WHAT IS COMPETITIVE DANCE?

Competition class is different from the other combination classes at The Ballet Studio. Dancers not only train at the barre, but they further develope their flexibility and technique through extensive stretching and progressions across the floor. The competitive dancer is ready to take dance to the next level, which is showcasing her/his talent at Regional competitions. Our classes consist of serious dancers who have the dedication to attend class regularly. Although The Ballet Studio is a recreational school, a number of our competition dancers have been chosen to dance in professional groups on the east coast.

OUR COMPETITION STAFF

Miss Sherri Di Stefano - Competition Director, instructor, and choreographer for level 1, 2 and 3 dancers.

Miss Shelly Danese - Competition Assistant Director, instructor, and choreographer for level 1 and 2 dancers.

Miss Melissa De Lorenzo - Instructor/Choreographer for students performing a solo, duet, or trio at a competition.

Miss Erika L. - Choreographer and instructor for students performing a solo, duet, or trio at a competition.

Miss Cara Jorgensen - Choreographer and instructor for students performing solos, and level 3 dancers.

Miss Amanda Pienciak - Choreographer and instructor for students performing solos, duets, trios, and small group jazz dances.

Miss Alyssa Rogers - Choreographer and instructor for students performing solo, and level 3 dancers.

*Professional dance instructors will be guest teaching throughout the dance year. We ask that our peewee competition students attend at least five hours of ballet classes on Sundays and that our junior and senior competition students attend at least one, four hour Master Guest Teacher Workshop, that is held at the studio. We will have dates and sign ups at the beginning of the dance season for all of our workshops.

3 PILLARS OF OUR COMPETITIVE PROGRAM

I. Technique: Body lines/placement, basics, control

II. Stage Presence: Expression/smile, eye contact, showmanship, and confidence

III. Performance: Timing to music, transitions, precision

THREE AGE GROUPS OF COMPETITIVE DANCE

PEE WEES (grades 3 to 5)

JUNIORS (grades 6 to 8)

SENIORS (grades 9 to 12)

THREE LEVELS OF COMPETITIVE DANCE

LEVEL 1 - This is for the recreational dancer who takes 2 dance classes weekly (which includes competition class). She/he wants to have fun, but also experience competition program. Dancers at this level will progress to level 2 based on teacher recommendation.

LEVEL 2 - This is for the competitive dancer who takes 2 or MORE dance classes weekly. The dancer is characterized by having strength in technique, stage presence and dance skills.

LEVEL 3 - This is for the competitive dancer who expresses the desire to attend more weekly classes (at least 4) and plans to focus primarily on dance as his/her extra-curricular activity. This dancer has also been a part of the The Ballet Studio competition program for a minimum of THREE years. Our staff encourages all level three dancers to participate in POINTE CLASS and BALLET CLASS FOR THE SERIOUS DANCER each week.

All level 3 first year students will begin in the large group, and then move into a small group consisting of 5 to 9 dancers based on the amount of openings in each small group and at the discretion of the instructor.

*A Calendar will be given out by the competition staff the first week of classes with dates and times for rescheduled classes due to cancellations on Easter, Mother's Day, Memorial Day weekend, the day after the recital, Father's Day, and all 3 competition weekends,

SOLOS, DUETS, TRIOS and SMALL GROUP DANCES

Students in level TWO and level THREE may perform a solo, duet, trio or small group dance in one, two or all three of the competitions. These dances will be performed only during competitions, not in the recital. Please see Miss Sherri or Miss Shelly for more information. These dances will be taught by Miss Erika, Miss Melissa, Miss Cara, Miss Amanda, and Miss Alyssa. The cost of each one hour session is $39.00 for a solo dancer, $20.00 for each duet dancer, $15.00 for each trio dancer, and $10.00 for each small group dancer. Payment is due PER session at the time of each session. Each dancer will have a total of 5 sessions. Schedules will be made by each instructor after sign ups are complete. Instructors will contact their dancers the first week in August to schedule ALL 5 SESSIONS.

NATIONAL INFORMATION

The Ballet Studio, if invited, may enter The National Competition for one of the three competitions in which we have competed. A decision to go to Nationals will be made by the competition staff after the regional competitions are completed. Participation in the National competition is not mandatory. Some dancers, due to prior commitments, may be unable to attend.

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AttenDANCE (it even has dance in it) Policy for ALL competition dancers...

Our competition staff will give this information to the students at the start of each new season

*Dancers will be contacted by someone from the competition staff after two UNEXCUSED classes are missed to let them know that they may only miss one more class before being taken out of the first competition. An UNEXCUSED absence is one OTHER than an illness,injury,or an important family function.

ATTIRE and DANCE SHOES

Dancers are to wear any color dance attire to class each week. Dancers may wear Suntan or black tights. Please do not wear sweatshirts, sweatpants, or baggy t-shirts. PLEASE DO NOT WEAR SOCKS IN PLACE OF DANCE SHOES! Instructors will let students know in September which shoes should be worn on a weekly to each class. If a specific dance requires another type of shoe for the competitions or recital, dancers will be instructed by mid October.

SPRING COMPETITION INFORMATION

All regional competitions are held in the spring. Please be advised that the directors of each event schedule the ENTIRE weekend for the competition. You will find out the day/days and times you will be performing one week prior to the event. Dancers must be available at any time once the schedule is set. Each organization charges a fee per dancer (per dance) to attend. All family members and friends may attend the competitions for no extra charge. All fees are non-refundable, and MUST be handed in BY THE DUE DATE. The tentative spring schedule will be given out as soon as it is received. All competition fees will be due by a specific date by February 1st as indicated by the competition staff. . Please do not include the fees with your regular dance tuition. All levels will compete in THREE competitions. All Level 2 and 3 dancers will do ALL of their dances in all THREE competitions. All Level 1 dancers will compete in all THREE competitions in the production number only. Level 1 dancers will perform the production number AND their other competition dance, which is learned during the season, in both recitals. This allows the Level 1 dancer to transition into the competition program gradually. There will be practices in March and April at the Community Center in Bordentown. A schedule wil be given out as the dates get closer.

COMPETITION TUITION & FEES . . .

FEES PERTAINING TO THE 2011/2012 COMPETITION DANCE SEASON

JUNIORS and SENIORS (levels 1 and 2) $49.50/month - $99.00/payment

LEVEL 3 (one hour each Sunday) $42.50/month - $85.00/payment for Sundays.

LEVEL 3 (two hours each Sunday) $82.50/month $165.00/payment for Sundays.

*All level 3 students attending two hours of LEVEL 3 on Sunday may pay $42.50 for Wednesday evenings/$85.00 per payment, which is a $14.00 savings per payment.

Mandatory Guest Teacher Workshops and Ballet Classes - Our junior and senior dancers may attend either of the two, 4 hour workshops (please see calendar on the competition updates page), a total cost of $60.00/per each four hour workshop. Junior or senior dancers who cannot attend either of the workshops will need to attend FIVE Sunday ballet classes, 4:30 to 5:30, for the serious dancer, in place of the 4 hour workshop. Our pee wee dancers may attend any FIVE ballet classes on Sunday, 4:30 to 5:30. The fee for the FIVE classes is a total of $60.00. The workshops and ballet classes are important for our competition dancers, helping to strengthen their technique, along with attending regularly scheduled weekly classes. The fees for the workshops and classes are due by September 28 and are non-refundable. The schedule and registration forms for the workshops will be given out by Miss Sherri at the first class in September.

All students will be contacted via email throughout the season by our competition staff with updates about competition dates and locations.

Competition workshop information for the summer of 2012 is posted on the summer dance page and the studio calendar.

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A REMINDER TO ALL OF OUR AWESOME DANCERS...

LOVE WHAT YOU DO! DO WHAT YOU LOVE!

Please visit our Competition Updates and Reminder page for important dates, information, and competition awards.