same requirements and rehearsal demands. Non-competing dancers will have the same consequences.
The DDC
The company is a committed and elite group of dancers who understand that dedication and hard work are important. The teachers plan to keep the same fun and supportive atmosphere in the classroom, but the dancers are just as responsible for the team as the teachers. The rules WILL BE ENFORCED. Although it seems harsh, this is what it takes to be a truly competitive team.
We encourage you and your child to discuss all of these requirements and think very hard about whether you can handle being on this team. If you are not ready to make this commitment without reservation, then we encourage you to choose not to audition.
As with many elite sports teams, our dancers will have to maintain their place in the company. The individual teams may change. Dancers may advance while others are held back, but it will always be to most benefit that individual dancer. We would like for the teams to stay together because they will grow to know each other and feel each other’s movements. However, if a student is not working and developing as fast as their teammates, they may be kept at the lower level.
After you and your child and your family discuss whether you are interested and committed to being a part of this team, please feel free to call and make an appointment with the Ms. Traci. We cannot discuss the team in between classes, but we will make an appointment to meet you when it is convenient and conducive to talking. We do like to meet with interested families before the audition to make sure you are aware of the committments and that it is an audition where dancers may be asked to wait until next year to audition again.
