ALICATS Competition Team of Excellence

JUNE 1st Is PLACEMENT Saturday!

Our motto for the PRIDE:

“We always Strive for EXCELLENCE through hard work and DEDICATION we are INSPIRED to be our best at all times RESPECTING all those around us as we share our PASSION for dance on and off the stage! “

Our Excellence team: Is for the Company dancer who wishes to compete.  This does require an exceeded level of dedication and drive above those in the company. Competition team dancers should be 100% dedicated to dance. It is their sport. They should possess the drive to want to be the best they can be and no other activity should come before their rehearsals. This team will have strict guidelines and require all team members to abide by them.  All competition team rehearsals will be on Friday or Saturdays. Team members are required to take their level of company Core classes. You will choose which style of dance you wish to be considered for to compete. You will be placed in the styles and dances you will compete in.

How do you join the Competition Team?

We will be holding Placement Saturday June 3rd. Dancers interested in joining the Competition team will be asked to fill out an interest form. Please register for Competition Team at the link: https://forms.gle/aZr9KXcfJhH6K4ee8

All Competition Dancers MUST take summer dance classes. STRICT attendance will be enforced for Competition students.

When will rehearsals be?

FRIDAY WEEKLY Class
NEW THIS YEAR! In an effort to keep the dances polished and ready to compete we will have a weekly rehearsal for all Group Pieces on Fridays. Tentative plan is for Jr. Company to have rehearsal from 5:00-6:00, and Sr. Company from 5:00-7:00pm. The schedule will be finalized once we have the group pieces cast and planned. The cost of this class will be added to your monthly tuition total hours. This class is included in our attendance policy. 

For Group Dances, Trio’s and Duets The following days have been scheduled. Times are TBD for each dance. Days are subject to change based on Staff availability. If this happens at least 1 month advance notice will be given.

Saturday September 7th – REVIEW DAY Miss Alison will Review all completed dances. 

Saturday November 2nd – FINAL Dress Rehearsal for all Tremaine dances before Tremaine!

Saturday February 8th – DRESS REHEARSAL at studio for Showcase! 

SHOWCASE DATE – February 22nd, 2025

please check google calendar – You will be Emailed the link in your welcome E-mail after Call Backs. 

 

Solo, Duo, Trio Rehearsals
When assigned your instructor you will be given the rehearsal schedule for your initial 6 rehearsals. After that, a 60 minute cleaning rehearsal must be scheduled MONTHLY even during December and January in order to ensure your dancer is ready to compete their best come competition season. These rehearsals MUST be scheduled through the front desk, or the parent portal. You MAY NOT schedule with a teacher privately. 

How Many Competitions will we attend?

We will attend Tremaine in the Fall. ONLY senior company dancers who have completed a Spring season of Competition will be eligible to compete a solo, Duo or Trio at Tremaine. We are limited on the number of dances we are allowed to bring. Those interested will need to fill out an interest form. Final decisions will be made based on many factors. One of which is age.  We will then attend 2 additional competitions starting in March. We will consider additional “Optional” Competitions for those who wish to compete more. Please let us know if you have a Competition you wish to attend.

When will we know our schedule for Competitions?

Competitions start putting out dates in early fall. We will finalize the schedule and let you know as soon as we have them.

What conventions will we attend?

All Competition Team members must attend the Tremaine Convention in the Fall. We will offer additional Conventions for those who wish to participate. If you have a convention in mind you wish to attend please let us know.

What is required to Join the Competition Team of Excellence?

Join GroupMe Competition Group on App

Must be a company member, or in level 3 of your style.

Must agree to Company terms and take all Company classes required.

Agree to take minimum hours of classes

  • Must take Ballet, Jazz, And Leaps and Turns, as well as the style of dance you are competing in. 

Agree to Friday, Saturday, and possible Sunday Rehearsal

Agree to compete at 1 Fall, and 2 Spring Local competitions

Agree to attend Summer Classes.

Must pay for additional conventions and Competitions by due dates. 

Agree to attend the Tremaine Convention in the Fall.

Agree to ALL rules and expectations of company dancers

Costs involved in joining Competition other than Company fees

Costumes: Additional Costumes will be required for Competition Pieces. Plan $80-$90 a costume. Solo’s may go over that if you choose.

Shoes: different shoes may need to be purchased to match the costumes.

Jewelry: Additional rhinestone jewelry may need to be purchased. 

Competition and Convention Fees. Conventions are around $300. Competitions run around $65 per piece for groups and $130 for solos. You may pay these fees with Cash, Venmo  or Check with no additional fees. Credit Card payments will have additional processing fees *New prices have not been released for the 24-25 season.

A Studio fee will be added for each competition attending. This fee covers the cost involved for the staff to attend and oversee our dancers at competition.

 How do we get placed in a Duo or Trio?

If you have a Duet partner you wish to dance with, please let us know on the google form that is sent! We will take that into consideration. However, groups will be made based on those who accept placement. Many things will go into the planning of each group. Skill level, age, and how dancers look together on stage. The Director will place each dancer in their group and have the final say.

Can I compete as a Solo?

Yes. All returning Competition members will be eligible to REQUEST a solo. A graduating senior dancer is the only exception to this rule.  The director will make the final decision on all features. ALL SOLOS MUST BE COMPLETE BY SEPTEMBER 1st TO BE ELIGIBLE TO COMPETE FOR THE SEASON.

Solo, Duo, Trio Instructor Assignments
As the team grows and we have more and more interest in competing, we will be going back to the original ways of selecting instructors for features. The instructors will choose whom they wish to work with. Music will be chosen by the Instructor BEFORE the first scheduled rehearsal. Costume will be chosen by the instructor and must be approved by the Director, and Miss Alison before submitting to the parent for approval. 

If I ONLY want to compete a solo can I?
Yes, however there is a limited amount of solo spots available. They will be awarded based on Call Backs, as well as many other factors. Including, but not limited to- Attendance from previous year, classroom behavior, work ethic from previous year, and more. 

Competition Team Rules and Expectations ABOVE Company

All team members must be 100% Dedicated to dance.

This means all rehearsals come before ANY outside activity including extracurricular activities. Failure to do so WILL result in being released from competition without a refund. 

Attendance Policy STRICTLY enforced:

The ALICATS Competition team is required to attend ALL classes and rehearsals for both company and competition. Absences will not only affect the individual dancer, but the Competition team as a whole. 

Each dancer is allowed up to three (3) unexcused absences from Company classes and Company/Competition rehearsals per semester. Semesters run August-January performance, and January start of dance through June Recital. 

*Excused absences receive prior approval from the director; advance notice of absence does not mean it is excused.

  •       Students should arrive 10-15 minutes before rehearsal start time to allow time to stretch, get ready for rehearsal, and promptly start your rehearsal. 

The Following will require 30 day notice to be considered excused: 

  •     Scheduled school programs or performances required for credit (proof required)
  •     Wedding or religious dedication of you or a member of your family

The following we will require proof and notice ASAP:  

  • Death in the family 
  •  If you are seriously ill or infectious with a doctor’s note or notice from parent. 

 

What is NOT excused: 

  • Too much homework and need to study for an exam.
  • Vacations
  • Birthday Parties/Friend hang outs
  • Just wanting a night off. 
  • Other activities/extra curriculars

*Directors discretion will be used. Miss Alison will always have final say. 

Dancers will be expected to watch classes in the studio in the case of injury or mild illness.(for example a broken bone, hurt limb, headache or getting over being sick. These same rules apply to all other classes. Please have something to write changes or corrections while you are sitting and watching class. No cell phones may be used for this. 

Punctuality is just as important as attendance, please be on time and prepared for class. Two (2) occurrences of tardiness will count as an unexcused absence. 

Company members and Competition Team members must be present in ALL their classes and rehearsals the week prior to every performance and Competition. 

Being a member of the competition team  is a privilege and comes with responsibility. Personal accountability is essential for a successful season, and commitment to your other company members is a vital component of this success. When a member of the company is not present, it negatively impacts your entire team. Please do not consider being a part of The ALICATS Competition Team  if you expect scheduling conflicts with other sports or activities. 

 

Classroom Behavior

Anything other than Excellence will not be tolerated at any time. If any Competition team member is asked to leave class due to behavior issues they will be placed on probation. A meeting will be scheduled with the student and parents and a clear plan will be put in place to come off probation. We do not wish to waste anyone’s time or money. If your dancer is not here to take class seriously then we do not want you to be paying for it.

Makeup/Competition Attire

All Team members are REQUIRED to have the NEW Makeup kit. They are also required to wear false lashes. Parents are responsible for having the proper undergarments that do not show when wearing a costume. If performing a Solo, different makeup may be used. However for consistency we need all Groups,  Duo and Trio’s to look the same.

Critique Private Lessons

After each competition you will be REQUIRED to schedule a 30 minute private lesson to go over the Critiques. This can be done in person or on zoom. This is an important part of why we compete. Feedback is how we learn and grow! It is like an athlete watching “film” of their games to see what they could have done better, or that they did well so they can replicate that. 

 

Dancer Etiquette at Competition 

Be kind to one another, say positive things to your dance team & to other dance teams! No talking negatively 

 

Parents AT Competition

ALICATS does not allow parents in the dressing area or backstage once you have dropped your dancer off. This is part of the Admin fee you pay for competition. We find the students are more focused and can prepare better when with their team and instructors. Most competitions do not have large dressing rooms. It can get crowded and overwhelming. We feel it is best that the parents and guests find great seats to sit and cheer their dancers on while we handle the rest. This also teaches independence for the dancers. If they are old enough to compete, they are old enough to keep track of their things. 

Please refrain from posting your child’s rehearsal, costume or song on social media before we go to competition. Putting it on social media before competition ruins our element of surprise and also leaves room for others to steal our creativity.

At competitions, videotaping and/or flash photography is not allowed – we can be disqualified if you are found doing so.

 

Arriving 2 hours before your scheduled time, or when the doors open. 

Dancers should be dressed and ready to perform with warm-ups on 2 hours before their scheduled time. This may mean arriving even earlier if hair or makeup needs to be finished. Some competitions run early, some late, some will take us when we are ready. We WILL NOT be the ones running late because a dancer did not show up on time. 

Awards

When attending a competition it is possible to dance hours before the Awards ceremony. All dancers are REQUIRED to stay for their awards. Students are expected to graciously accept whatever placement they receive. We know it can be both exciting, and sometimes devastating to receive the placement for that day. We expect all ALICATS to hold their heads high no matter the outcome. Every competition is different. Each judge judges differently. It is an opinion of whoever is judging that day. The most important thing is the feedback from the instructors, as well as the critiques to be able to learn and grow. ALICATS Warm ups are required on stage. Please note it is considered tacky to wear a different competition or convention shirt to another convention or competition. 

Cleaning their Dressing room area

ALICATS is known as one of the most respectful studios at every competition and performance we go to. Part of this is leaving a place better than we found it. We will clean our area, free of all bobby pins and sequins if we can! Once your dancer has performed their last dance, if there is time, we expect the dressing area to be completely cleaned and emptied. Dancers should be in their ALICATS Warm ups while on stage. 

Understanding the Scores

There is no real answer for this! Each judge will score differently. Our goal is to improve the areas that need improving. Selecting three things to work on between competitions that we will hopefully not hear again on the critiques. A dance could place extremely well at one competition, then not place at all in another. Unfortunately, unlike other sports, there is no clear winner or loser.