Allegro Competition Team
Dancer Agreement 2024-2025
Responsibilities
Homework: It is your responsibility to remember your choreography from week to week. If space in your house is limited, here are other ways you can ensure your retention of the material:
Watch your rehearsal videos 3 times between lessons
Listen to the music: close your eyes and visualize your dance alongside the progression of the music, clap the beat, count it out loud.
Mark-it: Practice the arms only, walk your pathways, stand in the correct directions you'd be facing at the right times in the music
Pack your dance bag the night before every rehearsal: don't forget your warm-up tools & sweats, protein and carb-rich snacks, electrolytes, water, journal/pencil, & an empty folder for handouts
Pre-Requisites & Electives
Required Classes: Ballet 3x/wk, Jazz 1x/wk, Contemporary &/or Lyrical 1x/wk
Encouraged: Pilates, swimming, cross-training w/ light weights, Epsom salt baths, meditation, journaling
Discouraged: Skiing, snowboarding, horseback riding, ice skating, rollerblading, ATVs—essentially, any high-risk activity that could potentially lead to injury. While this may seem cautious, it's only for a short period to ensure everyone's safety.
Rehearsals
Start Date: Solo and duet rehearsals kick off the first weekend of October unless you wish to begin earlier.
Attendance is just the baseline: To dance your best in rehearsals, you must attend all your technique classes consistently. To thrive in those classes, you need an extra hour of sleep on the nights you dance PLUS consistent protein-rich meals throughout the day.
Sick Days: If you're starting to feel sick, let your parent and duet partner know as soon as possible so they can cancel or reschedule your lesson.
Injuries: If you're noticing any aches, sharp pains, numbness, or tingling in your joints or muscles, tell your parents and coach as soon as possible. Starting a course of physical therapy at the first sign of an injury can help you stay on track for the performance.
Absences: Missing more than two rehearsals per month may result in your solo or duet being pulled from the competition.
For Duets: If you come to rehearsal but your duet partner doesn't show up or cancels at the last minute, we count that as an absence. Reach out to your partner to confirm your lesson ahead of time, especially if you haven't seen them for a while.
Costume - Hair - Nails - Competition Dance Bag
Tights: Your performance tights should be new and unwashed. Carefully try them on once, but make sure your nails are clean and without any jagged edges to avoid snagging them while ensuring they fit.
Hair: A French Twist will be the easiest way to go from ballet to jazz numbers without the added stress of redoing your hair. The weight of this style may (or may not) alter your balance & how your pirouettes feel. This style works best on unwashed hair (3+ days), but if your hair is freshly washed, dry shampoo can help keep your hair together in this style. Practice alongside this: TUTORIAL
Nails: If you're a nail polish wearer, avoid reds, blues, purples, and blacks at least a month before your performance. If you do feel the need to wear polish for your performance, please stick to clear or semi-opaque colors identical to your skin tone.
Competition Dance Bag Checklist: You can find a baseline checklist HERE. Start putting together your materials at least one month before your performance date.
Sportsmanship
Treat all the dancers you encounter at the competition with the same respect you would show a dear friend.
Do your absolute BEST not to whisper - even if it's just to compliment something you admire about a dancer. If you have something kind to say to someone, speaking directly to them is the best course of action.
When you are in the theater or backstage, share an encouraging smile with those about to perform, applaud dancers finishing their acts, or compliment a particular part of their dance you genuinely enjoyed.
When dancers are being announced for awards in the same category as you, smile and clap for your fellow competitors, even if you don't receive the recognition you feel is deserved.
When receiving awards or recognitions, keep your composure on stage. Smile, make eye contact with the award presenter/judges, and thank them genuinely. (Celebrations are in order later but try to avoid jumping, screaming, or fist bumping on stage during the ceremony).