Dance Team Auditions For
Inspire Dance Company
When:
The week of June 1-5 (see specific days/times below)
Who should audition:
Dancers who
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Love performing on stage and want many more performance opportunities
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Stay focused and work hard in class
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Thrive as part of a team
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Love a challenge and are motivated to push themselves to be the best that they can be
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Can be committed for the whole length of the season (September-June)
Why:
Dance team at Truckee Dance Factory builds confidence and leadership skills, teaches accountability, and promotes a growth mindset all in a positive, supportive environment while creating life long friendships... Plus, its fun!
Audition Specifics
Tuesday, June 2, 6:45-7:45 PM
Level 1-2 Dance Team (age 7-11)
Technique Skills
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Splits and standing forward fold 6” or better
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Single Pirouette (can turn correct direction and lift correct foot)
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Saut De Chat or Grand Jete with chasse step prep
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Chaine Turns
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Battements with straight knees, turned out in a la seconde
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Basic Steps: Pas de bourrée, kick ball change, box step, pivot turns
Other Skills
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Can focus throughout class, isn’t a distraction to others.
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Attempts to apply corrections
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Can stay on balance in stretch positions and can hold without wiggles, keeping knees straight.
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Attempt to stay in timing with the music.
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Acro skills are a bonus
Thursday, June 4th, 6:45-8:15 PM
Level 3 Dance Teams (age 11-16)
Technique Skills
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Splits and standing forward fold 4” or better
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Controlled double pirouettes on both sides with correct prep, clean landing, spotting, straight knee, high passe.
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Single attitude turn front and back with correct leg positions and good control in turns
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Surprise Leap- stretched knees and feet, correct body placement, clean arms, height in jump
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Tour Jete- stretched knees and feet, correct body placement, clean arms, correct timing in air
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Turning Jete- hips square to side, legs even, stretched knees and feet, clean upper body placement, height in jump
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Illusion (no hands)- stretched knees and feet, proper execution/timing of upper body
Other Skills
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Can memorize choreography/combo.
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Can apply and retain corrections.
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Can count music and stay on correct counts.
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Shows good basic technique throughout dancing including straight knees, stretched feet, upper body control.
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Isn’t afraid to improv.
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Acro skills are a bonus
Friday, June 5, 3:15-5:15 PM
Level 4-5 Dance Teams (age 14-18)
Technique Skills
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Splits and standing forward fold 2” or better
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Controlled triple pirouettes on both sides with correct prep, clean landing, spotting, straight knee, high passe.
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Double attitude turn front and back with correct leg positions and good control in turns
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6 fouette turns and 6 a la seconde turns (shown separately)- no traveling, proper turnout and hip placement, timing of plie and releve, controlled arms.
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Leap in 2nd- legs to 90 degrees or higher, stretched knees and feet, correct timing of legs
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Switch Leap
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Firebird Leap
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Layout
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Callypso
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Butterfly Jump
Other Skills
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Quick choreo pick up.
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Retains and applies corrections.
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Has excellent understanding of textures, performance quality, musicality.
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Has clean transitions and dances full out.
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Demonstrates excellent technical proficiency.
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Has good understanding of personal style as well as choreographic style.
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Confident in improv.
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Acro skills are a bonus
Did You Know?
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For women leaders, up to 90–96% of women in C-suite roles played team sports
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Team sports are linked to stronger social skills and teamwork abilities, helping kids learn how to collaborate and communicate effectively
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Kids who play sports are 8x more likely to stay physically active as adults.
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Long-term team participation builds grit—and grit predicts success. Kids who stick with activities for a year or more are more likely to graduate college
Is Dance An Art Or A Sport?
At the competitive team level, it’s both a sport and an art. It’s an art because dancers learn expression, musicality, storytelling and how to impact an audience. It’s a sport because it requires strength, endurance, precision, consistent training under pressure and working together as a team. Each dancer must be accountable.
On a dance team, students get the best of both worlds: the discipline, accountability, and teamwork of a sport combined with the creativity, confidence, and expression of the arts. That combination is what makes dance team so powerful. It develops strong, resilient athletes and expressive, confident artists at the same time.
More Info About Inspire Dance Company
Who we are:
Inspire Dance Company is a performance and competition team for dancers specializing in the styles of contemporary, jazz, ballet, acro and musical theater dance representing Truckee Dance Factory in the community.
Our mission and vision:
Through performance, competition and classes we aim to give young dancers the opportunity to grow their knowledge and passion for dance and performing. By encouraging them to strive for excellence in dance and in life, we work to teach them life skills such as teamwork, focus, goal setting, leadership, commitment and accountability. The reward is not in the trophy but in the priceless memories made and life lessons learned.
What we do:
This group is perfect for dancers who show interest in the performance element of their dance training and want to go above and beyond the classroom. They are focused mostly on performing locally in our community and will have the opportunity to participate in several performance events throughout the season. These dancers will also attend 2 weekend-long conventions and several competitions throughout the season. We typically aim for 1 event per month. Most events are in Tahoe, Reno, or Sacramento, with occasional travel to the Bay Area.
Weekly class requirements September-June:
Each member is required to take ballet, jazz, contemporary, and technique classes. Acro and hip hop are highly recommended and required at higher levels. Weekly class hours range from 5 (for beginning team members) to 10+ (for advanced dancers). Dancers also attend one or more weekly team rehearsals.
What are the expectations of the team members?
Aside from attending all required classes, rehearsals and events, Inspire members are expected to be leaders and role models both inside the studio and within their community. Respect and kindness toward themselves and others, self-discipline, hard work, follow-through, goal setting, positivity and leadership are some of the qualities Inspire members are expected to demonstrate. Specific activities designed to help dancers understand these skills are planned into team rehearsal classes. Team members will also receive personalized guidance in their training and extra help with reaching their individual dance goals.
A Note From the Director:
The TDF Way
There is much debate in the dance world about whether dance, a form of art, should be judged. Many also question whether it is healthy for young dancers to be exposed to competition. Growing up as a competitive dancer since the age of 7, and having directed competition teams for 20 years I can attest to the fact that there are many approaches to dance competitions, not all of which provide the dancers with a positive experience. At TDF we represent ourselves and our dancers with integrity in all aspects.
Dance competitions present an opportunity for dancers to practice their performance abilities. In a year a dancer will spend many hours in the studio learning how to master their technical skills and often only one or two opportunities to practice their performance skills. As with anything else, this too requires practice. I have seen many dancers who are able to perform beautiful turns and leaps in the studio but cannot perform to their best abilities once they reach the stage due to stage fright, nerves or just lack of practice in front of an audience. Learning how to make an emotional impact on the audience is something which can only be taught through the experience of doing it.
Competitions inspire the dancers to perform to the best of their abilities and give the dancers something to work for. They present a wonderful opportunity for children to learn how to handle both winning and losing with grace and humility, ultimately providing them with valuable life lessons. Eliminating the fear of failure will give them greater self-confidence in all aspects of life.
Dance is a continuous learning process, even for the best dancers, and understanding that there is always room for growth is a key part of a dancer’s training. The group dance routines are choreographed to cultivate a love of dance as an art form as well as to challenge the students to raise the bar for themselves. Competitions are what many kids can relate to and have fun with but when dances are choreographed with only a trophy in mind it threatens to take away the artistic quality and the passion that truly defines the dancers artistic abilities. It is great fun to win trophies, but years later the trophy won’t mean as much as the great joy and memories that come from truly loving the artistry of dance, making lifelong friendships and working as a team.
In the long run I hope to create a healthy, balanced experience for the group by exposing them to what competitions and conventions have to offer as well as exposing them to the world of dance, a powerful art form.
Understanding the true value of being a team is held in the highest regard for Inspire members. A reliable team, where every member is truly working for the greater good of the team, is able to achieve heights so much greater than any individual. A “team first” mentality is expected from every team member. Regardless of competition scores, the value of understanding teamwork and bigger picture life lessons, along with the support and friendships created along the way is our definition of success.