Expressions Dance Academy

Competitive Dance Team Information:

The EDA Competition Dance Team is a group of dancers who have demonstrated strong technical skill and high motivation for dance.  Tryouts/Placements are held before every new dance season, and all dancers new and returning are invited to come.  The competition team quickly learns their dance at the beginning of the season and then competes at local competitions and performs them at certain events during the spring season.  For this reason, those who decide to be on the team must be committed to working hard and together as a team. 

 

The Competition Dance Team meets during regular class times during the week, most classes including a mandatory technique time which will incorporate ballet training, toning and flexibility, and skills technique.  There will be some optional workshop classes on Saturdays, but these are not mandatory.

 

What are Tryouts/Placements?

Although they are called "tryouts", we will not cut anyone from the Competition Dance Team*.  If they want to be a part of this prestigious team, we want to give them the opportunity.  What we do have is a time where they must come and be evaluated on technical skill and learning ability, and then placed into a class accordingly.  

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The tryouts are ran like a regular class.  Dancers do not need to have anything prepared upon arrival.  We ask that they get there a few minutes early to fill out any paperwork.  The teacher will most likely teach them a routine and then have them show them in groups (they will NOT be required to do it by themselves). This format allows your dancer to see the teacher's teaching style as well as how they run a class.  And the teacher gets to see what your dancer is capable of and their best learning style.  

 

We hold two tryouts for every dance year.  The first is always during the week of Recital of the previous season and the second is right before the season begins, after our Open House.  Therefore, dancers must "tryout" so we can see where their level and ability is at.  They can tryout for just one style of dance or multiple depending on their interest.  They will get an email during the summer with further information.  Your dancers will be categorized as follows based on their age as of September 30 of the current dance season.  Some classes will be combined.  

Mini: Ages 3-6

Junior: Ages 7-10

Teen: Ages 11-14

Senior: Ages 15-19

Adult: Ages 20 and up

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Teams will attempt to be split up as follows:

-Mini Tap/Mini Jazz (2 routines: 1 tap and 1 jazz)

-Junior Jazz/Junior ContLyrical (2 routines: 1 jazz and 1 ContLyrical)

-Teen & Senior Jazz / Teen & Senior ContLyrical (2 routines: 1 jazz and 1 ContLyrical)

-Mini & Junior Hip Hop (1 routine: Hip Hop)

-Junior, Teen, Senior, Adult Tap (1 routine: Tap)

-Teen, Senior, and Adult Hip Hop (1 routine: Hip Hop)

-Adult Jazz/Adult ContLyrical (2 routines: 1 Jazz and 1 Cont/Lyrical)

-Mini, Junior, Teen, Senior Acro (1 routine: Acro)

-Junior, Teen, Senior, Adult Musical Theatre (1 routine: Musical Theatre)

 

What do I need to have to be on the Competition Dance Team?

You must have a strong desire to work hard and challenge yourself in all aspects of your dancing.  You must be willing to work with your team members.  Everyone is expected to work together and respect each other.  You succeed as a team or you fail as a team.

 

You must have a dedication of time.  Dance team members are expected to be at EVERY weekday practice and any additional practices.  If you are injured or not feeling well, you are still expected to show up to class and watch, take notes, or participate to the best of your ability.  Attending a birthday party for a friend, being tired because you stayed up too late watching TV, or having a headache are not acceptable excuses for missing class. (Parents: think about if your dance teacher used the same excuse to not have class that day if you think it would be acceptable.  If you think it would be unacceptable for a teacher to cancel class because they stayed up too late the night before hanging out with friends, or they just were a little tired or had a headache, then rest assured we would also find it unacceptable for your dancer to miss for that same reason.)  

 

You are allowed to miss class for the following reasons: School event that you are required to attend for a grade, extreme illness (if you are throwing up, stay home.  If you just have a stomach ache and can't jump around alot, come to class and sit and watch).  We also will work with you and your other sports schedules, but please allow us the same consideration.  If we let you miss a class for your school sport, please realize that you may have to miss a practice of your school sport to attend one of our practices.

 

Always inform your teacher if you are going to miss practice for a legitimate reason, and do it ahead of time!  The teachers spend alot of time putting together schedules and lesson plans, and can be very easily ruined if you tell them at the last minute that you are not going to be there. 

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You must also be able to be flexible.  As directors, Miss Jennifer and Miss Kelly try very hard to get all the information out as early as possible, but just as everything else in life, things change.  Many times this is not due to anything the directors have changed, but someone else along the way (competition, adjusting to school scheduled, ect).

 

Competition Dance Team has more rules and expectations than just taking a regular dance class.  But all the extras pay off and your dancer will have a great dance experience and memories that will last forever!

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Please click here for the most updated Competition Team Packet.  This has all pricing listed so you can best get an idea of the cost involved.  

 

***Over 18 Rule*** We have had this over 18 rule for awhile now but many people don’t seem to know about it so I want to make it clear: If the dancers is 18 or older AND not currently attending high school (for example if you are 18 but still a senior in high school this doesn’t apply), special exceptions apply in your case.  Why?  Because after high school your college classes or jobs can be at many different times during the day which may restrict your schedule, but we want to encourage you to keep dancing.  We would LOVE you to be a part of a regional class, but you do not HAVE to be to compete a solo or be on a Nationals team.  If you have questions, talk to Kelly or Jen. 

       

• Enrollment Fee: The enrollment fee is $150 per dancer (this does not include boys) and with it you get a dance bag filled with EDA team tshirt, rhinestone necklace, rhinestone earrings, rhinestone hair clip, turners (practice pair), a black leotard, makeup, hair pins, safety pins, hair spray, bun former, hair net, and hair ties.  Keep all this stuff together as you will be needing it for every performance.

• Costume Fee per dance: $100 for all classes

• Competition Fees: $75 per dancer per dance for group classes, $95 per dancer per dance for duos/trios, and $175 per solo.

• Showcase Fee: $55 per dancer base price, and $25 additional if your dancer does a solo, duo, or trio.

       

Other Possible Fees: Dance Performance Shoes (1 pair per class taken), and Tickets to Recital at the end of the year.

       

 

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