TDS Company FAQ's - The Dance Space
The Dance Space Company
If you are considering joining The Dance Space Company's outstanding Performing Team, TDSC, we urge you to read through these Frequently Asked Questions and discuss all the requirements, commitments and obligations with your family. Being a member of TDSC is a fantastic experience, but it does involves a high level of dancer and family commitment. We want you to have a thorough understanding of what is required to be a part of our dance family.
If you have more questions, please contact us and we will be glad to discuss TDSC with you.
The Dance Space Company FAQ's
| Q: What is The Dance Space Company? | A: The Dance Space Company is an amazing group of dancers (ages from 5 through 18), who are passionate about dance and performing! TDSC members take Jazz, Ballet/Pointe, Tap, Lyrical, Turns/Leaps, Pilates, Composition and Hip-Hop classes and participate in a minimum of 3 - 4 Regional dance competitions per year along with a National finals competition during the summer. LCDC dancers also attend summer workshops and intensives. | Q: How do I become a member of TDSC? | A: Members are evaluated and selected by the Director and staff of The Dance Space Company. The minimum age for TDSC members is 5 years old, with at least one year of dance experience. We want you to spend an evening with us in Company classes so you can see what it’s like at our studio and we can help you decide if TDSC is right for you. Please contact us for an appointment. | Q: I don't know what skill or experience level I would be with TDSC. What group would I be in? | A: Since competitions are set up by age categories, we group our Company to align with competition age groups. There is not a standard among all dance competitions, but most take the average age of all dancers in a dance number at either the time of competition or the beginning of the calendar year and use this to determine competition placement. TDSC is made up of 4 Companies: Mini: Ages 5-8 Junior Prep: Ages 8-12 Junior/Junior Elite: 10-12 Teen: Ages 11-15 Senior: Ages 14-18 and a High School team which requires minimal hours due to extra curricular activities. | Q: What weekly classes do I take when I’m in LCDC? | A: Classes are assigned by Company (Jr., Teen, etc.), and vary based upon the Company. Most classes you will attend are entirely Company dancers. All dancers will take Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Composition, Pilates and Hip Hop. Some Companies will take other required classes. There are optional classes available to all dancers.We understand that although dance is important to our students, school and family take top priority. Therefore, all company-required dance classes will meet three nights during the week, for 2 to 4 hours per night. This leaves weekends free for homework and other commitments, or you may take other, optional LCDC classes. | Q: How long is the season? | A: Classes start in August and continue through May. The company requirement extends into the summer for Summer Intensive, Nationals Rehearsals, and Nationals. | Q: When are the competitions, and how do I know which ones LCDC attends? | A: At the beginning of the season, the Director decides the 4 regional competitions and Nationals LCDC will attend. The director gives careful consideration to this and only select high-caliber, reputable competitions. Shortly after the decision is made, the dates for competitions will be published, usually by the end of September. Competitions are on the weekends, usually Saturday and Sunday and occasionally Friday night. Our first regional competition is usually in March and the last one is in late May. Nationals are usually late in June or July.Although we try to select regional competitions in the greater DFW area, occasionally we may have to travel to attend a competition, usually no more than 3 hours by car. | Q: How many different dance groups or numbers will I be in? | A: All dancers (Mini through Senior) have to be in a minimum of four dances. One will be the Company Production number. After that, you are can go up to the maximum available for a particular Company. You will remain in the same numbers for the entire season (August through July). Minis have a slightly different plan. On average, our Minis will be in 2 Groups. Our Juniors can be in anywhere from 4-6 group dances. Our Teens can be in anywhere from 4-8 group dances. Our Seniors may be in anywhere from 4-10 group dances. | Q: I want to be in as many Group numbers as possible. How do I do this? | A: Dancers audition at the beginning of the season and placement in Groups will be made by the Director. Be aware that the dancer may not be placed in as many numbers as they elect to participate in due to space and resource limits. ** IMPORTANT INFORMATION ** Please be aware that the more group numbers a dancer and their family select, the commitment level and costs rise as well. Rehearsal times, costume fees, and competition entry fees all rise proportionally with the quantity of dance numbers. This decision is up to you, and is an IMPORTANT decision and commitment of both your time and money. Please make sure you give it careful consideration. | Q: Do only members of a single Company Group (Jr., Teen, etc.) dance in each number? | A: No. Although some times a Group number is made up of dancers within a Company, there are times the Directors decide to place certain dancers together to tap into a dancer’s particular strengths or abilities and to compete with the strongest Group for an age category. Sometimes a Company Group piece will be open to any dancer in that Company. | Q: When do the Competition Group Numbers rehearse? | A: Groups are rehearsed during each group's individual company time. For the 09-10 season these fall during the weekdays.As we get closer to competition times, week-night classes will be re-arranged and Group rehearsals will be scheduled. You will know this schedule well in advance. Some of your regular weekly classes will be cancelled and replaced with Group rehearsals. Please be aware that even though your normal class nights may be, for example, Tuesday and Thursdays, your Group rehearsals during "pre-competition" time may be on Wednesdays and Thursdays, or possibly just on a single night (depending on how many Groups you are in). | Q: Can I do a solo, duet or trio? | A: Yes, and this is your time to shine! Solos, duets and trios are optional and are available to any company member. If you elect to do a solo, duet or trio, you will meet with the Director at the beginning of the season and decide on the style of dance and the music. For duets or trios, the Director will group dancers based upon the individual dancers' strengths and skills. Every effort will be made to honor pairing requests; the Director must approve all groupings. Once everything is agreed upon, you will schedule private choreography sessions. Choreography will be set by a LC Dance Center choreographer only. You will be charged a flat fee for choreography. The fee includes as many privates as needed to complete and “set” the choreography. Once your choreography has been completed, you can continue scheduling privates to rehearse and “clean” your number. The private hourly rates will apply to these sessions, and must be paid for through the LC Dance Center's Office when the private is scheduled. You are responsible for scheduling and signing up for your privates and you do this through the LC Dance Center's Office Manager or online. Costumes for solos, duets, and trios are the responsibility of the dancer. Our costumer is available to custom-make costumes, or you may use a costumer of your choosing. All costumes must be approved by the Director. Check the Dance Company Rates page for solo/duo/trio costs. | Q: What about the costumes for competition? | A: All of LC Dance Company's costumes are custom made or ordered from a catalog. The average cost per costume is $75-$125. You will pay for your costumes in several steps throughout the year. A per-costume deposit is due around October, and balances are paid in several payments prior to the beginning of the competition season. If you have problems with your costume, be sure to let your teacher know so that adjustments can be made. The costumes are yours to keep and you are responsible for ensuring that all costumes and accessories are kept neat and in good repair, and arrive at (and go home from!) the competition intact. Tights and shoes are the responsibility of the dancer, and will vary for each Group. A list of styles, brands, colors and types of shoe or tight for each | Q: Are there other costume accessories needed? | A: Yes. For girls, this generally includes one pair of earrings, one choker, and a hair accessory (barrette, clip, etc).. There is usually one set of accessories per year for all Groups, although occasionally a Group will have a different requirement. To ensure uniformity, LCDC generally will purchase everything and you will buy your own personal items from LCDC. | Q: Can I speak candidly with a LCDC parent so I can decide if LCDC's right for my child? | A: Yes, in fact, we strongly encourage you to talk with LCDC members and their families. Our strongest supporters are our dancers’ families, and they can tell you about their experiences. Please contact us and we can refer you to a LCDC family who would be happy to talk with you. | Q: I really want to be in LCDC, but I may not be able to attend the Nationals in the summer. Is this OK? | A: Yes, but please let us know about it well in advance, as we must re-set numbers to accommodate the missing dancer. You will know the location and dates of the Nationals competition at the beginning of the season, which gives plenty of time to plan and make arrangements to attend. Please make every effort to attend, as we want all our dancers to be able to experience the excitement of a National competition. But we understand that there may be reasons that a dancer may not be able to attend. Nationals usually require out-of-state travel and the expense associated with several days to a week at a resort-type area such as Walt Disney World or Las Vegas. All other expenses, including travel, lodging, meals, etc. are the responsibility of the dancer’s family. | Q: How much does everything cost? | A: Costs vary based upon how many group numbers a dancer participates in. Please see the Company Rates page for pricing details. | Q: Are there any other performing opportunities that aren't competitions? | A: Yes. Our annual LCDC Gala performance is held at the end of the season right before nationals in June and is a public show where friends and families of LCDC can all the hardwork from the season is showcased. The Showcase includes not only a fantastic night of dance presentations, but also is a fundraiser. There are gift basket raffles, a silent auction, and many other great opportunities to support our dancers and to thank our LCDC sponsors and donors. All company dancers participate in the studio's end-of-year Gala. Also, we occasionally have opportunities to perform at local festivals and events supporting our community. |
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