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En Pointe Dance Company

Competition Team Code Of Conduct

2023/2024

Welcome to the 2023/2024 En Pointe Dance Company’s Competition Team. For the dancer who loves to perform, our competition program provides an opportunity to learn, grow, perform, and compete. Team activities include competing in dance competitions and performing at other venues during the year.

A competition team requires more commitment from the dancer and the dancer’s family than the average dance class.

This contract outlines the expectations of the competitive dancer and their family. The following are policies necessary for a smooth and successful year.

Each dancer and guardian must read and understand the agreement before participating in an En Pointe Dance Company Competition team.

Please inform all family members of our policies to avoid conflicts during the year. This includes anyone driving the dancer to and from practices/performances, paying for tuition/fees, or attending performance events.

Once you decide to participate, you must abide by the following rules for the remainder of the 2023-2024 dance year.

Competition Team Family Commitment

1. FULL-YEAR COMMITMENT

Competition team members are committed to an entire dance year when they sign on to be competition team members. This includes nationals that will be during the summer. Quitting mid-year is detrimental to everyone on the team, so please consider this before committing to the contract. If dancers do leave mid-season, there will be a fee per dance.

2. EXCLUSIVITY POLICY

Competition team dancers represent En Pointe Dance Company and may not take classes, perform or compete for any other studio, competition team, or dance company for the 2023-2024 dance season.

3. ATTENDANCE

The most crucial issue for team members is attendance. We understand things happen – a dancer gets hurt, a family emergency, etc. A family emergency is not a birthday party or an outing to the zoo.

3A: CLASS ATTENDANCE

If you are not at a 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. You must attend a team practice to learn the routine, partnering, formations, synchronization, and other routine components. Dances can only be rehearsed appropriately with all dancers present.

Dancers are allowed to miss a team practice for the following: illness, school events, religious holidays/events, and injury. Where illness or injury is the reason, please consider watching the rehearsal. Any other reason for missing class is unacceptable.

All of the efforts for success will go in during studio time. Dancers must practice how they want to perform on stage during classes. If dancers practice how they will perform, they will perform well on stage. If you can't do it in the studio, you can’t do it on the stage.

3B: PERFORMANCE ATTENDANCE

Attendance is mandatory at all competitions and team performances.

The commitment to competition teams means attending all scheduled competitions and performances. Before signing and returning your team contract, please inform the director to determine if your other commitments will conflict with our performance schedule.

All students must make up missed technique classes (ballet, tap, jazz & tumbling). Dancers will have two weeks to make up for the missed class. Any student who does not make a conscious effort to make up classes, or is absent regularly, will be excused from the team without a refund. If a dancer needs to catch up due to missing classes and rehearsals, they must schedule a private lesson to catch up.

Note - 30-minute private lesson $30.00 - 60 minutes private lesson $60.00

4A. CLASS REQUIREMENTS

Tiny Team Requirements

Ballet

Tap

Jazz

Tumbling

Hip Hop Tiny Team - Weekly Team Rehearsal - 30 Minutes Each

(First Team Rehearsal 10/4 4:45-5:15)

Jazz Tiny Team - Weekly Team Rehearsal - 30 Minutes Each

(First Team Rehearsal 8/23 5:15-5:45)

Our Hip Hop choreographer will not be coming to teach the dance until our first-weekend rehearsal, so Hip Hop rehearsals won’t begin until October.

Weekly team rehearsal will be used for learning choreography, practicing, and cleaning dances.

There will be weekends when dancers must come to the studio for choreography and cleaning sessions.

Choreography and cleaning sessions will be an additional fee based on the choreographer’s rates.

Intermediate Team Requirements

Ballet - 1 Hour 30 Minutes

Jazz - 1 Hour 30 Minutes

Tumbling - 45 Minutes

Tap - 30 Minutes

1 Weekly Team Rehearsal - 30 Minutes Each (First Team Rehearsal 8/23 9:15-9:45)

It is highly recommended that dancers take the classes below. However, they are still eligible to be on the team without enrolling in the classes below.

Conditioning & Flexibility - 45 Minutes

Floor Barre - 45 Minutes

Jumps & Turns - 45 Minutes

Weekly team rehearsal will be used for learning choreography, practicing, and cleaning dances.

There will be weekends dancers will need to come to the studio for choreography and cleaning sessions.

Choreography and cleaning sessions will be an additional fee based on the choreographer’s rates.

Elite Team Requirements

Ballet - 1 Hour 30 Minutes

Jazz/Contemporary - 1 Hour 30 Minutes

Tumbling - 45 Minutes

Tap - 30 Minutes

Conditioning & Flexibility - 45 Minutes

Floor Barre - 45 Minutes

Elite Jumps & Turns - 45 Minutes

Up to 4 weekly team rehearsals - 30 minutes each (Team Rehearsals begin on 8/22 & 8/24)

Our Hip Hop and Tap choreographers will not be coming to teach those dances until our first-weekend rehearsal in September. However, we will use both team rehearsals on Tuesday for Jazz and both team rehearsals on Thursday for Contemporary until then. We want to make the most of our time!

Pointe is optional for dancers. Dancers will have a pointe dance for the recital but wear the same costume for their ballet dance. Pointe is an additional 30 minutes.

Dancers must participate in the large group to be eligible for small groups.

Weekly team rehearsal will be used for learning choreography, practicing, and cleaning dances.

There will be weekends dancers will need to come to the studio for choreography and cleaning sessions. Choreography and cleaning sessions will be an additional fee based on the choreographer’s rates.

Large Group Requirements - Classes begin the week of August 21st!

Ballet - 90 Minutes

Jazz - 90 Minutes

1 Weekly Team Rehearsal - 30 Minutes Each (First Team Rehearsal 8/24 7:45-8:15)

Weekly team rehearsal will be used for learning choreography, practicing, and cleaning dances.

There will be weekends dancers will need to come to the studio for choreography and cleaning sessions.

Choreography and cleaning sessions will be an additional fee based on the choreographer’s rates.

4B. SUMMER CLASS REQUIREMENTS

Weekly classes and team rehearsals will be determined once we have our annual recital date.

Tiny Team Summer Requirements

Ballet 1 Hour

Jazz 1 Hour

Tumbling 1 Hour

Hip Hop Team Rehearsal 45 Minutes

Jazz Team Rehearsal 45 Minutes

Summer Monthly Tuition With Both Team Rehearsals $215

Summer Monthly Tuition With One Team Rehearsal $185

The cost above excludes private lessons for solos, duets, and trios.

Intermediate & Elite Summer Requirements

Ballet 1 Hour

Jazz 1 Hour

Tumbling 1 Hour

Floor Barre 1 Hour

Jumps & Turns 1 Hour

Conditioning & Flexibility 1 Hour

Summer Monthly Tuition without any team rehearsals is $275

The cost above excludes private lessons for solos, duets, and trios.

Team Rehearsals

Each additional team rehearsal is $15.00.

Each additional team rehearsal is 45 minutes.

Summer tuition with one weekly rehearsal - $290

Summer tuition with two weekly rehearsals - $305

Summer tuition with three weekly rehearsals - $320

Summer tuition with four weekly rehearsals - $335

Summer tuition with five weekly rehearsals - $350

The cost above excludes private lessons for solos, duets, and trios.

Large Group Summer Requirements

Ballet 1 Hour

Jazz 1 Hour

Conditioning & Flexibility 1 Hour

Large Group Rehearsal 45 Minutes

Summer Monthly Tuition With Team Rehearsal $185

The cost above does not include any private lessons for solos, duets, and trios.

5. COST

Please know that competition dance is an expensive sport! Below is a list of things you will be responsible for paying. This list includes but is not limited to;

Costumes

Jewelry

Makeup

Warm-Up Suit

Shoes

Tights
Entry Fees
Monthly Tuition
Choreography Fees
Prop Fees - not all dances will have props
Hotel Stays- not all competitions require hotel stays.

If your child misses any practices or events held this year, we will not refund or credit your account.

If any events are canceled this year, the studio isn't responsible for refunds unless provided by the event vendor.

Each dance competition has entry fees for each dance. Group dances (dances with four or more dancers) cost less than solos, duets, and trios.

Regional Competition Fees- Regional fees will be added and divided into equal monthly installments. These payments are due on the 10th of each month and will begin in October and end on April 10th.

National Fees - National fees are due on May 10th. If your dancer is in multiple dances and you wish to make two payments, they will be due May 10th and June 10th.

Competition Costumes - Each dance you are competing in will require a costume. Each costume will have a $100 deposit. Costume fees will be added together and divided into equal monthly installments. These deposits will be due on the 30th of each month and will begin in October and end on January 10th. The remaining cost of the costumes will be due on February 10th, before the start of our competition season.

Recital Costumes - You are still responsible for purchasing recital costumes as well. A $40.00 costume fee will be charged on October 10th, and the remaining $40.00 balance will be due on January 10th. NOTE: $80.00 per costume per dance.

Summer Tuition - Your dancer’s summer tuition will be charged on May 20th.

6. SOLOS, DUETS AND TRIOS

If your dancer wishes to perform a solo, duet, or trio, please contact Ms. Lauren to reserve a private rehearsal time. Rehearsals occur before classes, after classes, or on the weekends, depending on availability. The solo, duet, and trio costs will be added as an additional cost and charged along with your regular monthly tuition on the 20th of each month.

The cost for a competition solo rehearsal is $30 for 30 minutes. If your dancer is competing in a solo, they must have a bi-weekly private lesson. ($30 per dancer - every other week)

The cost for a competition duet rehearsal is $30 for 30 minutes. If your dancer is competing in a duet, they must have a bi-weekly private lesson. (2 dancers - $15 per dancer - every other week)

The cost for a competition trio rehearsal is $30 for 30 minutes. If your dancer competes in a trio, they must have a bi-weekly private lesson. (3 dancers - $10 per dancer - every other week)

Costs of solos, duets, and trios are added to your account and charged on the 20th of each month. Please pay close attention to the dates as some months your dancer will have two privates, and some months your dancer will have three privates.

7. COSTUMES AND MAKEUP
Each competition dance will require a unique costume. Competition jewelry is an additional cost.

Costuming is a part of the group score. Judges will make deductions if dancers perform with missing pieces or ill-fitting costumes. Points are also deducted for messy hair or hairstyles that fall out of place.

For this reason, if dancers lose any part of their costumes, they will be required to contact Ms. Lauren to purchase a replacement. If a replacement item does not arrive in time, dancers will not be allowed to compete, and refunds will not be available.

Each competition member must purchase an En Pointe Dance Company warm-up suit to wear to each competition for warm-ups and on stage for awards.

Each dancer will be required to purchase the same makeup through Ms. Lauren. Below is a sample list of the makeup that may be required. Please note that colors will be determined at a later date.

You must purchase your false eyelashes.

Foundation - skin-toned Blush
Eye Shadow
Lipstick
Eye Liner

Blush
Mascara - Black
False Eye Lashes- style TBD

8. COMPETITION INFORMATION

Our competition teams will be attending four or five regional competitions. These

competitions will be one to three hours away and begin in February. Nationals will take place over the summer and will require a hotel stay.

The schedule for dance competitions is not released until the week of the competition. I will not know a call time for your dancer until the week of the competition. For this reason, please plan to be available for the entire weekend of the competition.

I will immediately send an email as soon as I receive the schedule.

Before awards, one dancer will be selected to receive the team award. The dancer is responsible for bringing all awards back to the studio the following week. Trophies will remain at the studio for everyone to enjoy. Individual awards will be passed out at the end of class. Soloists are allowed to keep their
awards.

During competition weekends, please interact with other team members. Depending on the dancer's call times for the weekend, we may plan a team dinner or team outing. These events aren't mandatory but help build team spirit!

9. COMPETITION TEAM BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS

All members must be respectful to competitors and show sportsmanship. Do not speak with the judges at a competition. Members must be courteous and respectful to teammates and dance parents. Ill behavior towards team members or dance parents will not be tolerated. Bullying of any kind is not tolerated. Disrespect for instructors and dance parents is not allowed. Any negativity towards anyone will result in dismissal.

En Pointe Dance Company and staff have the right to speak to dancers and dance parents to help maintain proper behavior. Remember to represent En Pointe Dance Company and will follow all studio rules.

Parents, please make sure your dancer is not running around the competition venue. Please know where your dancer is at all times.

10. EMAIL, TEXT, FACEBOOK, AND OFFICE

Our goal is to keep you informed using all of the above. We need you to do your part by reading our emails since that is our primary form of communication. Please give us your primary email address. I will only send emails when needed.

Please only send text messages when a short and quick answer from a staff member suffices. Please refrain from texting any staff member after hours unless it is a competition weekend or an emergency.

11. USE OF PHOTOGRAPHY

En Pointe Dance Company reserves the right to use any photography and videotaping of students' performances for purposes of advertising, publicizing, and promoting the studio.

12. EN POINTE DANCE COMPANY VALUES FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS

Be respectful of others- In the studio. Outside the studio. At competitions. Wherever. Say please and thank you. Hold the door. Be quiet backstage. Don't enter and exit a theatre during a dance.

Don't talk during anyone's performance. You represent not only En Pointe Dance Company but also yourself, your parents, and your peers. Have good manners, and be respectful.

Don't direct your teammates - In rehearsals, sometimes it's tempting to tell the person next to you that they're turning the wrong way, on the wrong foot, off the counts, etc. As teachers, that's our job. Chances are we noticed. No matter how helpful you think it may be, it undermines the team spirit to take corrections from another dancer.

Speak kindly to your teammates!

Ask your teachers and teammates for help if you need it.

Clean up after yourself. We love that the studio feels like home to so many of you! But remember that it's home to lots of other kids as well.

Be prepared for classes, competitions, and performances. Be early. Have your hair and makeup done. Be ready to work. Be a role model! Demonstrate good teamwork and good behavior on and off the dance floor

Use clean and appropriate language at all times. Don't gossip. Don't be mean. Don't be judgmental.

13. SOCIAL MEDIA / SOCIAL INTERACTIONS

Please be aware that anything you share on social media is not private. Use clean language and do not post anything inappropriate. If you post team pictures, make sure everyone is included/tagged. Don't leave people out/crop people out of photos, etc.

Please remember that much communication is lost when the person you talk to cannot hear your voice and read your body language. Being sarcastic via text message sometimes comes across as being mean. Think about what you write and how it may be received.

When you wear En Pointe Dance Company apparel, you represent our studio and values. If you are in public or posting on social media, please make sure you behave appropriately. If a staff member sees anything that concerns them, they have the right to speak with you. They also have the right to ask you to take down a social media post that affects the studio. Remember that your behavior reflects our studio, and if it is not acceptable, you will be removed from the team.

14. SUMMARY

We have high standards for our competition team members and their families! We believe that together we can do amazing things! We have zero-tolerance for behaviors such as bullying, excluding other team members, inappropriate language and conduct, or unsportsmanlike and unsupportive behavior. Such behaviors will be dealt with immediately, and you will be removed from the team. A warning may not be given depending on the severity of the offense. Refunds will not be provided.

Please work together to ensure that everyone has the best experience possible on your team! Competition dance will allow you to learn, grow, perform, and make life-long friends!

15. LARGE GROUP AND ELITE TEAMS AUDITIONS - August 12th - 9:00 - 12:00

Competition auditions are for ages 9 - 18. Please plan to arrive early (8:15-8:45) to get your audition number and warm up. Please remember to dress professionally and bring plenty of water and snacks!

Remember to bring all of your dance shoes!

Please be available all weekend. Times TBA

Sunday rehearsals will not interfere with morning church services!

There may be more weekend rehearsals closer to the time of the competition season. The tentative weekend rehearsal dates are subject to change if a competition is scheduled that weekend.

Tentative Weekend Rehearsals

9/8 | 9/9 | 9/10 - only solos, duets, & trios

9/29 | 9/30 | 10/1 - groups & solos, duets & trios

10/27 | 10/28 |10/29 - groups & solos, duets & trios

11/17 |11/18 |11/19 - groups & solos, duets & trios

12/8 | 12/9 | 12/10 - groups & solos, duets & trios

1|26 | 1|27 - We will be using this weekend to run our dances for one another!

Tentative Regional Competitions

2/23-2/25 - Nexstar - Greensboro, NC

3/8-3/10 - Encore - Greenville, SC

3/15-3/17 - ShowStopper - Concord, NC

4/12 - 4/14 - Endless Talent - Fort Mill, SC