Competition Team Rules and policies

For the past seven years, we have risen to become one of the top competition studios in New England.  We pride ourselves on providing all dancers and parents with expert dance training and a positive learning experience for all involved.  Becoming a leader in competitive dance education is also due to our structured rules and policies.  The following outline has been created to clearly explain all expectations that are put forth for all dancers and parents involved in this program. 

For our dancers…Congratulations on being selected to be a part of our competition program.  Be proud of your accomplishments.  Your hard work has paid off.  Always stay committed to your classes, dance full-out, and pay attention to your teachers.  Those who listen to every correction and apply themselves in every class and rehearsals shall succeed.  Remember to show respect to all faculty members, your parents, and all students at the studio.  We are all in this together.

For our parents…Our competitive program requires a positive atmosphere from all involved.  Cooperation between all parents is expected at all times.  Please show respect for faculty members, other parents and all dancers.  A positive and enthusiastic outlook on this program extends to your child.  Negative comments and feedback can be harmful to your child’s progress and education. 

Most communication among the studio and parents shall be conducted via email.  Please be sure to check your email regularly for information and any updates.  If you do not have access to email, please be sure to inform the studio.  General information for our studio and the competition program is also available on our website.  For any specific inquiries and questions, please contact the office manager.

The rules and policies listed in this handbook are subject to change at any time.  Failure to comply with any of the rules, policies, and procedures of Liza Indiciani Studio of Dance will result in immediate removal from the competition program. 

Mandatory Components

• Our performance/competition calendar listing all specific dates and locations will be distributed in September.  All dates and locations are subject to change annually and are at the discretion of the studio director. 

• We will attend one dance convention annually.  A dance convention is a day and/or multiple days of master level dance classes featuring a variety of guest teachers from across the country.  The location, organization, and levels attending the convention may vary year to year. This will be listed on your performance calendar.

• Our annual “Winter Festival” kicks off our performance season.  This event is a family fun night that showcases all our competition teams’ group performances. 

• All levels will compete in approximately 3 - 5 regional competitions per year.  Pre-Comp will be limited to three competitions annually.  All performances and regional and national competitions are absolutely mandatory.  Attendance during all competition and performance weeks is mandatory. 

• Last minute withdrawals from any regional and/or national competition will not be tolerated.  Serious injuries or family tragedies are the only exceptions.  Solos, duos, and trios are exempt from this rule. All entry fees are non-refundable due to each competition’s policies.

• All competition scheduling is set by the competition itself; not our studio.  Any requests to alter specific days and times of performances can not be accommodated and will not be accepted. 

• Parents are not allowed to contact the offices of competitions.  This is prohibited by the competitions.  All questions are to be addressed through the studio. 

• All levels will travel to a national competition on an every other year basis.  Attendance at Nationals is absolutely mandatory.  We will have approximately 2 weeks of rehearsals prior to nationals.  Attendance at all rehearsals is mandatory for all dancers. Level 1 is exempt from Nationals. 

• Competition Team warm-up suits are the mandatory uniform for all dancers at all competitions.  Team uniforms are to be worn for all award ceremonies.  Warm-up suits will be ordered in the fall for all newly enrolled competition dancers as well as any existing students who may need one. 

• All dancers are required to purchase competition jewelry as it is considered part of costuming.  A list of mandatory items will be distributed to all parents prior to the start of the performance/competition season.  The studio reserves the right to change and/or update styles at any time.  All items must be purchased at the studio to ensure that all dancers have the exact same jewelry. 

• All dancers are required to purchase competition team make-up.  Specific colors will be distributed to all newly enrolled dancers prior to the start of the performance/competition season.  All dancers are expected to follow the specific guidelines for the application of their make-up.  Make-up that is unsatisfactory will not be tolerated.  The studio reserves the right to change and/or update colors and styles of make-up at any time. 

• All teachers reserve the right to do a “group alteration” to any costume.  Group alterations will be done by our studio seamstress and/or our staff members.    Group alterations consist of reconstructing a costume, rinestoning, creating a different style fit for the costume etc.  All individual sizing alterations are the responsibility of the parent and must be professionally altered.  It is mandatory for all alterations to be 100% completed prior to the first performance.

• Level placement, music selection, choreography, costuming and spacing of all group routines are at the choreographer’s discretion and are not up for discussion.  These decisions are made from many years of teaching experience.  All staff members are passionate about our competition program.  We take pride in every student and every dance routine.  All decisions are made in the best interests of the dancers.  Inappropriate and demeaning parent and/or student comments will not be tolerated.

• All dancers are required to attend their level’s group photo session with our recital photographer. 

• Summer dance is mandatory for all competition levels.  Summer dance is scheduled for the first 2 weeks in August.  Specific dates are available on the performance calendar.  Specific classes and times will be distributed to all parents in July. 

• Please refer to our annual class schedule for a complete list of required class days and times for each level's time commitment.

• Attendance Policy:  Proper attendance is an essential component of the dancer’s education and progress.  All classes are dedicated to technique and/or choreography.  A dancer who misses class and/or rehearsal may hold back the progress of the entire team.  When a dancer is absent from a choreography class, they are expected to learn the choreography prior to returning to the next class.  All dancers are allowed 3 absences in each class September through December and 3 absences in each class January through May.  Although dancers are allowed 3 absences, we encourage perfect attendance. Dancers should only be absent if it is absolutely necessary. Attendance will be monitored closely in all classes. There are no "make up" classes for any absence. However, should a dancer be absent, we encourage he/she to attend an additional technique class for the purpose of keeping up with the technique. Attending an additional class does not delete nor give credit for an absence. Dancers are required to sign up in advance to attend any additional classes. Please note space is limited.

• All dancers in all levels are welcome and strongly encouraged to take as many non-choreography classes outside their level's class commitments at no additional charge. 

• Dancers are not allowed to take class at other studios without Liza’s permission and consent.  This is a conflict of interest with our competitive program.

• Dancers are not allowed to teach at any other dance studio and/or business organization without Liza’s permission and consent. 

• The use of our studio’s Facebook page or customer contact list (either by phone, email, postal mail or for any type of communication) for the purpose of negative solicitation and/or defamation of character against any staff member or any relation to the studio will not be tolerated.  Such actions will result in immediate removal from the competition program. 

• With the growing trend in social media, we ask that all dancers and parents refrain from negative Face book postings regarding the studio, its staff members and its students.

• All pictures and videography of students in classes, at competition, at performances, or at any studio related event may be used for marketing purposes.

Optional Components

The following routines all require additional fees for choreography, rehearsals, costumes and competition entry fees.  Please be sure to consider all that is mandatory prior to making your selections for optional routines.

Solos Duos and Trios

• Solos duos and trios are offered to all students in levels 2-8.  Please note that all routine choices are at the discretion of staff members.  Fees for solos, duos and trios vary with choreographers.  Solos, duos and trios are required to perform in our annual “Showcase of the Stars” performance.

Small groups

• Small groups are specialty routines that are decided upon by the choreographer and may vary year to year.  Dancers are selected based upon overall technical excellence of the selected subject.  Depending upon the style of dance, dancers may also be selected based upon stage presence, commitment to choreography, flexibility, extensions etc. Dancers in these pieces are chosen by the choreographer and are not up for discussion from the dancers and/or parents.  Dancers who are invited into a small group piece will be notified on an individual basis.  Fees for small groups vary with choreographers.  All small group routines are required to perform in our annual “Showcase of the Stars” performance, all competitions and recitals.

Showcase of the Stars

• Showcase of the Stars is our annual dance performance that features all of our solos, duos, trios and small groups.  This performance will take place prior to our competition season.  Specific dates will be listed your performance calendar.  All dancers who have committed to these optional routines are required to participate in this performance.

Production

• Production routines are the opening and closing routines for the recital.  This routine features a combination of our competition teams.  The style of dance will vary year to year.  Dancers in levels 2-8 are eligible to sign-up for production.  The levels that will be invited into each production routine are at the discretion of the choreographer.  All rehearsals, performances and competitions are absolutely mandatory.  Specific information regarding rehearsal dates and times will be distributed late fall. 

Financial Obligations

• Summer dance tuition is due late July.

• Monthly tuition is due the 1st of each month (September-May).  You will not recieve a monthly bill. For a full list of all competitive pricing and discounts, please refer to your annual fall registration letter that will be distributed in July.

• A costume deposit of $75.00 per costume is due late October.  Competition Team warm-up suits will be included with this invoice (new purchases only).

• All competition fees are due 8 weeks prior to the start date of the competition.  All entry fees are non-refundable in accordance with the rules and regulations of each competition.

• Cash awards for solos, duos and trios won at competitions will be credited to the specific dancer’s account.  Cash awards for all group routines will be divided among all returning dancers in the specific routine.  On the years that we compete at a national competition, all cash awards will be applied towards entry fees for nationals.  On the years we do not compete at a national competition, the cash award will be carried over to the entry fees for the following year.  Any dancer who does not return to the competition program shall forfeit all cash awards. 

• All costume balances are due March 1st. 

• A $15.00 late fee will be applied and strictly enforced to all overdue balances. 

• Anyone holding an overdue balance will be ineligible for any discounts.

• Parents with poor payment history will be required to make a 3 months tuition deposit at the time of fall registration.

• The child of anyone holding an overdue balance at the time of the recital will not be allowed to perform and participate in the recital.