Expectations for All Company Members
Requirements & Expectations for All Companies
* If a parent or member is in question of a rule or procedure, it is their responsibility to refer to this packet before conferencing with the director.
Additional Classes
- Company and Apprentice-must be enrolled at Suzanne’s School of Dance in ballet, jazz, lyrical/contemporary in addition to the company class
- Int 1 & 2 Combo meets requirement for ballet & jazz
- Leaps, turns meets the requirement for jazz
- Modern meets the requirement for advanced contemporary 1&2
- S.T.E.P. – must be enrolled in a hip hop class and S.T.E.P. class
Attendance:
- Attendance to Company/Apprentice will directly correlate with who performs. Commitment to this group is taken seriously. We strive for excellence in all areas, and attendance is crucial to achieve excellence. If other commitments conflict repeatedly with Company/Apprentice rehearsals and/or performances, the student will be asked to re-evaluate their commitment to the group. This includes all extracurricular school activities.
- Attendance in classes- numerous absences without make-up classes could result in a probation time and a loss of performing privileges at the discretion of the director.
- Attendance in the specific class for the company is mandatory. Members will be allowed 2 absences per semester.
- Summer dance classes – students are expected to participate in one or more of the following: studio workshop, outside workshop or Tues/Thurs classes held at our Studio
Workshops:
All Companies
- Workshop in August will be required – Dancers will learn new choreography for 3 dances. Must be present to perform the pieces in the fall. Audition for dances learned in August will be held during the first scheduled Company practice time.
- Must attend all of Dance Revolution workshop in Dallas, TX in November and perform in Showcase
- Attend in-house workshops by guest teachers – this is mainly for company members. In order to continue providing this benefit, we must have enough enrollment to pay expenses for the guest teachers
- All Companies will attend Project Dance Houston on even years
- Participate each year in auditions held the last weekend of April. If auditioning for a new company, i.e. apprentice to company or different level, you will need to pay $40 audition fee.
- Jr. and Sr. Company AbunDance
- Company AbunDance Jr. & Sr. – encouraged to attend Ad Deum first week of August (not required but very important for the entire company to be involved)
- Company AbunDance Jr. & Sr. will attend Project Dance New York on odd years (April)
Performances
Throughout the year numerous performances will come up that will be communicated by email and in class. They will not all be mandatory but highly encouraged so that formations and structures of the dance can remain somewhat intact.
- Dancers will be required to audition for dances during company class the Monday before a performance. If the dancer is not present the Monday before a performance, they will lose the privilege to perform. This audition will tell us who knows the piece well enough to perform it so that we will save class time prior to performances. It is the responsibility of each girl to retain choreography and come to class prepared.
- Some performances that are required include: This is explained in greater detail in Section III
- Fall Fest – October
- George Bush
- Christmas in the Park – December
- Senior Gala – 4th week of March
- Auditions – Last weekend of April
- Recital - May
Optional Competition
v Competition in February (at A&M Consol HS):
Solos ($65) and duets ($90) are optional and come from your personal funds.
**Early January registration deadline**
Expectations as Leaders Inside and Outside of the Studio
- Maintain passing grades in school
- Have good moral standards inside & outside of the studio (need to value and protect the reputation of this dance ministry)
- Have respect for others and teachers – striving to have a Christ like attitude and heart at all times
- Continue striving for excellence in all of your classes. Lack of desire to progress will hinder growth. Maintain good conduct in classes – not disrupting the progress of others.
Fundraising
- Fundraising – participates in ¾ of all fundraising. Lack of continued participation in group fundraisers can result in not receiving benefits of funds
- A fundraiser meeting for each company will be scheduled for the year. Each member is responsible to participate in fundraisers. Parents will be responsible to help Co Chair fundraisers. Members are required to do most of the work with the parents’ assistance.
- Although there will be several opportunities to raise funds, we encourage you to get started early in the year to help with all expenses.
Membership Costs:
I. Payment of Company Fee ($20 per month)
- Apprentice/S.T.E.P. Fee $20/month (9 months) $180 or pay in full for 10% discount ($162)
- Company Fee $20/month (12 months) – can receive discount if pay for the full year
- If a member is a part of two different companies, one fee is required
- If two or more siblings are enrolled in the same company, 1st student is $20 and 2nd is $15
i. Exp 1: Company AbunDance – $20
S.T.E.P. $20
Exp 2: Apprentice – $20
Apprentice – $15
The company fee is not able to be applied towards the unlimited dance class tuition. Unlimited classes will be $205 per month, making the payment for company members $225 per month.
II. Dance Revolution in Dallas – November
* Student Registration: $145
* Observer fee (if parents want to sit in and watch classes)- $30
* Special Hotel Rate is approx. $89 per night (based on last year price).
**Early October registration deadline**
III. Project Dance Houston – Spring (only on EVEN years)
* Registration approx $200 + Hotel expense if staying in Houston
IV. Project Dance NY – April (only on ODD years)
* Registration approx $200 + travel expenses
- There will be as much fundraising as possible to help minimize costs
V. Company Summer Workshop – 3 days August 17th-19th – $60
STEP – 2 days August 23rd and 24th – $40
VI. Other regular expenses
* Jacket for year- approx. $45
* Mom’s t-shirts – approx. $20 (optional)
* Additional costumes for performances will be sporadically needed. We try to keep these to a minimum and reuse costumes. They will either be ordered through the studio asking that you repay the studio for them or simply asked that you purchase them. (For example we may announce that a costume is needed from target which you can either order online or visit the store for one.)
The Administrative fee goes towards the following:
Salaries – Gina, Blair, Bonnie, Morgan, Suzanne
Office Supplies – CDs, directories, handouts, etc.
Extra Rehearsals – pay the teacher’s salary, utilities
Organizing performances & activities
Studio use for fundraisers, etc.
Use of Funds for Company Members
Company funds can be used for things such as:
- Jackets – New Jackets each year
- T-shirts
- Costumes
- Workshops, competition
- Dance bags – Optional
- Project Dance – NY & Houston, Ad Deum (company)
**all funds are applied to the same expense for each member (i.e. one member cannot use the money for jackets and another for competition. The money will be used for the same thing – as a group.) Exceptions are made by Ms. Suzanne. This is a general rule.
Section II – Guidelines for Demerits (section 2 and beyond for Jr. and Sr. Company AbunDance ONLY)
A. Any member who has 5 standing demerits the Monday before a mandatory performance will not be allowed to perform but must attend the practice and the event.
B. Any member who has 10 standing demerits at the end of either the fall or spring semester will be dismissed from the company until the next audition the following year.
C. Members must sign for demerits. If there is a discrepancy, members must make an appointment with their small group leader and the director before signing for the demerit. It is up to the discretion of the director whether to count the demerit
D. Once a member has signed for a demerit, she may not contest the demerit
E. It is the responsibility of the small group leaders and the director to assign demerits for their own group
F. Certain demerits may not be taken away with previously earned merits or merits earned after the demerit is assigned
Demerits Offense Demerits
A. Disrespect towards the director, teacher of
company specific class or in any class at the studio 1-10
*Merits will not apply
B. Negative attitude towards peers, company, or company activities 1-10
*Merits will not apply
C. Missing a mandatory performance without an excuse 7
(written excuse must be turned in the Monday
before scheduled performance)
D. Unexcused absence from practice 5
(first 2 are excused per semester)
E. Any other act deemed appropriate by the director 1-10
Section III – Mandatory vs. Non Mandatory Events
There are 4 events that are imperative to a member’s participation in Company. These include:
A. Summer Company Camp in August before school starts
B. Dance Revolution in November
C. Project Dance NY on odd years and Project Dance Houston on even years.
D. Senior Gala – 4th week of March
The following performances are Mandatory, meaning we must have a written excuse the Monday immediately before the performance or sooner in order for a member to be excused from the consequence of demerits. A member will receive 7 demerits if no notice is given. If a member is kept from performing due to a standing of 5 or more demerits the member is expected to attend and show her support from the audience.
- Fall Fest – October
- George Bush
- Christmas in the Park – December
- Auditions – Last weekend of April
(not a performance therefore a member cannot be kept from attending due to demerits)
Section IV – Guidelines for Merits
A. Members may earn merits before or after a demerit is assigned in order to cancel a demerit out.
B. Members may earn merits any time throughout the school year
C. Merits may be turned in on Mondays only.
D. Merits must be turned in the week that a service act was performed. For Example: If volunteer hours were earned on a Wednesday the next Monday is the only time a merit may be awarded for that act.
E. A merit turned in on the Monday before a performance can be used to avoid the penalty of a missed performance
F. Each member is responsible for turning her own merits in to her small group leader in writing.
Description Merits
A. 1 hour of volunteer hours at the studio or around town 1
B. No demerits for 2 months in a row 1
C. Committing to assist 1 class for the school year 5
D. Each additional commitment to assist a class 2
E. Perfect Attendance in all required classes for 1 5
Semester including company
F. Working a Birthday Party 2
Section V – Emergency Pass
A. Each member will have the use of 1 emergency pass to be used in cases of extreme urgency such as a sudden illness.
B. Each member is allowed one use of an emergency pass per year.
C. The pass must be cut out and turned in the following Monday after the absence or normal consequences will follow.
Section VI – Small Group Leaders
A. The small group leaders are chosen based on years and experience in the company and is at the Director’s discretion.
B. The small group leaders will regularly take attendance for their own small group and assign demerits when needed.
C. When disciplinary actions are needed it is the responsibility of the small group leader to bring it to the director’s attention. It is NOT the responsibility of the small group leader to administer consequences.
D. Small group leaders will be responsible for knowing all necessary information and making sure their small group does as well.
