Competition
Company
Dance competitions give dancers a chance to enhance their technique and to increase their performance opportunities. At Pointe of Grace, we strive to foster a team atmosphere among our competition dancers, pushing dancers to achieve their best in a firm but encouraging style.
Competitions – Our competition company attends three competitions each season typically in March, April and May. Competition dates are announced soon after audition results. Competitions are typically located in Atlanta or Athens. Dancers must participate in all three competitions.
Auditions- Dancers interested in competition will participate in an audition in front of judges from other studios. Those judges will make decisions based on groupings.
Dance Class – All Competition dancers must attend a weekly ballet and jazz class and are encouraged to participate in other dance classes as well. Weekly classes are vital for strengthening skill and technique and should only be missed in extreme situations.
Intensive – Competition dancers must participate in a two-day dance intensive (workshop) in January located Pointe of Grace.
Rehearsals – All competition dances rehearse on the weekend with an occasional rehearsal on a school holiday. Typically, dancers will attend two (sometimes three) one-hour rehearsals each month in the fall and winter. In the spring, there is at least one rehearsal between each competition weekend. Dancers are required to attend all rehearsals. If you cannot attend due to illness, please notify your choreographer (or Katie) prior to rehearsal time and learn the missed choreography from another dancer prior to the next rehearsal. Dancers are expected to arrive on time to rehearsals, to be properly dressed, and to participate in the entire rehearsal. No food will be allowed in the studio during rehearsals. Rehearsal schedules are posted at the beginning of each season.
Production – All competition dancers must participate in the competition production. Rehearsals include dance technique and competiton choreography.
Age Restrictions – Dancers must be six-years-old before January 1, 2025.
Company Fees
The following is an ESTIMATE of choreography, costume, dance intensive, and competition fees. This does not include rhinestones earrings, tights, shoes. It also does not include travel, meals, and accommodations.
Choreography fees – Production $225, Large Group $150, Small Group $225, Trio $275, Duet $325, Solo $375
In-House Intensive - $60 – tentatively in January.
Competition fees – approximately $55 per dancer per competition per group dance. Duets and trios are $65 per dancer per competition, and solos are $125 per competition.
Costumes are typically $70 each.
Competition fees are prorated over nine months (September-May) of equal payments. So a dancer participating in 2 dances (production and one large group) will pay approximately $100 per month for 9 months. This is in addition to class tuition.
Fundraising – At the parent meeting at the beginning of the year, we will discuss options for fundraising that can greatly offset the cost of competition and choreography fees.
Auditions
Our goal is to give dancers an authentic audition experience and to form competition groups in the fairest and most beneficial way possible. Auditions will take place on Sunday, August 4th starting at 1:00 PM. All dancers should wear a leotard (preferably black) and either pink or tan tights, and jazz shoes, dance paws, half-soles, or ballet shoes. Black dance shorts are optional. Our judges will be dance professionals from another studio. Upon arrival, dancers will turn in their audition registration form and fee of $15 and receive a number. You may pay your fee in the portal if you wish. Please arrive early enough to warm up prior to the beginning of the audition.
After all dancers have checked in, we will teach them a combination that will encompass crucial skills like pirouettes, leaps, and battements. Next, the dancers will exit the room and be called in by numerical order in groups of 3 or 4 to perform the combo as a group for the judges. Also they will individually perform a double/single pirouette on each side, leaps on each side, and any other tricks they feel would be beneficial for the judges to see. Dancers should remain at the studio until dismissed. Sometimes judges request to see groups of dancers together.
Dancers intending to compete with a solo this competition season will need to prepare a thirty to forty-five second combination to perform in front of the judges. It is the dancers' responsibility to bring their own music. Solo dancers who have competed previously may use a portion of their solo from last year. We strongly recommend that dancers compete for a full year or two before attempting a solo.
If your dancer is interested in a duo or trio, please state that interest on the form. Judges may ask dancers to perform in various combinations of dancers and will place dancers in the group, duo, or trio they deem best for everyone. No one is guaranteed their requests.
The audition results will be emailed when the judges have completed their deliberation within the next few days.
Photo Credit - Marie Hayes
Expectations
Classes
Technique
All competition dancers must attend a ballet and jazz class (6-year-old dancers will only take Primary Ballet Tap). If a dancer misses a class due to illness or another conflict, she is expected to make-up the time in another class the following week. For eligible dancers, lyrical classes are highly recommended but not required.
All dancers participating in a solo, duet, or trio must take the weekly Technique class. We prefer that any dancers participating in a small group take the Technique class as well. The cost for this class will be part the tuition you pay monthly and will contribute to her overall weekly hours when calculating tuition.
Rehearsals
All competition dances rehearse two (sometimes three) times each month for one hour in the fall and winter. In the spring, there is at least one rehearsal between each competition weekend when possible. We will ask for conflicts before creating the schedule and work around major conflicts as best we can. Parents will receive the new rehearsal schedule every two months.
Dress Code for Rehearsals
Dancers are expected to wear all black dance attire to every rehearsal. Proper dance attire includes leotards or sports bra or tight tank top and dance shorts or tights or leggings. Baggy t-shirts, sweatshirts, athletic shorts, and sweatpants are not allowed.
Attendence
When a dancer is absent from rehearsal, it affects their fellow dancers tremendously, which is why attendance at rehearsals is absolutely essential. If a dancer misses rehearsal for any reason, she is expected to make-up the time with one of the choreographers. Also, connecting with another dancer to learn the missed choreography is helpful. Scheduling make-up time will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
If a dancer consistently misses rehearsal and class, she may be dropped from sections of the choreography.
Intensive
Competition dancers must participate in a two-day dance intensive (workshop) in January located at Pointe of Grace.
Extras
Conventions – Competition dancers are invited to participate in several convention options throughout the year. Conventions are one or two-day workshops with industry professionals in another city, where dancers can hone their technique and learn new and interesting choreography.
Competition Showcase – Before our first competition in the spring, all competition dancers will participate in a showcase at MCHS that also functions as our dress rehearsal. This performance is typically free for anyone to view.
Lock-In – Dancers are invited to attend in a lock-in in December. We rehearse all the dances and participate team-building activities in this overnight event.
Competition Banquet – at the end of the season, dancers participate in banquet to celebrate our competition season together.
