Who may audition? Auditions are open to dancers entering kindergarten through 12th grade. Any and all levels of experience are welcome.
What should I expect at the audition? Dancers need to arrive at least 15 minutes early to sign in, get their audition number, and warm up. We will not conduct a group warm-up, so you must be fully warm by 5:00. The studio will open at 4:00 on audition day. Auditions will cover the following styles: ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary/lyrical, and hip hop. If the dancer does not have experience in a certain style, they will still be encouraged to participate during that part of the audition. Dancers should also expect to show any of their tricks/specialties.
What should I wear/bring? Wear fitted clothing that makes you feel comfortable and confident! This is so instructors can see your lines/alignment and how you move. Hair must tied back and/or out of your face, and bulky jewelry must be removed. Bring all types of dance shoes you own. Dancers are encouraged to bring a water bottle and snack if they'd like.
What is the time commitment for a team dancer? Your commitment varies based on the number of dances you are in, and you are able to tell us your limit of dances. Several of our competition pieces are learned during the summer, but we do allow some flexibility for family vacations or other obligations. Once the school year begins, the majority of rehearsals are on Sundays between 12:30-4:30. Your dancer will only be required to be at Sunday rehearsals when their piece is rehearsing. Rehearsal lengths vary per week based on the needs of the piece. Some dances have a guest choreographer that does not live in Columbia, whose piece is often taught over two days outside of regular Sunday rehearsals. Our team attends 3-4 competitions/conventions each year beginning at the end of January through March. Our competitions are in Kansas City, St. Louis, Branson, or Indianapolis. We aim to announce which competitions we will attend at the parent meeting (audition day from 5:00 - 5:30).
If I audition and make it, do I have to be on the team if I change my mind? No! An audition and an offer do not equal a commitment right away. Once offers are sent out, dancers have 48 hours to accept or decline. We encourage dancers to come out and audition even if they are unsure whether or not they would like to be a part of the team.
However, if a dancer decides to quit the team once they have begun learning a piece, they will still be charged a choreography fee. This is to compensate our choreographers for the time they put into choreographing/staging routines, and the changes/re-staging they will have to do after a student quits.