What is the Dance Team?

The dance team is a group of dedicated young dancers who love to dance, want to improve their skills, perform for others, compete in dance competitions, perform community service, and be a part of a wonderful extended family.

Team Auditions, Saturday, September 6 2008 - Completed!

Congratulations to all of our new Team Family Members! Returning members please welcome:

WELCOME: to a brand new dance year!!!! And.... it will be the best ever!!!!

Congratulations to our newest team members and their families. We are very happy to welcome you all to our Family!!! Casey, Paloma, Greer, Allison, Sydney, Ashley, Ava, Eden, Sophie, Courtney, Kara, Anna, Jade, Chase, Alexa, Erica, Chantal, Jona, Madison, Lital, Sage, Gweneth, Nicolette, Nicole, Abigale, Jack

We have determined our initial groupings for Dance Team. We will make adjustments as needed in the next weeks.

Everyone will be rehearsing this Saturday and every Saturday until the Holidays at the following times listed by group number. The first week or two we will be tweaking the schedule a bit but rarely by more than 30-45 minutes which we will be posting on our website at least 2 days before each Saturday. Your Group # will be replaced with Group Names once a song is chosen.

Please note that I am human after all and make mistakes, so...... if you are not listed below or have a question, please let us know via email to mnrdance@mac.com. In some cases your name might be listed in two groups. You have a choice which group you want to be in.

Listed below each group are the "suggested" classes for that group. Remember you need to take the class that is best for YOU not your friends.

Group 1 - 9:00-9:30am - Alisa
Class Recommendations: SATURDAY MORNINGS, ANY COMBO DURING THE WEEK, MON. HIP Hop age 5-7

Jack Balidkoski
Ava Duchrow
Anna Horn
Sasha Lu
Jona Makhani
Sophia Rudomin- Wade

Group 2 - 12:30pm-1:00pm - Kyrra
Classs Recommendations: MONDAY JAZZ AND BALLET 1-2, TUESDAY JAZZ/BALLET COMBO, WEDNESDAY PRE JAZZ/TAP COMBO, THURSDAY BALLET/JAZZ, SATURDAY BALLET AND TAP AT 1:00 PM, SATURDAY JUMPS AND TURNS

Sydney Chow
Courtney Goodkin
Margaux Maxon
Lital Mizrahi
Georgia Wiles
Abigail Ullendorff
Antonia Anselmo

Group 3 - 1:00pm-1:30pm - Roni/Alex
Class Recommendations: MONDAY HIP HOP /TAP/BALLET, WEDNESDAY BALLET, JAZZ, TAP, THURSDAY BALLET, JAZZ MUSICAL THEATRE, FRIDAY BALLET JAZZ TAP J/T, SATURDAY BALLET, HIP HOP, JUMPS AND TURNS, TAP

KJ Allen-Neissen
Charlie Dorfman
Georgie Dorfman
Eden Fincher
Sophie Goldberg
Tashi Katz
Melanie Katzen
Chase Kirshbaum
Erica Kort
Gabriella Martinez
Sage Orvis
Amanda Rosenberg
Nicolette Slusser
Kimara Velez
Haley Wilson

Group 4/5 - 2:45pm-3:30pm - Kyrra
Class Recommendations: MONDAY BALLET JAZZ TAP, WEDNESDAY BALLET JAZZ TAP, MUSICAL THEATRE, FRIDAY CLASSES AND SAT. 11:30 BALLET, JUMPS AND TURNS OR TUESDAY BALLET JAZZ JUPMPS AND TURNS, WEDNESDAY BALLET JAZZ, THURSDAY BALLET AND JAZZ MUSICAL THEATRE, SAT. 11:30 BALLET,JUMPS AND TURNS AND TAP

KJ Allen-Neissen
Sandi Meyers
Shelby Heitner
Paloma Bloch
Madison McGarry
CaseyApel
Jade Iovine
Chantal Lary
Nicole Swallwell
Kara Grant
Sami Simon
Adriana Buonocore
Ariella Maman
Allison Chow
Julia Zukin

Because - 2:45pm-3:15pm - Roni
TBD

Group 7 - 3:15pm-4:45pm - Roni
Class Recommendations: TUESDAY SENIOR CLASSES, THURSDAY SENIOR CLASSES SATURDAY SENIOR CLASS

Jeanine Aberbook
Annie Aberle
Wesley Adams
Nicole Harris
Renee Stewart
Dakota Daniels
Michelle Laksman
Jody Thigpen
Jill Wilson

Group 6 - Thursday or Saturday TBD
Class Recommendations: TUESDAY SENIOR CLASSES, THURSDAY SENIOR CLASSES SATURDAY SENIOR CLASS

Greer Bronson
Meghan French
Talia Gergely
Symone Harris
Katie Meyers
Teresa Reish

Just a couple of Notes: Especially for New Team Parents.

1) For Groups 2 - 8 please make sure your dancer is dressed and ready, warmed up at least 15 minutes before the scheduled rehearsal, and be prepared for the rehearsal to end up to 20 minutes after the time listed. There are times when a choreographer is trying to work something out and the creative mind can't be cut short by a silly thing like TIME....:o)>
We will do our best to be courteous with your time!

2) If your dancer has regular classes on Saturday (most dancers do) they may have some time off between classes and rehearsals. Make sure you know your class times and rehearsal times and schedule lunches, parties, etc accordingly. The schedule will be posted on the door of the A studio (the largest one) by 10am each Saturday and online on the team news webpage. If there are any major changes to the Saturday Schedule less than 2 days before, you will be emailed and /or called. Please make sure your dancer has water, snacks or lunch if needed. This time is a real bonding time for the girls and is almost as important to them as the actual dance class. Feel free to ask questions.

3) If you are interested in a Small Group in addition to the large group, please let us know. We will be starting the small groups after we get the 1st set of groups started.

4) Everyone will be charged a Team Deposit of $575 ($775) if you are doing a solo/duet or trio, which will be applied toward your total annual fee. We will have your Monthly payment calculated as soon as you confirm your classes and by October 1st when the first payment is due. We will give you a breakdown of all fees.

5) All team members are required to have a team uniform which includes a MnR Dance Team Warm Up, Black jazz pants, black mnr Leo, black Team Skort, black biker shorts and team garment bag. We will be measuring all the dancers in the next couple of weeks to determine their sizing.

That's it for now.

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All information below this line is archive infomation 9/9/08

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Parents: You need to fill out paperwork prior to your dancer auditioning. Click on the link to the forms to bring with you on audition day.

Team Contract 2008
Team Form for Audition 2008

Dress:   Tights, black leotard, black jazz pants or bike shorts.
Bring jazz, ballet and tap shoes.   Hair tied neatly in a bun.

Hope to see you there.
Roni and Marianne

Dance Requirements?

Age 6 & under:
Two Combo classes, or One Combo class and one ballet in addition to one group rehearsal.

Age 7 & up:
Two ballet classes, one jazz class, Jumps and Turns and choice of either a tap, musical theater or Hip Hop class, and one group rehearsal. All soloists under 15 must also take a 3rd ballet which can be one level below or above their current level.

What extra commitments are expected?

There are up to 5 competitions each year (see calendar).  There are also multiple special performances and benefits, and the year-end open number recital rehearsals.  Opening number rehearsals for the annual recital usually start 6 weeks before the recital on Saturdays with extra rehearsals on the 3 Sundays before recital.

Although many of our dancers are talented in other sports and areas, we ask that if you decide to be on the dance team, you make the 5 weekends that we have competitions your priority and limit missed rehearsals to no more than 3 times before you are put on probation and risk being replaced without refund.  

At the discretion of the choreographer, a dancer who misses multiple rehearsals and does not learn choreography from another dancer, before the next rehearsal, may be replaced or lose their spot.  There will be no refunds for competition or rehearsal fees paid.  It is not fair to those that have made the commitment. 

What about Competitions?

You will be given the dates of these competitions, no later than October 1st of each year and should make sure that you do not make any unbreakable plans during these weekends.  At least one week prior to each competition we will have the final schedule and be able to let you know what day and time your numbers will perform within a 2 hours period.

Frequently we have parents come to us 3 weeks prior to a competition and say that they never knew there was a competition coming up.  Make sure you know these dates.  If they change for any reason you will be notified by email.  If you do not use the email, it is your responsibility to check the bulletin board frequently at the Dance Factory.  The bulletin board has posting of all emails sent out.

Traditionally, most competitions separate the Jr. levels & Sr. levels so that most dancers only have to come to one day of competition.   If you are in a solo, duet/trio, you will most likely have to compete on multiple days.

Special Conventions and Nationals:

Each year we participate in a convention for ages 8 and up, and one Nationals.  Nationals usually occur the last week of June (one week after our recital) or the first or second week of July (which usually is very close to 4th of July).

We try to choose a Nationals that will be fun and can be combined with a family vacation in either  Las Vegas, San Diego, Disneyland, New York, Hawaii, etc.  Participation in the Nationals is not mandatory, but it is recommended.  More importantly, we need firm commitments by May 1st, to take advantage of lower airfares, make flight arrangements, groups selections, choreography changes and submit the entry's.  There are always costs for late entry's and changes.

What actually are these additional costs?

There are additional costs for rehearsals, costumes, competition fees and props. Please note that these fees are approximate and have not been updated for this year yet. We are working on a formula which will be very close to these numbers.

Rehearsals:  Rehearsals last from 25-45 minutes at least once per week on a specified day.  The cost for the 1st number is $915, 2nd is $708 and $627 for each subsequent group per competition season.  This cost includes the choreography cost, $125 Costume deposit, competition fee and weekly rehearsal and extra rehearsals needed for competitions.  (Solo's, duet's, and trio's are based on a different fee scale).

Costumes:  Range from $125-165 per routine.  We will include a deposit of $125, per routine, into the per group fee, and we will adjust any differences in the final payment. If we use a costume that you already purchased for recital, we may make some alterations or add stones which will cost between $15-$40.

Competition Costs: Costs depend on how many and what kind of dances your dancer is in.  Below is the annual average cost per person based on last years fees.

Approximate Annual Competition Fees - for all five Competitions: (Convention Costs and Nationals are not included).  These costs will included in the the group, solo, duet fee.  

Each Group:	$185 for year, $37 each
Each Solo:	$475 for year, $90 each
Each Duet:	$275 for year, $55 each
Each Trio:	$250 for year, $50 each

Average Annual Costs: Total average cost per group number is $915 for the entire year  which includes the rehearsal fee, choreography fee, competition fees and costume.  Average cost for each solo is $1450, Duets $850, Trio $700.  These costs include 10 each 30 minute rehearsals, additional rehearsals will be charged at the standard private or semi private rate as needed.

Team Uniform and Warm-ups:  For all new team members there is a mandatory Team Warm up which costs $100.00 for child sizes and $125 for adult sizes.  Returning members: If you have grown out of your team suit you must order a new one.

The new team uniform for special events is a black skort, black jazz pants and a DF top.  This eliminates the confusion when we are doing special performances and cuts down on costume changes and possible damage to expensive competition costumes.  New members, the initial cost of this uniform is $100.00. (Skort, Top & Jazz Pants) purchase of a MnR Dance Factory Garment Bag is also required for $35.  Returning members, please let us know if you need any replacements for any of the items.  Otherwise we will only order for new team members.

Props:  Annual Prop Fee $25 per dancer.

Payments:  In order to help reduce your monthly costs, we will combine all class fees for the entire year, include recital costume fees, competition fees, costumes for competittion, choreorgraphy, add the calculated team fees together and divide by 11 months.   A credit card on file is required in order to participate on the dance team.

A team deposit due in September of $575 for dancer only doing group numbers, and $775 for those dancers doing Solo's, Duet/Trios.

Click here to open worksheet to estimate costs.

Are there any requirements of the Parents?

Each family is required to sign up for a job during the year.  We will have a sign up sheet at the Audition for you to sign up.

Props - Load props on truck Friday night and unload Sunday of competition weekend
Recital - Take tickets, make flower arrangements, work the concession booth, sell tickets, etc. 
Costumes - Help with measurements, alterations, accessories, etc.

Help your dancer be organized:  Be on time for rehearsals & competitions, have all costumes, shoes and makeup at all competitions, please do not rely on your dancer, let them pack and you double check, you will be the one driving home to get the left item.

Practice:  Encourage your dancer to practice at home and prepare for each rehearsal.  Rehearsals are not productive if the teacher has to repeat choreography and moves learned the previous week.  Reinforce commitment by not allowing your child to miss rehearsals for party’s, movie dates, play dates, etc.