Festivals are all organised slightly differently but generally they are organised like this:
OPEN SECTIONS - NOVICES
When you first enter a festival you are a 'novice': Junior (6-9 years), Inter (10-13 years) and Senior (14+).
You have to stay in the novice section until you have won a 1st or 2nd place. When you have done this you move into the Open section. These are arranged according to age:
Baby |
Under
5 |
Class
A |
6-7 |
Class
B |
8-9 |
Class
C |
10-11 |
Class
D |
12-13 |
Class
E |
14-15 |
Class
F |
16+ |
What
dances can I do?
You
can have up to 6 solos, including ballet, character, national, modern,
tap and song and dance. You can also do duets, trios or groups in all
these things with your friends. You can just be in a group if you want
and not do solos but you have to be absolutely reliable and committed
to the group as it is impossible to do a group properly if people are
away. (There are only a limited number of places for Group-only people and these are restricted to National groups only). Ballet sections from D upwards
have to be on pointe, so you can only do these if you do major ballet
including pointe work.
Is
it hard?
I
suppose it is, but it is also a lot of fun! In comps there is always
someone who is better than you, but the main thing is that you know
you tried your hardest. You have to work at your dances all the time,
every week of the year, if you want to be good. If you are not practising
your dances we will take them off you (you get a warning first). You
must also work hard at your limbering and you will be tested three times
a year. You also have to really love performing on stage. Doing the
same dance week in, week out, can be very boring, so if you are easily
bored this is not for you (nor is a career in dance!).
Will
I win?
I
don't know, it can never be guaranteed. Sometimes it's impossible because
there is another competitor in your section who is just brilliant and deserves to
win. Winning 1st, 2nd or 3rd doesn't really matter as long as you know
you did your best and practised as hard as you could and feel proud
of yourself. The most important thing is that you enjoy yourself and
do well for the school. If you will be upset if you do not win it is
perhaps best that you do not enter. The more festivals you enter, the
more experience you will get.
Is
it expensive?
At
first: Yes Later: No
At first you have to have lessons on your own to learn the dances. How quickly you learn them is up to you and how much practice you do. Then you have to have a costume - comp costumes are beautiful. They are nearly always expensive but are passed on with the dance as you grow out of them so you get some money back – (you must be prepared to pass your costumes on with the dance and not keep them). Your parents must also understand that they have to provide the costume – the school does not. If they can't sew, they must use a good dressmaker. Comp costumes are not 'fancy dress' – they have to be good. Once you know your dances you can share your private lesson if you want to, which makes it cheaper.
Private lessons
at the moment are: £12.00 solo or £6.00 shared.
Junior and Senior Groups £1.50 (per group)
(These are payable weekly, and 24 hours cancellation is required) Lesson money must be paid each week. You must also look at the notice board every week
to see what your lesson time is.
Entry fees for festivals are always kept as low as possible - usually about £2.50 per solo, £2.00p per duet.
Do
I need anything special?
You
will probably need to have two pairs of tap shoes and maybe have a few
pairs of special ballet shoes. You will need a make-up box with some
stage make-up and a mirror. You will also need to keep your hair long
and not have a fringe. For your dance music you will need a separate,
good-quality tape for each dance and a practice tape with all your dances
on. It is your responsibility to bring your practice tape to every lesson
and to have your special tapes ready for each dance at the festival
- this is not your teacher's responsibility as she may not be there.
You must also check the notice board every week for your lesson time,
although we try not to change it if possible.
What
else is there to know?
You have to be doing a ballet class each week as it is the foundation
of all dance. We will only take girls who do every subject – ballet,
tap, jazz, modern and national – so that we can consider you for
any groups that are starting, or places in existing groups. (National
is compulsory as we are well-known for our National groups.)
Attendance at groups is absolutely compulsory – if you miss groups
you will be replaced. All members of the team have to be willing to be in groups and you need to be prepared to do extra shows, charity performances etc. at very short notice - we have to be able to rely on you for this.
It is possible to be in groups and not do solos, but places are limited for this and you have to show the same level of commitment.
You will probably find that you progress in class faster than the class you are in now, so if it is important to you to stay with your friends then it might not be for you.
Our Festival team is a real team. That is, we all look after and support each other. We never let the team down by entering a festival and then not turning up - that gives the school a bad name. Also you have to remember that you are only competing when you are on the stage. When you are backstage you must be friendly, helpful, encouraging and kind to everyone, even someone who has just beaten you to a place. Your behaviour at a festival reflects on our school - you must remember this.
Our team enters three festivals a year which are absolutely compulsory, and then you are welcome to enter any others if you want to – the more you do, the better you will get.
If you want to have a go, just ask Mrs. Gray or Mrs. B, but remember that it is a big commitment. Also, your mum and dad have to be happy about it as they will have a lot of work to do, getting you to and from lessons and taking you to the festivals. You are welcome to have a chat to any of the dancers in the team who will tell you all about it.