•The Dance Dynamics Performing Arts Team is a group of dancers ages 5 & up who train several hours a week in preparation for performance and competition season. It is an encouraging, supportive environment for dancers looking to take their training to the next level with the Dance Dynamics performing arts team and have more opportunity for performances outside of our Recitals.

2023-2024 PERFORMING ARTS RULES AND REGULATIONS: .

•AUDITIONS: Sunday, June 4th 1:00-3 pm June 5th will be call-backs from 1-3 pm if needed. Team Audition workshops May 22-25 see registration for Summer 2023 to register for the appropriate workshop.

Each member of the Performing Arts team will be selected by auditioning. Dancers will be evaluated on their technique, style, showmanship, and discipline. The audition fee is $50.00, if unable to attend Audition workshops in May. This fee must be paid by the audition date. You must attend the audition to be considered for one of the performing arts team  leads in production. I you are only going to dance in production and desire to compete no other numbers then you only need to attend, workshop/boot camp. If you have any conflicts or questions, please let Miss Becky know ASAP. if you have a conflict with the audition date please talk to Becky. Team levels, and the number and style of routines given to each team level will be determined at the end of the summer sessions. Levels are determined based on age, skill level, and number of dancers auditioning and participating in intensives and skill building classes over the summer. This workshop/boot camp takes the place of end of summer boot camps and Elite Auditions. If you wish to join our competition team and missed auditions please contact Becky at 317-914-3402.  We do not cut we place students based on age and skill level. 

•FALL CLASS REQUIREMENTS (Classes Begin Monday, August 14th)

Below are the class requirements broken down by each team level. Levels are subject to change after auditions and summer classes. Taking more than the required number of classes is strongly encouraged and will help dancers progress much faster. (Minis are exception)

PAT PRODUCTION: All team members in all levels will learn a routine to perform together in their team class. as this class focuses solely on the choreography and rehearsal of the routine.

•MINI TEAM (Must be at least 5 years old. This group may have 1-3 routines.)

Mini PAT Block (this is where you will practice the Mini team routines and technique production)

Ballet or barre class (a teacher will place you in the appropriate level)

One additional class in the style of your choosing jazz, lyrical, etc.. Those who compete in tap Need to take a tap class (we will place you in the correct levels).

1 time per month you will rehearse combined team production number Sept- April. One Sunday per month 1-3PM

Calendar will be distributed in August. These Sundays are mandatory.

•JUNIOR TEAM (Selected based on skill level. This group may have 2-4 routines.)

Junior PAT Block (this is where you will practice the Junior team routines you are assigned & PAT Production)

Ballet or barre (a teacher will place you in the appropriate level)

Jazz or Lyrical (a teacher will place you in the appropriate level)

One additional class in the style of your choosing hip hop, Acro, musical theater, poms etc.

Those who compete in tap need to be enrolled in a tap class.

1 time per month you will have combined team production Sept-April on Sunday 1-3PM Calendar will be distributed in August. These are mandatory.

•SENIOR TEAM (Selected based on skill level. This group may have 2-4 routines.)

Senior PAT Block (this is where you will practice the Senior team routines) 2023-24 Sr. Team could have a weekly Sunday element to Sr. Block

Senior PAT Technique (if you cannot attend this class, you may attend Jr. technique to avoid an unexcused absence)

Ballet or Barre (you will place you in the appropriate level) This class may be taken online (more info to be given)

2 additional classes in the style of your choosing (Jazz and Lyrical recommended), hip hop, musical theater are also options.

Those who compete in tap need to be enrolled in a tap class.

1 time per month PAT SR Class will be adjusted to accommodate Combined Team Mandatory Rehearsal. This adjustment will be on calendars.

•CHOREOGRAPHY CAMPS/Workshop

Performing Arts Team members are required to participate in weekend camps/or week or day camps at the studio in which they will learn most of their choreography for competition routines season. The dates for this camp are TBD but it is be held at the end of July and in the month of August. Attendance at the camp is mandatory for all team members. Failure to attend will result in removal from the routine that choreography was missed. You will also be expected to attend the AYA dance workshop in Chicago Date to be announced. 

•ABSENCES

Repeated absences by the same dancers make it very difficult for teachers to set choreography on the team. It is also unfair for the students who do attend class regularly. A Performing Arts dancer will be allowed to be absent 5 times per year beginning in the fall in PAT Block and PAT Production. After the fifth absence, dancers will be fined $5 for each additional absence. All fines are put into the competition Team fund, which is used for incidental expenses for the group, Dancer of the month gift cards, etc. at the SOLE discretion of the director. We do understand that school comes before dance, and that sometimes dancers get sick or injured. Providing school scheduled activity calendars or written notifications and doctor’s notes is necessary if a dancer is to receive an excused absence. (Schedules need to be provided for all Fall sports prior to the schedule in July) Dancers who are injured should still come to class and observe to avoid getting an absence, but please do not come to class if you are not feeling well.

Dancer of the Week: Those selected as “Dancer of the Week” will earn one excused absence in a Performing Arts class. More information about how a dancer is chosen for Dancer of the Week can be found on the last page of this handbook.

***Note: sports schedules and practices especially for Jr. High and High school activities while maybe not posted on school website they are available, contact your coaches, or athletic director, etc. or appropriate person in charge. They do have them.

•COMPETITION SEASON

Performing Arts dancers will be required to do a minimum of 2-3 regional competitions a year between the months of February and May. Please keep your schedules open during that time frame. We will try to have a set schedule by Sept.1, 2023 probably sooner. Competition dates and locations are subject to change for several reasons, so please be prepared to adjust to a new schedule if necessary. Competitions will be selected in the fall, and we are willing to work around school related scheduling conflicts if we are notified before competitions are chosen. Vacations planned during competition season will not be considered as scheduling conflicts, but don’t worry; we do not plan competitions during Spring Break. Most if not all the competitions will be out of town, but we do not normally travel more than an hour away. Additional rehearsals may be called as the competitions approach, and all these rehearsals are mandatory. It is also mandatory that dancers attend all their PAT classes the week prior to a competition (PAT Block, Production, and Technique). Missing PAT classes the week prior to a competition and/or any mandatory rehearsals called prior to a competition will result in not be allowed to participate in the next competition or performance.

•COMMUNITY PERFORMANCES

The Dance Dynamics Performing Arts Team is including some of the most advanced dancers in the studio, so we want them to represent us whenever we are invited to perform at community events. Performing Arts dancers must be available for community performances throughout the year, in addition to the studio’s Spring Recital. We will notify you of upcoming performances/appearances as early as possible so you can plan. 

•EXPENSES AND FEES

Each dancer’s family is responsible for his or her expenses for the year, including tuition, team wear, competition entry fees, workshop fees, costumes, as well as travel, lodging, and food expenses. Entry fees vary depending on the competition, but they are usually between $65-75 per person for each group routine. There is also a studio fee of $10 per dancer per competition to cover the time and expenses of the teachers traveling with the team (no more than $30.00 for families with more than one dancer on the team). Because it is our goal to give you plenty of time to prepare for upcoming expenses. We will send a list of these fees via email by August 31st with due dates listed. However, a late fee of $20.00 per group will be added if paid past the due date. A dancer will not be allowed to compete if accounts are not paid in full 30 days prior to competition date there are no refunds for competition fees. If a solo or duet fee is not paid by the due date, they will be dropped from the competition.

SAMPLE TIMELINE OF EXPENSES: (this is a rough estimation and subject to change)

August:  PA Team wear will be ordered (There will be required team wear to be worn to PAT Block classes)

Sept:  Workshop fee due

October/November: PAT Costumes will be ordered. workshop in Chicago possibly this month

December. 1st. competition entry fees due

December 2nd Lafayette, Christmas Parade tentative date

January: PAT Accessories, tights etc., Entry Fees for 2nd Competition (Most people need to prepare in advance for January as there are several things that are due right after Christmas).

February: Entry fees for 3rd Competition

March: Recital fee, tickets, t-shirts, program ads,

April: Recital Pictures, Opening Number

May: All outstanding payments due prior to recital.

•SOLOS, DUETS, TRIOS. Solo fees are $700.00 for solo choreography and rehearsals as stated below. Duet/trios are $400.00 and rehearse Sept-March one time per week provide all members are present. If make up is required, each member will pay instructor directly at the rate of $15.00 per ½ hour per dancer. (all dancers must be at makeup) dancers will be charged if instructor arrives and students are a no show, the amount will be charged to dancers parent account at that time.

Junior and Senior Team members who have completed 1 full year on the Performing Arts Team are eligible to compete a solo, duet, or trio, as long as they also meet the following requirements: (if you have previously performed a solo with us or our new to our program, please contact Becky for possible exception to these requirements for this year only. )No 1st year students in dance will be accepted for solos.

• Hours of Class Per Week: Juniors 3 hours, Seniors 5 hours

• Must be cast in at least 2 PA group routines (one can be Production)

• Soloists must compete at least one duet or trio before becoming eligible for a solo. (Or previously competed a solo)

• Due to limited choreographer availability and high routine demand, it may not be possible to compete both a solo and a duet or trio.

Choreographers will be assigned based on style of dance and teacher availability. Our staff members have different and limited availability and will put a cap on how many routines they will take on. Solo Dancers will be scheduled for choreography workshops with instructor and then will rehearse with the choreographer 2- ½ hour rehearsals times per month from Sept – March. Soloist will have rehearsal the week before the competition for final polishing. If additional rehearsals are needed you may schedule this with the choreographer and will pay them directly. Private lessons are $25.per ½ hour.

NOTE: Competition Entry fees for solos are typically between $130-$180, and for duet/trios usually $75-$95 per dancer. Music and style of dance will be chosen by the student and the choreographer, but the routine must fit within our recital theme. At competitions, these routines often get scheduled on Friday and Sunday evenings which can mean an extra day of travel expenses, so please understand that your choreographer may not be able to be there when you compete.

. You will save money on both private lessons and entry fees by competing a duet/trio instead of a solo.

•COMMUNICATION

E-MAIL IS OUR PREFERRED METHOD OF COMMUNICATION. If you receive an e-mail from us and have a question, we ask that you respond to the e-mail, and we will get back with you as quickly as possible. If you message us on Facebook, Instagram, or text our personal phones we may not get back to you. Just because you have our personal phone numbers does not mean you need to use them, you may however text 317-914-3402, and if you choose to text, please understand that we will likely respond to you via e-mail. We will send out all information regarding the Dance Dynamics Performing Arts Teams via e-mail. Check your email daily to keep up with the latest studio news. We work extremely hard to put together handouts and send them out in various formats, and we would really appreciate it if you would take the time to read them thoroughly and add any deadlines to your calendar.

•CONDUCT

Performing Arts dancers are representatives of the studio both inside and outside of class and are expected to conduct themselves as role models. As leaders of the studio, we expect them to always comply with the dress code. They should set the tone for how others conduct themselves in class, and in the dancer hall and waiting area. Performing Arts dancers are expected to be respectful of each other at the studio, and anywhere else they interact with their teammates. Disrespect to our staff members or other dancers in the studio will not be tolerated. Failure to comply with the rules will result in consequences including dismissal from the team.

Beginning in Fall 2023: Dancer of the Week: This is something we do to reward dancers on the team who have worked hard in class, followed the rules, and set a good example for others. We feature these students on our social media pages and reward them with a free absence in a Performing Arts class (the free absence cannot be used to miss class the week of a competition or performance or to miss combined rehearsal unless previous arrangements are made with director). To be considered for Dancer of the Week, a dancer must have attended all of the classes in which they are enrolled during the current week. They must also comply with the studio’s dress code and set a good example for others during class and out of class. Journal must be up to date.  Dancers who do not meet these requirements will not be considered for Dancer of the Week (There can be more than one dancer of the week). All dancers of the week will be placed in the monthly drawing for Dancer of the Month gift card drawing. (There will be only one dancer of the month).

•DANCER HALL

The dancer Hall is a space where the dancers can hang out between classes, do homework, and have a quick snack to keep their energy up. However, we do expect the dancers to clean up after themselves and take pride in the appearance of the studio. Performing Arts Dancers will be given assigned a cubby space in the hallway or staff lounge so they can keep their dance shoes and accessories at the studio. Please purchase them a box to keep their belongings in. We do not allow them to keep food in their cubbies, and we expect them to keep their area neat and tidy. If they cannot follow these rules, they will no longer be allowed to have a cubby at the studio. It is an honor to be a member of the Performing Arts Team. We want you to have a great year filled with hard work, fun, and accomplishments!