Technique Classes:

All students interested in joining our competition team should have at least 1 year of experience in Ballet Academy classes.

Dancers in Jazz/Lyrical/Contemporary/Musical Theater dances must enroll in Ballet Academy at the appropriate level based on their placement class.

Dancers must also take a technique class in the same style as each competition pieces they are placed into.

All dancers are highly encouraged to participate in the drop-in Competition Team Conditioning and Ballet weekend classes. These classes will feature rotating strength, conditioning, and technique specific to the competition team.

Attendance and good behavior in technique classes is required for continued participation on the Competition Team. There is a 5-absence maximum for technique classes to maintain good standing on the competition team.

Dancers participating in Tap dances are required to take at least one weekly tap technique class, a ballet technique class, and jazz/contemporary class.

Rehearsals:

All dancers must attend weekly performance rehearsals with a 3-absence maximum.

Uniform:

All dancers are required to wear solid black or black studio apparel to all competition team rehearsals. Studio apparel options will be available to order in August/September.

Solo/Duo/Trio:

Applications for solo dances will be available to team members in August at the auditions. Dances are awarded based on previous team performance and/or work ethic as displayed during the workshops and first month of rehearsals.

Dancer/choreographer pairings will be made at the decision of the competition team instructors based on instructor availability and style preferences.

Rehearsals for solo dances will begin in October. Previous team members can start their solo earlier based on their previous year’s performance.

Duo/Trio dances can be requested and will be selected at the discretion of the choreographer and Competition Team Director. Dances are awarded based on previous team performance and/or work ethic as displayed during the workshops and first month of rehearsals. Rehearsals for duo/trio dances will begin in October.

Solo/Duo/Trio dances may have the opportunity to compete at additional events during the spring competition season.

Competitions:

All dancers must be able to attend 3 Columbus Regional competitions, dates to be released by the end of August.

An inability to perform due to conflicts with competition dates may result in a dancer being recast or removed from dances.

Conventions:

The Elite Traveling Team will travel to conventions outside of Columbus throughout the year, with dates to be posted in August.

Participation in these events is required for participation on the Elite Traveling Team.

Auditions and Placements:

Dancers can expect to be placed into 1-4 group dances depending on their audition strengths and style preferences.

Auditions will be scored by an independent panel of judges and all placements are final.

Dancers are placed into specific dances based on skills including, but not limited to the following:

Basic dance technique including straight knees and pointed feet on extensions, transitioning arms through first position, chaise with pointed feet,etc.

Ability to remember and perform choreography

Pirouette turns (single, double, or triple) both parallel and turned out

Fouette and al a seconde turns

Turn variations including pencil turns, coupe turns, and attitude turns

Basic leaps with proper technique

Leap variations including calypsos, release leaps, side leaps, and switch leaps

Flexibility including leg holds and splits in all directions

Musicality and improvisation

Personality and facial expressions while performing

Elite Traveling Team Placement:

Dancers showing the highest levels of team commitment and skill may be invited to participate on the Elite Traveling Team. This team will have additional convention and competition requirements throughout the year and you can indicate your desire to be considered for the team at the audition.

2023-24 Competition Team Auditions - Sunday, August 6th

Ages 6-8 — 1:00-1:45pm, Jazz/Lyrical/Ballet

Ages 6-11 — 1:45-2:15pm, Tap

Ages 9-11 — 2:15-3:00pm, Jazz/Lyrical/Ballet

3:00-4:00 Mandatory Parent and Dancer Contract Meeting, all ages

This meeting will cover requirements for participation in the competition team, costume and registration fees with due dates, order forms for required shoes and tights, and other important team information.

Ages 12-14 — 4:00-5:00pm, Contemporary/Jazz/Ballet

Ages 12+ — 5:00-5:45pm, Tap

Ages 15+ — 5:45-6:45pm, Contemporary/Jazz/Ballet

Dancers who are interested, but unable to attend auditions and the contract meeting must schedule a separate audition/meeting time with Kara by emailing kara@artisandancestudio.com

Contracts will be sent out with the placements by Friday, August 11th. Signed contracts are due at your first Choreography Workshop (dates and times listed below).

Competition Team Choreography Workshops

*Attendance is required at workshops for the dances you are placed into. Dancers should expect to be scheduled for at least 2 sessions per dance they are placed into, please reserve these dates now. Full schedule will be sent along with placement into specific dances after auditions. Each choreography workshop will be charged as a drop-in class to cover instructor costs.

Tuesday, August 22nd, 4:00-6:00pm

Thursday, August 24th, 4:00-6:00pm

Tuesday, August 29th, 4:00-6:00pm

Thursday, August 31st, 4:00-6:00pm

Tuesday, September 5th, 4:00-6:00pm

Thursday, September 7th, 4:00-6:00pm

Competition Team Events

October 8, 2023 - Convention

Required for Elite Team

Optional for other competition team members

December 9-10, 2023 - Ballet Academy Nutcracker Performance (optional)

January 12, 2024, 6-8pm, Costume, Hair, and Makeup Meeting

Required for all dancers and parents

February 10, 2024 - Dress Rehearsal and Sleepover

Dress Rehearsal is required for all dancers

Sleepover is optional for all dancers

February 23-25, 2024 - First Competition

Optional for all solo/duo/trio dancers

March 8-10, 2024 - Second Competition

Required for all dancers

March 15-17, 2024 - Third Competition

Optional for all solo/duo/trio dancers

April 12-14, 2024 - Fourth Competition

Required for all dancers

April 19-21, 2024 - Backup weekend in case of full or canceled competitions

April 26-28, 2024 - Fifth Competition

Required for Elite Traveling Team

April 26-28, 2024 - Fifth Competition

Required for Elite Traveling Team

Optional for solo/duo/trio dancers

May 3-5, 2024 - Sixth Competition

Required for all dancers

May - Ballet Academy Performance (optional)

June 1, 2024 - Artisan Spring Recital

Required for all dancers

Competition rehearsals are billed at the same rates as our standard classes. Monthly tuition including all required technique classes and rehearsals ranges from $170 to $250 depending on the number of competition dances and length of technique classes.

Competition Registration fees average about $70 per group dance, $90 per duo/trio, and $125-150 per solo. Fees are charged per dancer, per competition.

Fee due dates are spread throughout the season with the following general schedule to help reduce financial burden:

September 1st - competition apparel order due (optional)

October 1st - costume fees due (required)

November 1st - competition #1 fees due (required)

December 1st - shoe order due (required)

January 1st - competition #2 fees due (required)

March 1st - competition #3 fees due (required)

Elite Traveling Team dancers and dancers participating in solos/duo/trio dances will have additional registration fees due in the fall and spring for their additional conventions and competitions.

Dancers are required to sign a commitment contract for the length of the season (August through beginning of June). Any dancer that breaks this contract will be charged a reblocking fee for each dance they were in. Exceptions may be made for circumstances outside of a dancer’s control.

Reblocking fee of $500 per dance will be charged for dropping out of dances. This fee will be distributed to the instructor and other dancers in the piece for the additional rehearsals to redo the formations and choreography for the dance.

Fundraising to offset the cost of competition registration fees is coordinated by our Parent Fundraising Lead. This person will be announced at the August 6th Parent Meeting and will work closely with the Competition Team Director to coordinate fundraising opportunities throughout the season.

Dancers may be offered a place in our apprentice program which provides the following opportunities:

Understudy specific dances that the dancer was not placed into. Dancers would be required to attend the weekly rehearsals for those dances. Understudies may be given a place in the dance at any time during the season for many reasons, including but not limited to: injury of another dancer, removal of another dancer from the dance, or exceptional hard work by the understudy to earn the place.

Option to attend all Competition Team events including the dress rehearsal, sleepover, and competition.

Option to participate in Saturday Competition Team Drop-In classes for continued training.

Attend and function as dance assistant at competitions to help their team members with hair, makeup, costumes, props and other backstage duties.

Placement into the Apprentice Program may be for a variety of reasons including skill level with respect to the age of the dancer or providing a more gradual transition onto the competition team for younger or first-time competition team dancers.

Apprentice Program dancers are required to meet the minimum technique class requirements for Competition Team including:

Ballet Academy

Technique classes corresponding to the styles they are understudy for

5 absence maximum per technique class

3 absence maximum per competition rehearsal