The Performing Arts Team is a group of dancers age 7 & up who train several days 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 Allegro Family and have more opportunity for performances outside of our Recitals.
2022-2023 PERFORMING ARTS RULES AND REGULATIONS:
The Performing Arts Team is a group of dancers age 7 & up who train several days 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 Allegro Family and have more opportunity for performances outside of our Recitals.
AUDITIONS: Sunday, June 5th at 1:00 pm
Each member of the Performing Arts team will be selected by auditioning. Dancers will be evaluated and scored by qualified judges on their technique, style, showmanship, and discipline. The audition fee is $25.00, and this fee must be paid by the audition date. You must attend the audition in order to be considered for the team. Please let Miss Lesley know ASAP if you have a conflict with the audition date so we can schedule a second one if needed. If selected, dancers will receive a list of classes they need to take over the summer with their audition results packet. Team levels, and the number and style of routines given to each team level will be determined at the end of the summer session. Levels are determined based on age, skill level, and number of dancers auditioning.
SUMMER CLASS REQUIREMENTS
Dancers selected for the Performing Arts Team are required to be enrolled in both summer sessions. We realize you may have to be absent some due to travel, but please try to attend class as much as possible. All team members must be enrolled in Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, and Hip Hop. If you would like to be considered for a tap group, you must also be enrolled in tap. Dancers in level III and up must also take Strength & Flex.
FALL CLASS REQUIREMENTS (Classes Begin Monday, August 8th)
Below are the class requirements broken down by each team level. Levels are subject to change after auditions. Taking more than the required number of classes is strongly encouraged and will help dancers progress much faster.
PA PRODUCTION: All team members in all levels will learn a routine together in this class. It is not required that you participate in this class, but it is rare that someone chooses to opt out. Production cannot be counted as one of your additional classes, as this class focuses solely on the choreography and rehearsal of the routine.
MINI TEAM (Must be at least 7 years old. This group will have 1-3 routines.)
Mini PA Block (this is where you will practice the Mini team routines)
Ballet (a teacher will place you in the appropriate level)
Jazz or Lyrical, and one additional class in the style of your choosing. Those who compete in tap must take a tap class(we will place you in the correct levels).
JUNIOR TEAM (Selected based on skill level. This group will have 2-4 routines.)
Junior PA Block (this is where you will practice the Junior team routines) PA Technique
Ballet (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.
Those who compete in tap must be enrolled in a tap class.
SENIOR TEAM (Selected based on skill level. This group will have 2-4 routines.)
Senior PA Block (this is where you will practice the Senior team routines)
Senior PA Technique
Ballet (a teacher will place you in the appropriate level)
Three additional classes in the style of your choosing (Jazz and Lyrical are required, Pointe is excluded) Those who compete in tap must be enrolled in a tap class.
CHOREOGRAPHY CAMP
Performing Arts Team members are required to participate in weekend camps at the studio in which they will learn most of their choreography for competition season.The dates for this camp are TBD but it is typically held in the month of September. Attendance at the camp is mandatory for all team members. Failure to attend will result in removal from the team.
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 to be dragged down by unmotivated team members or those who participate in too many activities. A Performing Arts dancer is allowed to be absent 5 times per year beginning in the fall in PA Block and PA Production. After the fifth absence, dancers will be fined $30.00 for each additional absence. All fines are put into the competition fund which is used for incidental expenses for the group at the discretion of the director. Parents, please remember that you have made a commitment to this team. You are paying for these classes whether your dancer attends them or not, and we encourage you to make the most of your dance tuition by having your child at dance whenever possible.
We do understand that school comes before dance, and that sometimes dancers get sick or injured. Providing school permission slips and doctor’s notes is necessary if a dancer is to receive an excused absence. 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, or if you are quarantined due to Covid.
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.
COMPETITION SEASON
Performing Arts dancers will be required to do a minimum of 3 regional competitions a year between the months of February and May. Please keep your schedules open during that time frame. Competition dates and locations are subject to change for a number of 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 as long as 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 Florence City Spring Break. Most if not all of the competitions will be out of town, but we do not normally travel more than a couple of hours away. Additional rehearsals will be called as the competitions approach, and all of these rehearsals are mandatory. It is also mandatory that dancers attend all of their PA classes the week prior to a competition (PA Block, Production, and Technique). Missing PA classes the week prior to a competition and/or any mandatory rehearsals called prior to a competition will result in a $30.00 fine, and you will not be allowed to participate in the next competition or performance.
WORKSHOPS
We sometimes give you opportunities to train with professional teachers and performers at workshops which will allow you a better understanding of what it takes to be a professional dancer. Workshops are meant to expose dancers to different styles of dance and choreography and challenge them to think outside the box. Being exposed to different teaching styles helps dancers better understand their technique. Attendance at the designated workshop is mandatory, failure to attend will result in a $30 fine.
COMMUNITY PERFORMANCES
The Performing Arts Team is comprised 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 Christmas and Spring Recitals. We will notify you of upcoming performances/appearances as early as possible so you can plan ahead.
Failure to attend community performances will result in a $30.00 fine.
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 $55-$65 per person for a group routine. There is also a studio fee of $60 per competition to cover the time and expenses of the teachers travelling with the team ($85 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, bills will go out 3-4 weeks prior to the payment deadline. However, a late fee of $10.00 will be added each week past the due date. A dancer will not be allowed to compete if accounts are not paid in full by the competition date.
SAMPLE TIMELINE OF EXPENSES: (this is a rough estimation and subject to change)
September: PA Team wear will be ordered
October/November: PA Costumes will be ordered
January: Recital costumes, PA Accessories, Entry Fees for 1st 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 2nd Competition
March: Entry fees for 3rd Competition
April: Recital Pictures, Opening Number
May: Recital fee, tickets, t-shirts, program ads, etc. All outstanding payments due.
SOLOS, DUETS, TRIOS
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:
- Hours of Class Per Week: Juniors 7 hours, Seniors 8 hours
- Must be cast in at least 3 PA group routines (other than Production)
- Soloists must compete at least one duet or trio before becoming eligible for 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. Each teacher has their own pricing breakdown for private choreography so your cost will depend on which teacher you are working with. Payment for private lessons should be made directly to that teacher via Venmo. Entry fees for solos are typically between $130-$150, and for duet/trios usually $65-$85 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.
In this case, you will be responsible for bringing a backup for your music and checking yourself in backstage. 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. Please do not message us on Facebook, Instagram, or text our personal phones. Just because you have our personal phone numbers does not mean you need to use them, and if you choose to do so please understand that we will likely respond to you via e-mail. We will send out all information regarding the Performing Arts Team via e-mail, and we will also put a copy of the information in the team mailboxes at the studio. 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 comply with the dress code at all times. They should set the tone for how others conduct themselves in class, and also in the dancer lounge. 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 aforementioned rules will result in consequences up to dismissal from the team.
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). In order 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. Dancers who do not meet these requirements will not be considered for Dancer of the Week.
DANCER LOUNGE
The dancer lounge is a space where the Performing Arts Team 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. Each PA dancer will be required to complete a cleaning chart once per week. Dancers will lose access to the dancer lounge and must be picked up between classes if they cannot keep the space neat and tidy.
Performing Arts Dancers will be given assigned shelf space in the hallway or dancer lounge so they can keep their dance shoes and accessories at the studio. Please purchase them a box or cubby 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 chosen as a member of the Performing Arts Team. We want you to have a great year filled with hard work, fun, and accomplishment!
2022 – 2023 PERFORMING ARTS DANCER/PARENT CONTRACT
