Parent & Student Information:

Dear Parents and Students,

Auditioning for company is a very important decision for both the student and the parent. I’d like to try to answer your questions as well as give you some insight as to what to expect.

Being apart of the dance company is a very big commitment. Please understand it is not only a commitment from the performer, but also the parent. Company kids are required to take the listed classes for their level. All of the classes are very important to the growth of the dancer. Some dancers will need extra training in certain areas. This will be discussed after your audition. All Company dancers will be spending at least 3 to 4 days a week at the dance studio. Missing classes or rehearsals is NOT an option. There is a maximum of three excused absences in each class. If a student has more than three absences in any class they will be placed on probation and may be prohibited from competition. The studio was very lax on this rule last year, we will not make this mistake next year. As rules will be strictly enforced.

Please understand company members are pushed at a faster pace than recreational students. Some students may feel overwhelmed in the beginning. This is very normal. As a company parent it is your responsibility to stand behind your child’s decision to join company.

Placement of classes is at the sole discretion of the instructors. We place students where they need to be for their best development, not to be with their friends. Every student has his/her strong points whether it is jazz, ballet or tap, Please understand we are the professionals and will give great attention to your child’s placement. He/She may not be in all the same classes as his/her friends. If this is a problem, please consider recreational classes.

Competitions are held throughout the year in Florida. Our company chooses to start our season in January and continue through the summer. We will attend at least one, possibly two away competitions with convention workshops and between two and four home competitions. There may be a summer competition. For example, this past summer we went to New York City. Away competitions entail hotel fees, competition fees, travel and food, etc. The company is more than encouraged to do fundraisers to help with these costs, to be headed by the parents, not the instructors. All competition and workshop dates will be handed out as soon as they become available to us (usually by the end of September). Average fees for competitions are as follows: solo’s $75-$95 each, duet/trios $35-50 each person, group $25-45 per person. Workshops can range in price from $195 and up, depending on workshop and age. These prices are approximately what we spent this year.

Costumes for company members are ordered much earlier than that of recreational students, as we need them in January. Costume deposits for competition routines will be due at the end of September and balances will be due in October. Not every company class will do a competition routine. For routines that will be for the recital only costume deposits will be due in October, balances paid in January. All costumes are the sole responsibility of the performer. Please note that if a costume is lost or damaged there is no replacement!! Company members must be extremely organized and responsible. All company dancers will need a make up kit that satisfies the requirements. We will issue a copy of the make-up list. A class will be given on the correct way to apply the make-up, which all must attend.

We have organized a new way of communicating with Company parents! Each family will have a mail slot which will need to be checked every time the student comes to the studio. All hard copies of up coming events will be placed in the mail slots. We will also send e-mails of upcoming events, reminders, etc.

A good work ethic and team spirit is imperative. We will not tolerate arguments, or poor attitudes toward teachers or fellow students or parents.