Competition and Performance Team December Newsletter

WELCOME TO DECEMBER

Time is really flying by! Competition and Performance Team members, make sure you are keeping up with your training requirements as outlined in your Performance and Competition Team contracts. Don’t stop practicing and working on your strength and conditioning even on break. Get on the website and watch/practice with the choreography and technique videos that are posted. Work on getting ALL your splits. These things are important to your growth and development as dancers.

Competition Dancers should be taking class/rehearsal MINIMUM three days a week. Please think about how if your dancer misses class due to an illness, they should be showing up to that extra rec class or those extra weekend classes to make up for it. If your dancer doesn’t get scheduled for rehearsal except for one day, they need to be at all their classes that week and maybe some extra rec or weekend classes. Newer/Younger team members should definitely be taking advantage of ALL the offered classes and training, if they wish to grow to the general level of the seasoned dancers and have a chance at more routines and/or remaining on team.
BASICALLY, dancers need to PROVE their dedication, commitment, and strong DESIRE to train. Competitive/Elite Dancers should WANT to be training AS MUCH as possible, not doing the BARE minimum. If we have to close or cancel class for any reason on any given day/s, causing dancers to have days “off”, dancers should make every effort to make it to extra rec or weekend classes in exchange. There should NOT be a week where dancer is only at the studio 1-2 days a week. Older, elite dancers should definitely be striving for being at dance in some type of rehearsal or class minimum 4 days a week.
Please think about the big picture and make it a priority to train minimum three days a week, average four days a week, preferably ALL or as many classes you can make it to. If a dancer has to miss a day for school events or such, every effort should be made to attend the weekend classes or some optional classes in exchange.
JUNIOR/TEEN/SENIOR DANCERS are required to come to at least one weekend session a month. A session means ALL THE CLASSES offered that morning, not just one or two. Dancers who are already on the lower end of the technique/skill/experience range need to be coming to as much as possible, not bare minimum. If a dancer misses class during the week, I expect them to come to weekend classes.
As I have been speaking about how these last five years of the studio have been ever-evolving and growing, dancers must be doing this as well. Team is not what it was two years ago, and team will be even more advanced by the end of this year than it is right this moment. We have a performance team option now (which still competes at the performance level at some great competitions) and also a recreational program. Competition team is not the ONLY route your dancer has to enjoy dance and all it entails.

HOW DO I AVOID MY DANCER NOT BEING INVITED BACK?

Good question: Firstly, train hard and apply corrections. Come to as many classes as possible. If you know your dancer has weaknesses in certain areas, help them work on those things! If I come to you and communicate weaknesses, that is my way of saying that these weaknesses need to be corrected if you would like to remain on this competition team.
As a parent, put as much care and attention into your child’s technique and performance in their GROUP ROUTINES as you might do their solos. Being able to dance a solo isn’t what gets you on this team. Pulling your weight in group dances and having technique and performance value that ADDS to and not TAKES away from group routines is what gets you on this team and keeps you on. Come in and WATCH group rehearsal and see where your child is lacking. In the past, I had parents ONLY come in and observe solo practice and ask me about techniques and skills to work on for their dancer’s solo. Parents need to be JUST AS CONCERNED with how their dancer is doing in their group routines because that is what determines their position on this team.
GET IN SHAPE/ STAY IN SHAPE! We are at a competitive/elite level. By the end of this season, I expect all dancers to be in good shape and physically fit in order to be able to move and dance at the level I expect us to grow towards as a group. We are still not where I want to be as a team as far as technique/strength, and overall fitness. All dancers wishing to remain on this journey must meet the expectations and have the same mindset in regards to growth as an artist/athlete/dancer.
Examples of SPECIFIC SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES I EXPECT:

• Besides just remembering and executing routines, technique is where I make decisions. By the end of this season (really by January) all dancers need to have all three splits (right/left/middle) flat.
• All dancers should have a FLAT RIGHT LEAP (saut de chat), a solid double pirouette on the right, high kicks on the right and left, good flexibility in the back and neck, consistent turnout from the hips, and the desire to dance FULL OUT at ALL TIMES.
• FACIAL EXPRESSIONS while dancing and performing are absolutely imperative.
• Staying lifted on the feet in tap and not being “flat footed” while also making all the sounds clear and strong. Straight legs and HIGH relevé’s. Articulated feet (being able to do a strong demi pointe, flex, point and rolling through feet while leaving and landing on the floor during jumps).
• Clean fingers and hands in ballet positions.
• Great arches and points. Loose and flexible hamstrings. Teens and Seniors should have their turns and leaps on the LEFT side as well.

I have never specifically given skills like this before to parents, but I feel like it’s necessary at this point because I have had so many parents lately not clearly understand where their child is at and why they may not be prime candidates for a competition dance team, solos, special roles, numerous routines etc. These are truly BASIC things to have as a competitive dancer, so it should go without saying that if a dancer cannot do these things, they really don’t belong on a competitive dance team. I am going to try to be more communicative with parents when their dancer has things to work on and when they might not be meeting my expectations. Parents are expected to help their dancer work on their weaknesses when addressed. I am going to be making more videos on things to help all the dancers and posting them on the website as well.
Another HUGE factor that plays a part in my decisions to possibly not invite a dancer back is behavior, behavior from parents, gossiping or speaking poorly about me or my studio behind my back/social media, etc. It won’t matter if your dancer is really awesome, I will not let a child or parent be a part of my team who is a behavior or attitude problem.
Attendance for events is clearly a factor as well. Missing mandatory rehearsals, missing classes at conventions, basically just not following my ‘rules and expectations” on attendance/dress code/ conduct/ etc on a daily/weekly basis will lead to you not be invited back, regardless if your child is a great dancer. Respect towards myself, my teachers, and my staff is highly important.

IMPORTANT NEWS

DANCERS who are signed up for the Lights in the Park performance MUST attend tomorrow’s practice sessions. Hair/Makeup/Costuming will be sent individually soon.

• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer will practice 4-5:30 pm. 
• Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree at 5:30-7 pm.
• Nutcracker HipHop will be at 7-9 pm.

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Upcoming Events

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Upcoming Fundraisers

It’s important to participate in as many fundraisers as you can, to help offset the expense of conventions and competitions. We will be using Fundraiser proceeds throughout the season instead of pooling the funds for Nationals this year.

Competition Team Rehearsal Schedule and Bonus Class Schedule

First – A message from Sonya…

This one is a little crazy, it was a doozy to create and it has taken me all day to get it right between everyone’s December prior engagements, Nutcracker week being so full of rehearsals plus some girls and Ms Caitlin absent for Nutcracker, and only getting three weeks this month – with the first one focused on preparing for Lights in the Park and the parade.

There are some makeup classes on Wednesday for our recreational classes who would otherwise only have dance 2 days out of the month to avoid having them on the weekend; I couldn’t have any rehearsals Nutcracker week Wednesday anyway since each routine has at least one girl who will be at nutcracker rehearsal Wednesday night except Electricity.

Anyway, anything that looks off or if you have questions, please ask. The first two Tuesdays we will still have TN/SR ballet as normal then we will just practice Hopeless Wanderer instead of normal contemporary class. If you see a rehearsal that I have scheduled and you know your girl can’t be there and I overlooked a date you gave me, or got things mixed up, please let me know as soon as possible. If it’s a normal class day and hours aren’t listed as not happening, then they will be happening as normal.

We will also have a small party the last Monday. I will be sending out info on big and little sister tomorrow hopefully, so everyone can be excited for that. We do small gifts, and this year all gifts are to be handmade please like we used to do years ago:) Nothing fancy or expensive, but it ends up being so special. I’ll have a cake or something fun for the girls and then we will go on with rehearsal right after.

Those dancers performing solos at January NUVO will also be practicing over break which i will get times up soon for the end of month.

I will contact you if I need you to book solo sessions this month to either start or continue working on their solos.
Info on lights in the park and parade regarding costuming, times, details coming soon.

Thanks!
Sonya

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Mon DEC 2	Tues DEC 3	Wed DEC 4	Thurs DEC 5	Fri DEC 6	Sat DEC 7	Sun DEC 8
4:00-5:30 Rudolph the red nosed reindeer		4:00-5:30 Work of Art (no mini /jr jazz class)	4:00-5:00 Lights in Park Practice for all performers	PARADE 5:00-8:00	10:00-12:00 Technique/Stretch/Strengthen
5:30-7:00 Rockin’ Around the Christmas tree	5:30-6:30 DISCO	5:30-6:00 Boots	Lights in park 6:00-8:00	No classes or rehearsals at the studio	12:00-1:00 DISCO	Solos 12:00-4:00
7:00-9:00 Nutcracker Hiphop		6:00-7:30 I Was Here	No regular classes at studio
Required for those performing at Lights in the Park		7:30-9:00 Fly With Me
	8:00-9:00 Hopeless Wanderer (in place of TN/SR contemp class)

Mon DEC 9	Tues DEC 10	Wed DEC 11	Thurs DEC 12	Sat DEC 14	Sun DEC 15
4:00-5:30 Work of Art		4:00-5:00 Mini/Jr Jazz		09:00-11:00 Ballet/Stretch/Strengthen
5:30-8:30 D Day	5:30-6:30 DISCO	5:00-5:30 Predance 2(Makeup)	No regular Team Classes this Day	11:00-12:00 Pointe	12:00-4:00 Solos
		5:30-6:30 Acro 1/2/3 Makeup	6:00-7:30 I was Here	12:00-1:30 Dawn of Time
		6:30-7:30 HipHop 1/2 Makeup	7:30-8:30 Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy	Nutcracker	Nutcracker
	8:00-9:00 Hopeless Wanderer (in place of TN/SR contemp class)	7:30-9:00 Electricity		Adrenaline Orlando	Adrenaline Orlando
		Nutcracker Rehearsal	Nutcracker

Mon DEC 16	Tue DEC 17	Wed DEC 18	Sat DEC 21	Sun DEC 22
4:00-5:30 Work of Art			9:00-11:00 Tech/Stretch/Strengthen
5:30-6:00 TEAM Christmas party/gift exchange (competition and performance team)	5:30-6:30 DISCO	5:30-6:15 Boots	11:00-12:00 DISCO
6:00-9:00 Women’s Work		6:15-7:00 I Was Here		12:00-4:00 SOLOS
		7:00-9:00 For What it’s Worth	12:00-1:30 Fly with Me