Competition Team

CONTRACT for Competition Team Dancers and their Guardians Welcome to the competitive dance experience at St Lucie Dance Theatre! For thedancer who loves to perform, this program provides an opportunity to learn, advance, showcase, and compete. Team activities include competing in dance competitions, performing in the St Lucie Dance Theatre annual recital at a company level, and performing at other venues during the year, as well as team bonding activities, team rehearsals, etc.Competition team requires a higher level of commitment for both the dancer and the parents than the average dance class. This packet has been put together to outline what is expected of the competitive dancer and their families.The following are policies necessary for a smooth and productive year. It is of the utmost importance that each dancer and guardian read and understand the agreement before making a decision to participate on the St Lucie Dance Theatre Competition Team. Please make all family members aware of our policies to avoid conflicts during the year. This includes anyone who may drive the dancer to and from practices/performances, pay for tuition/fees, or attend performances/ events. Once you make the decision to participate, you will be expected to abide by the following rules for the remainder of the 2019-2020 Competition Season.
                                         

1. FULL YEAR COMMITMENT

Dance team members are committed to a full dance season when they sign on to be a competition team member. Quitting mid-year is detrimental to everyone on the team, so please consider this carefully before committing to the program. A tentative schedule of events is included. Each student will have to audition for each different dance routine. NOT ALL STUDENTS WILL BE IN EVERY ROUTINE:

 2. ATTENDANCE

The biggest issue for team members is attendance. We understand that things do happen – a dancer gets hurt, there is a family emergency, etc. but a family emergency is not a birthday party, an outing to the zoo, or another family member’s sporting or other event. If you are not ata team practice, the whole team suffers. If you miss a team practice, you are not improving your skills, and you will fall behind the other dancers on the team. If you miss a team practice, you are not learning the routine. Partnering, formations, synchronization, and all other components of the routine can only be properly rehearsed with all dancers in the piece. If you are missing at a performance or a competition, the whole dance has to be restaged.The commitment to our competition team means attending all scheduled competition team classes and being available for competitions and performances. If you are involved with other programs that require specific time commitments, we will need to know about any other commitments you may have. Most school programs, such as dance teams, cheerleading, sports programs, etc. have dates available at the beginning of a season. Practice times are also usually established at the beginning of the season. Sometimes this type of involvement can be accommodated. However, if they will consistently create absences for team commitments, the directors may require a decision regarding a choice between competition and other programs. If you are involved with other school or sports programs, please schedule a meeting with the directors before signing and returning your team contract in order to determine if your othercommitments will conflict with our competition program. The dancer or the parent must call/email/text to notify the instructor of an absence prior to the missed competition team class. This is a courtesy to the choreographer so they may plan accordingly. This is also a studio safety policy.Dancers are allowed to miss a team practice for the following: illness, school, religious holiday/event, family, and injury. Any other reason for missing class is unacceptable.o Planned family events/school trips, a seven-day notice is expectedo Illness/emergencies, two-hour notice should be given and is required.If a director feels a dancer is falling behind due to missing rehearsals the dancer may be asked toschedule a private lesson to catch up with a 1⁄2 hour private class at a cost of $30.Note: School academics comes first! We understand that things come up that mayoccasionally conflict. If you receive a performance calendar with a practice/performance date where you have already scheduled something important (vacations, school academic activities), let us knowIMMEDIATELY (by the next day) and we can work with you. If we do not hear from you, it is assumed that you will be there. *If your child misses 3 OR MORE rehearsals, they will be taken out of the routine.

3. COST

Costumes: A costume will be required for each routine. We will try (where possible) to make“simplified” costumes or to combine costumes for multiple dances. We will strive to maintain reasonable costume costs. Competition Team Members are required to have matching shoestyles, so you may have to purchase additional shoes.• Studio Fees: Competition Team fees are $175 per month and an additional $25 savings account fee. (Basically, competition layaway)

• Registration Fee $50
• Warm-up Jacket $60
• Makeup Box $70 • Solo, Duet, Trio private lesson cost: Solo-$30.00 per student, per 30-minute session. Duet-$20.00 per student, per 30-minute session. Trio-$15 per student, per 30-minute session. • Competition Fees: The cost varies organization to organization. As soon as we have the rates charged, we will let you know. However, once registered and paid, they are non-refundable. If the dancer, for any reason (illness, absent from class prior to the competition) is not able to participate in the competition, her fees cannot be refunded by our studio because the Competition does not refund the fees to us.                                                                                                  

4. TARDINESS

Please be 5-10 minutes early to each class. It is necessary for dancers to participate in warm-up prior to and at the beginning of every class to prevent injury.  

5. COSTUMES AND MAKEUP

All dancers are required to wear dance makeup for performances. This makeup is not to be worn outside of performance venues. All dancers will be required to purchase the make-up box with make-up products and one costume per routine. Costume pieces cannot be replaced if lost. Only entire costumes can be ordered in the event of amisplaced item. Please be aware that the ship date for costumes is approximately 8-12 weeks after the order date. Dancers must have all costume pieces, shoes, makeup, hair accessories, and hairstyle to perform. Costuming is a part of the group score and deductions will be made if dancers perform with obvious missing pieces or ill-fitting costumes. This includes runs/holes in tights. Deductions are also taken for messy hair or hairstyles that fall out of place.
6. DRESS CODE

All dancers must arrive in full dance attire. Pink or black leotard with pink tights, optional shorts or skirt, ballet shoes, jazz shoes, hair is a tight bun. NO JEWELRY.
7. COMPETITION

Members must be respectful to competitors and show good sportsmanship. Do not speak with the judges unless prompted to do so. Members must be courteous and respectful to teammates. Ill behavior towards team members will not be tolerated