With all of your hard work and dedication, we will meet the following goals:
• To share our passion for dance with our community
• To achieve excellence at competitions and conventions
• To display superior dance technique, style and stage presence at all events
• To work hard, be dedicated and fulfill all commitments
• To maintain and even improve our skills throughout the year
• To be good role models and set good examples for all dancers
• To have fun and enjoy every moment of our season!
All of the Academy teaching staff is very excited about the upcoming competitive year! Questions and concerns may arise so please feel free to contact Sherry or Suzanne for further information.
Email:
Our primary method of communication with competition team parents is by email. We communicate often regarding upcoming events, announcements, scheduling, etc. Accordingly, all competition team parents must provide an email address to us that they check regularly for emails from the Academy Competition Team. Please be sure that this is an email that you can receive non-work related emails on.
All AFA dance competition emails will come from AFACompteam@yahoo.com. We will ask that if you would like to send out a group announcement that you send an email with the announcement to AFACompteam@yahoo.com. We will then take care of sending out the announcement. We will try to send no more than one email a day and try our best to at least give 24 hour notice on turn around.
All correspondence about the Academy of Fine Arts Dance not related to competition will come from the academycastle@aol.com. We will follow the same process as stated above.
In addition, all notes, pictures, etc will be posted on the Competition Team Blog at www.afacompetition.blogspot.com, we will update regularly with important information.
Booster Club:
The Booster Club is the fundraising arm of the Academy Competition Team. This club is headed under the direction of Sherry and Suzanne Wendling and run by the parents of the competition students. This group is separate from the AFA competition team and the Academy of Fine Arts. This group will meet the first Thursday of each month at 6:00pm.
2010-11 Officers:
President: Jennifer Deaver
Vice-President: Mindy Fuller
Secretary: Mary Jo Edmiston
Treasurer: Kathy Farmer
Fundraising Chair: Misti Hollrah
Costumes: Suzanne Wendling
$400.00 needs to be in your booster account by August 15th for costumes.
Instructional Class Requirements:
These classes are fundamental in teaching dancers the proper foundations of all dances and in strengthening them so that they can perform and execute moves in a manner that is technically correct. Ballet technique class will focus on the fundamentals of the classical ballet, including proper ballet positions, body alignment and technique. Jazz technique class is focused on strengthening dancers with targeted stretches and exercises, as well as focusing on proper technique for leaps, turns, and other integral dance moves incorporated into the competition routines. Tap class is focused on strengthening dancers with targeted exercises to help loosen their ankles and improve their sound articulation and footwork. We will also focus on expanding their tap vocabulary and exposing the dancers to different rhythms and styles of tap. Lyrical combo is a class required by anyone competing in a competition lyrical dance and optional for any other students. Lyrical focuses on using emotion within a specific style of dance. Technique class is a class solely focused on the proper technique of each dance move and the proper placement of lets, feet, arms, hands and head.
Class Schedule:
The class schedule for competition dancers will be finalized after camp and will be ready by August 9th.
Practice Attire:
All competition team dancers are expected to dress in full dancewear for every dance class. Competition team members are looked to as role models within the studio and should be dressed properly for all classes (hair pulled back for ALL classes and appropriate dancewear, dance SHOES for all classes, and clean tights with no holes or runs). Please note, this year Academy will follow a strict studio-wide dress code for ballet and competition classes. We feel this creates a more professional learning environment for our students.
Ballet: Black Leotard, pink tights, ballet skirt (optional), ballet shoes and hair in a bun.
Jazz/Technique/Lyrical: Any tight fitting dance attire and appropriate shoes.
Tap: Any tight fitting dance attire and tap shoes.
Competition Dance Practice: Black leotard or dance top with fitted shorts, tan tights and appropriate shoes. Hair pulled securely back off of the face.
Queen’s Closet:
We will place any orders for shoes, tights, etc. on the 15th of each month. There is a notebook at the front desk for ordering Queen’s Closet items; a 50% deposit must be placed on all orders when ordering. Unless an item is on backorder, they will be in within 2 weeks.
Attendance Policy:
A strong attendance record is required of our competition team members.
Regular attendance is essential and mandatory. Students may not miss any of their regularly scheduled classes/choreography the week before competition. Missing the week before competition may result in forfeiting your chance to compete in the dance competition. A few exceptions will be made for school grades or family emergencies if Sherry or Suzanne have plenty of advanced warning and agrees to excuse the absence.
If you miss a regular class, please plan to make this class up in the following 2 weeks. If you miss competition class, please understand you may be asked to make this up with a private at your cost.
All dancers agree to practice, practice and practice some more. You, along with your teammates and teachers, will be pleased with the results.
Extra Practices:
Along with required attendance at weekly classes, there will be some mandatory extra practices throughout the dance year to work on our competition routines or prepare for other performances.
Extra Competition Classes (Interim):
These extra competition classes are used in-between the instructional dance class sessions to help us prepare for competition. These classes are an extra $5 per dance, per night. This will be billed in the month the classes take place. The schedule for these days will be as close to our Thursday schedule as possible. Please plan for the following Tuesday/Thursday dates:
August 10
August 26
December 14
December 16
January 4
January 6
January 11
January 13
Extra Choreography Classes: We are asking ALL competition team members to mark the following Saturdays on your calendars as a possible rehearsal/choreography day:
Saturday, September 4
Saturday, October 2
**We may or may not need all competition dancers to be present on every Saturday listed above; we will try our best to give at least two weeks advance notice of which teams (if any) will need to be available for an extra Saturday rehearsal or performance.
The two Saturday above will be at NO COST to you – these are a complimentary service provided to our competition team so the dancers will be their very best when it comes time for competition!
Choreography Fees: Boosters has covered production and tap fees for everyone.
Competitions:
During the upcoming competition season, The Academy competition team will participate in one showcase, one convention, two regional competitions and the AFA annual recital. The three regional competitions will be during the months of January, February and March. Each of these regional competitions will be in either the Kansas City or St Louis area and is usually on Saturday and Sunday. Some solos, duets or trios might compete on Friday evenings. We will get the ready times to you as soon as we know the competition times but, please note, specific competition times for each competition are not posted until the week before the competition is to take place. There might be a time the dancers must be present at the competition on both days (Saturday & Sunday), other times, a dancer must only be present on one day or the other – it varies competition by competition. Things to keep in mind during the year:
• Students must attend all competitions their groups are entered.
• Students need to be prepared to stay for award ceremonies recognizing their dances. The only exceptions are from the teachers for late Sunday evening awards.
• Students need to arrive at competitions in their AFA jackets and spirit attire. These need to be worn over costumes at all times and on stage for awards.
• Dancers agree to practice, practice and practice some more. You, along with your teammates and teachers, will be pleased with the results.
• Competitions will usually post their schedules 1 week prior to the competition. A copy of the schedule will be posted in the studio.
• Dancers will be given a ready time for each dance. They should be dressed in costume, hair and make-up done, and fed by this time. This allows for stretching and running of the routine(s) before show time, minimizing stress on all.
• Suggested hotels for each competition will also be posted, however it is not necessary to all stay at the same place if you prefer a different hotel, with family or have other accommodations. We will not be making group reservations. Each person is responsible for their own.
• Academy will sell a practice CD for $5. The CD will contain all of the cut competition music for this season. This will be ready for pick up September 1st and charged to your booster account.
• When attending conventions and competitions, students and parents must behave in an appropriate manner. Poor sportsmanship, inappropriate attire, and being disrespectful to anyone (including other studios’ dancers and parents), is unacceptable. Please remember you are representing everyone at the Academy of Fine Arts.
Showcase:
Academy Competition Dancers
January 8
Place - TBD
Dance Convention/Regional Competitions:
LA Dance Magic convention and competition
January 15-16
St Louis, MO
Stage One
February 18-20
St Louis, MO
Show Biz
March 25-27
Overland Park, KS
Recital:
Academy of Fine Arts 24th Annual Recital
Columbia, Mo
Time/Place – TBD
Nationals (Optional):
Hall of Fame
Prelims: May 20-22 in Overland Park, KS
Nationals: June 19-23 in Las Vegas, NV
National Competition:
This year we are headed to Las Vegas for nationals! We will be competing in the Hall of Fame Dance Challenge. The regional competition will be held in Overland Park, KS May 20-22, 2011 and the Nationals in Las Vegas, June 19-23, 2011. We need your final commitment and $200 deposit by January 6th, 2011. National Competition is OPTIONAL for those dancers who wish to attend and compete but strongly encouraged. There will be extra fundraisers for those attending to help with payments and competition cost. We will determine which dance groups will be competing in January based on dancer participation. National Entry Fees and summer tuition for rehearsals leading up to Nationals will be collected separately in 2 - 3 payments between February and April.
Competition Dance Shoes and Apparel:
We will know what color and style of shoe each dance needs by October 15th, 2010. This will be determined once competition costumes are finalized for each group. Competition shoes may only be worn on stage while competing. Only exception is for tap shoes.
We will also be placing orders for warm-ups, competition travel bags, apparel (t-shirts for dancer & parents, leotards, booty shorts, etc) during the September - November Booster Meetings. 50% of the total cost will be required at the time of ordering your apparel items.
Competition Costumes:
We will let you know what style of costumes will be worn for each dance by September 15th. Most of our team costumes are made by Wanda Koch. If you are a solo dancer please understand the group costumes are a huge undertaking and priority. Please have all solo dance costume sketches and ideas to Wanda before August 31st.
Stoning on Competition Costumes:
Each parent will be responsible for the stoning of their competition costumes. Each costume will be provided with a stone design and pictures will be posted on the Competition Team Blog. We ask that all stoning be completed by January 4th, 2011.
As time allows, Ms. Suzanne and some moms, will be offering to stone costumes for a fee of per gross of stones. Please make sure you communicate directly with them on this and plan ahead so all costumes are ready in January.
Solos/Duos/Trios:
All solos/duos/trios need to be approved by Mrs. Sherry or Ms. Suzanne. All soloists over 8 need to have competed in dance for 2 years at a minimum. Soloist under 8 wishing to compete must be approved by Sherry and Suzanne based on technique, attitude and maturity. 50% of the Academy Instructional Bill will need to be paid by September 1st, 2010 and the remaining balance by January 15th, 2011. Not all solos will compete at LA Dance Magic. Dancers will be chosen by seniority and competition ready dances. Those competing in solos or duets at LA Dance Magic need to have booster payments up-to-date and AFA bill paid in full by the December 1st. To compete a solo or duet in the February competition, your AFA bill needs to be paid in full by January 15th. Students are to be enrolled in a solo/duet/trio class provided by the Academy, and take 1 hour of private lessons a month. All solos/duets/trios choreography needs to be completed by September 15th. Soloist will perform their solos in the solo showcase on Sunday, October 3rd, 2010 at 3:00pm.
Get ready for a Great Year!
“Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the house, weeks, months and years they spend preparing for it. The victorious performance itself is merely the demonstration of their championship character.” – T. Alan Armstrong
2010-2011 Dates to Remember:
August 30 - December 9: Fall Dance Session
August 31: Solo costume designs to Wanda
September 15: Solo/Duos/Trio Choreography complete
October 3: Solo/Duo/Trio Showcase, 3:00pm
October 7, 14 and 21: Homecoming Parade Practices, 5:30-7:00pm
October 23: Homecoming Parade, 8:00am
October 28: Halloween (Costumes) Attire for Dance Class
November 19-20: State Cheerleading Competition, time/dances are TBD
November 22 – 26: Closed for Thanksgiving
December 2: Holiday Attire for Dance Class
December 4: Breakfast with Santa, 8:00-10:00am
December 4: AFA Annual Holiday Party at Mrs. Sherry’s, 1:00pm
December 6 – 9: Winter Holiday Showcase, 5:00 to 6:30 each evening.
January 6, 2011: AFA Spirit attire
January 8, 2011: Academy Competition Showcase, 9:00am
January 15-16: LA Dance Magic, STL
January 17, 2011: Winter Classes Start
February 5, 2011: Snowflake Contest in Moberly
February 10: Pink & Red Attire for Valentines for Dance Class
February 18-20: Stage One, STL
March 25-27: Show Biz, Overland Park, KS
March 28-April 3: Spring Break AFA Closed
Recital: April, exact date/time TBD
May 20-22: Hall of Fame, prelims for nationals, Overland Park, KS
June 19-23: Hall of Fame Nationals, Las Vegas
2010-2011 Fundraisers:
Cookie Dough will be in the week of August 13 to August 20. Need a couple people to help sort the day it arrives. Plan to pick up your order by 5:45 pm the day it arrives. (Individual Fundraiser)
Car Wash: August 21 and September 11 from 11 am to 2 pm at Andy’s Frozen Custard.
Spaghetti Dinner: For each dinner, you will earn $9 to 10.
September 16: Orders due September 9th
December 16: Orders due December 9th
February 10: Orders due February 3rd
April 14: Orders due April 7th
Sponsorship Donation Letter: Sign-up for Letters tonight. Donations due Oct 30, 2010.
Pasta Fun: Orders due November 4th
Cookbooks: More information at the next booster meeting.
Magazine Fundraiser: Same as previous years - will run entire year.
Breakfast with Santa at Applebee’s: December 4th from 8-10 am.
Other ideas:
Cropping at the AFA: November 5/6- a weekend crop for scrap bookers.
Bunko Night: Spring?
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