PRE-COMPANY

 

 

 

REQUIREMENTS

 

• This company is for our younger dancers 4-6 that are not quite mature enough to be in the main company. This company allows the younger dancers a chance to learn the discipline of structured dance and the art of performance. They will also compete in some of the competitions if we should decide compete and any other performances that are available for them.

 

• All Pre-company members will be required to pay a sign on fee of $75, when you agree to let your child be a pre-company member. This fee will be due when you sign the membership contract (contract length from Aug-Aug). The fee is non-refundable, should you decide leave or are dismissed from the company during the year. (see grounds for dismissal)

 

• $150 Monthly fee for all pre-company members - This fee allows the child access to all ballet, combo, and hip hop classes designed for their age. It does not include fees for rehearsal times. See below rehearsal fees. This does not guarantee placement in a certain number of dances (if the dancer shows the ability, a solo may be allowed but is a separate fee, see price list for more information)

 

• If a pre-company member is granted permission for a solo, a $200 choreography fee will be incurred.  That fee will include 1 free hour of private instruction.

 

• Costume fees will be the responsibility of the company member. Some costumes are more expensive then others. You must be prepared to to pay these fees if you choose to be a pre company member.

 

• The child will be required to be attentive and respectful even for their age. They will in turn be treated as such. They will learn classroom discipline and acceptable behavior. Any discipline problems will be addressed immediately.  No poor behavior will not be tolerated. It is grounds for company dismissal.

 

 

SOLOS

 

• Dancers must be approved for a solo.

 

• There are additional fees for soloists.

 

• As a soloist you are allowed to have an outside choreographer. However, any solo must be well rehearsed and must be performed for staff to be sure it is show ready, before it is allowed to beClick here for rate sheet for privates and Studio Rental Costs performed as a company member. There are options for a soloist to rehearse dances that are choreographed by someone other than The Hargest Academy choreographer.  1) you can rent a studio when it is not in use to rehearse.    2) you can schedule privates with staff members to help you clean and perfect your dance. If you schedule a private, the studio rental is not charged.

 

• Solo costumes are an additional cost.

 

 

STUDIO GUIDELINES

 

• All dancers will be placed in dances at the discretion of the choreographer, do not assume your child will be in all pre-company dances, just because they are in the company.

 

• A dancer will be considered for dances when they have achieved the requirements necessary for the dance that is being choreographed. Dancers must earn their positions in all dances, and will not be placed in a dance unless they have achieved those requirements.

 

• Dancers can reach requirements by working hard in class, paying attention and practice.

 

• All dancers are different and should be considered as individuals. No two dancers work at the same pace and will be treated as such.

 

• The conventions are optional for pre-company members. The pre-company members will attend 2-3 competitions per contract length (August 1st - July 31st), depending on the schedules of the competitions available. We will also be looking in to other avenues of performance opportunities.

 

• Our focus will be on teaching students how to use their bodies correctly and effectively, so as to sustain as few injuries as possible. They will learn to be disciplined, respectful, professional and will gain knowledge of the value of a good work ethic through self-motivation. They will understand the joy of achieving goals by pushing themselves because they want to go farther and get better, not because it has been given to them, or forced upon them. That is not to say that we will not push the dancers to be the best they can be. They will be expected to be respectful, and not disruptive in any way.  Any discipline problem will be addressed immediately and will not be tolerated. The dancer must be prepared for direct critiques and sometimes feelings are hurt indirectly, this is not the intention of the teachers. The dancer needs to learn from critiques, not cower to them. It builds life long character.

 

• We will not look down upon students that want to dance for the sake of dancing. If the dancer is fine with their class level, we are also. We will encourage all types of dancers, those that are doing it for fun and those that want to be professionals. There will be no division in classes, only the level division.  The only classes not open to the public are the company classes on Saturday morning. Those classes are only open to company members.

 

• The discipline that dance teaches you is valuable whether you become a professional dancer or not.

 

• Any outside extracurricular activity is fine, unless it interferes with rehearsals. The dancer is in charge of their own progression. The more dance classes they attend the better they get. That being said, if the dancer is not up to the level of the piece being choreographed then they will not get a position in the dance, and/or if the dancer falls behind in a piece that they have already been given a spot in, then they will be removed from the dance and the understudy will be put in their place.

 

• There will be understudies for every piece choreographed, in cases of illness, injury or the inability to fulfill the requirements of the piece. Just because you have been given a position in a dance does not mean you get to keep it. Every dancer must earn their spot, no special treatment, or excuses will be allowed. In the case of illness or injury, the dancer that is out for those reasons only, will be replaced with the understudy until the injured dancer has recovered fully and shows that they are back to their original pre-injury condition. However, just because they are no longer injured/ill does not automatically guarantee their spot back in that dance, they must show the ability to jump back in the dance knowing any and all changes that might have occurred in their absence, and also they must be able to keep up without problems. This may mean that the child might have to get with other dancers to learn anything that has been missed, or attend rehearsals when they are injured.

 

• Understudies must be able to fill any position or any part in a dance, no matter which part it is. Do not accept the understudy position unless the child is able to come to all the rehearsals and learn everything. This is a big deal. The child must rehearse every position and know it as if you were going to perform it at a moments notice. This is a wonderful position for dancers wanting to get ahead and better themselves as dancers. Even if the dancer does not get to perform in the dance they are an understudy for, they are getting better and showing the determination necessary to get ahead. Being an understudy is hard work, but very, very important, not to be taken lightly. It is not to be thought of as a consolation prize. If the child is asked to be an understudy, it is an honor not a chore. Do not accept the position if the child is not willing to put in the time required for this position.

 

• If company members request additional rehearsal time outside regularly scheduled Saturday rehearsals, those rehearsals will be at a cost to company members involved in the rehearsals scheduled. Those costs will be as follows:

 

• • Company rehearsals for 2 people are $25 per person per hour
  • Company rehearsals for 3-9 people are $20 per person per hour, not to exceed $30 per person for any rehearsal over 2 hours per dance
  • Company rehearsals for 10 or more people are $10 per person per hour, not to exceed $20 per person for any rehearsal over 2 hours per dance
  • Understudies do not pay for any extra rehearsal time scheduled

 

• That being said, any extra rehearsal time is optional and not mandatory. We will only act as your rehearsal coach or choreographer, so do not feel obligated to attend extra rehearsals if they have been requested, by other dancers. Rehearsals will only be scheduled if a majority of the dancers in the piece can attend. Once rehearsals have been scheduled and confirmed with all the dancers that will attend, a 24 hours notice of cancellation must be given or payment will be expected in full from all dancers in the scheduled rehearsal.

 

• 3.75% credit card processing fee will be charged for competition and workshop fees charged on a debit/credit card. No extra fees for checks.

 

 

GROUNDS FOR PRE-COMPANY DISMISSAL

 

• If a student shows disrespect to any teacher, outside choreographer/guest teacher, officer workers, other students, parents (their own or any other adult). The student will get one warning only, and if it happens again they will be dismissed immediately.

 

• If a parent shows disrespect to any teacher, outside choreographer/guest teacher, office workers, other students, or parents. There will be immediate dismissal no second chances. Parents know better, and will be held accountable. This is a professional studio. All members and parents will act and be professional. We are building young professionals and want to teach them by example how to behave as a professional.

 

• Any act deemed unprofessional will go on the members record and will be addressed. Action of some sort will be taken depending on the extremity of the situation. Some actions could receive immediate dismissal.