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ENSEMBLE is Dance Carousel's competitive
dance team, renowned regionally and nationally for its high-energy, crowd-pleasing style and strong team dynamic. POSITIVE
PASSIONATE DANCERS ONLY! The team requires many hours of COMMITMENT, a high level of SKILL, and even higher levels
of TENACITY and ENTHUSIASM. The Ensemble program aims to deepen each dancer's talent, creative expression, personal character,
and sense of responsibility in the service of common team goals. ENSEMBLE TEAM AUDITIONS are held in OCTOBER.
Eligibility To Audition
*
in GRADES 5-12
* mature enough to receive constructive evaluation of strengths & weaknesses
* dancer is ABLE
to commit the time -- and happily WILLING to commit the time!
* enrolled in and attending TEAM LEVEL CORE
and TECHNIQUE CLASSES
* enrolled in and attending 4-WEEK AUTUMN BALLET WORKSHOP
* NOTE: All students who do NOT
audition, or do NOT make the Ensemble Team, WILL BE SWITCHED into INTENSIVE LEVEL classes after the audition process
is complete.
What
We Look For
In Auditions
PASSION! AND EXTREME POSITIVE ATTITUDE! An ENSEMBLE
DANCER must CLEARLY ENJOY DANCING, must have tons of ENERGY, must be a TEAM PLAYER, and must have the COURAGE TO
TRY HER/HIS HARDEST! An ENSEMBLE DANCER must also show technical ability, performance ability, a knockout
smile, musicality, precision, attention to detail, concentration, the courage to keep her/his chin up... and MORE PASSION!
Audition
Evaluations
Every dancer who completes the audition process will be evaluated for specific strengths
and weaknesses, en route to a team placement verdict. OUR DECISIONS ARE WHAT WE BELIEVE BEST FOR THE TEAM
and ARE NOT SUBJECT TO DEBATE.
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Behavior
ENSEMBLE represents the pinnacle of Dance Carousel to this and other communities. WE EXPECT AND DEMAND
EXCELLENT BEHAVIOR AT ALL TIMES, in and out of the studio. Members must be able to handle themselves maturely in traveling
situations. Members must be strongly supportive and amicable towards all peers; disparaging attitude towards any fellow dancer
is grounds for immediate dismissal. Members must behave respectfully towards their parents -- in the studio, on the road,
and at home. MEMBERS MUST WORK EXTRA HARD TO KEEP UP SCHOOL GRADES AT ALL TIMES!
Performance
Groups
Every dancer who successfully auditions for the team will then FURTHER AUDITION FOR SPECIFIC GROUP
PLACEMENTS and will ultimately be placed in four-to-six performance groups. We will create a dozen or so Ensemble performance
groups of various sizes, styles, and ages, for entry into five or six REGIONAL COMPETITIONS in SPRING 2010
and possibly one SUMMER DANCE EVENT in LATE JUNE OR JULY 2010. This Summer Event is by no means optional;
it is an essential part of the Ensemble experience. ANY DANCER UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SUMMER DANCE
EVENT MUST NOT AUDITION FOR ENSEMBLE.
Rehearsals
Complete Rehearsal Schedules are planned and distributed in two-month durations. Times vary week-to-week, depending
on an individual dancer's group placements. THURSDAY
EVENINGS, SATURDAY AFTERNOONS, and FRIDAY AFTERNOON/EVENINGS are frequently used for rehearsals. For smaller performance
groups, MONDAY, TUESDAY and WEDNESDAY EVENINGS are also utilized. Important rehearsals are scheduled over DECEMBER and
FEBRUARY VACATIONS, after consulting all family vacation plans; but there are NO REHEARSALS over APRIL VACATION.
Attendance
The fundamental rule is ZERO ABSENCES. In case of schedule conflicts, we nearly always expect the dancers
to sacrifice for Ensemble: that is part of the COMMITMENT TO THE TEAM. Any member with multiple absences
- or a single competition/workshop absence - may be asked to withdraw, without refund of any kind.
The
Big Shows
All ENSEMBLE performance groups perform in all four BIG SHOWS in JUNE 2010. Attendance and participation in ALL FOUR BIG SHOWS is required for Ensemble team members.
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Support
Every Regional trip requires parent drivers. Members and member parents support each other in other ways as well, including
carpooling to rehearsals, hair styling, and backstage costume preparation. We are, first and foremost, a TEAM:
Together Everyone Achieves More! It's corny, but
it's very very true! ENSEMBLE DANCERS WILL WORK VERY HARD, ENSEMBLE DANCERS WILL HAVE LOTS OF FUN, AND WE
EXPECT GREAT THINGS TO HAPPEN. Enthusiastic parental support of this process is always much appreciated!
Fundraising
The ENSEMBLE PARENT COMMITTEE exists, in part, to develop and to operate fundraising activities, in order to help defray Ensemble COSTUME and COMPETITION/WORKSHOP costs. All families of Ensemble dancers are encouraged
to avail themselves of the fundraising opportunities provided by the Parent Committee; however, all families do have the option
to exclude themselves from both the benefits and the burdens of fundraising.
Further
Audition Information
Further Ensemble Audition Information, including an INFORMATIONAL MEETING, the breakdown of ALL COSTS, and the COMPETITION SCHEDULE for Spring Regionals &
Summer Dance Event, along with an AUDITION SIGN-UP SLIP, will be distributed to all dancers in Thursday Ballet Workshop on
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1.
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