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SEASON KICK-OFF: TEAM REMINDERS
Mandatory Choreography Camps and Rehearsals: All parents and dancers signed our Team contract – please make sure to be aware of our attendance policies! Part of the attendance policy states that dancers CANNOT be absent from a Rehearsal or Technique class during the week prior to an upcoming competition. We need the whole Team to be present because of formations, spacing, and any last-minute changes due to dancers out for injuries, illness, etc. We want to avoid as much day-of stress, making/learning changes, as possible. There will be a COVID addendum addressing attendance policy changes that may adjust over time depending on state and federal guidelines, etc. Please click HERE to view our COVID Addendum that was also presented at registration.
How to connect for Team updates: We primarily communicate through our monthly newsletters. Here are other ways to get updates:
Team Website: www.academywi.com/teams Password is 2021team
Team Facebook Page: Please request to become a member of this page by emailing [email protected] with the email address that is linked to your Facebook account and Miss Alyssa will add you to the Team page.
Team App (for all smartphones/devices):
Download the Team App from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Then search for APA Dance Team by pressing the ‘+’ in the top right of the app and join. The documents and schedules sections are like a mini library of things we put out – please check there for info and schedules, you will likely find what you need!
Team Instagram (apadanceteams): we do post info on here when we can, but do not include everything. This is more for social interaction and announcements like color week, competition photos, quick video reminders, etc. We also know our dancers are on Instagram versus Facebook, so this is a place for them to stay in touch with info as well.
*Please re-read the communication section of the contract. Personal Facebook accounts and FB messenger is not an authorized way to get in contact with teachers and staff – they are not checking that for work-related messages. Please do not expect responses here, we need to consolidate where we get and give information.
Reminder- Monthly Saturday Rehearsals: Just a reminder, one Saturday per month (in September, November, December*, January and February) each Team will have an extra 30-minute Rehearsal on the same Saturday as Production practice. Miss Sarah discussed this with all families at registrations.
Team Absence Reporting: To record any absences, please go to the Team website and click “Absence Form” to complete the google form. This should be used for all absences. It will automatically generate a timestamp on our end, so please remember all absences that could be considered for an excused absence must be entered in this form no later than 30 days prior to the date of the absence. If it is a last-minute absence, please call AND complete the form. Note: you will only get a response to your reported absence if you’re asking if it’s excused or not.
Sizing Day Items: All Tap, Ballet, and Jazz shoes (except for Bloch Tap shoes that you need to order) are available for pick up at the Oak Creek front desk, if you have not picked them up already. All other items will be handed out as they come in (usually mid-to-late October). Teen level dancers should wait to order new tan Jazz shoes until we have finalized costumes so we know if they will be black instead.
Team Jackets: Please stop at the desk by August 14th to be fitted for Team Jackets. If your dancer already has a Team jacket that fits, you do not need to order a new one. At this time, jackets are for dancers only. Cost is $65 plus tax. Here is the link to order. The online store will be open for 3 weeks, and jackets will be delivered approximately 3 weeks after the online store closes.
Mask Mandate: There is a statewide mask mandate for anyone ages 5+. We will require all dancers to have masks on while they are in the studio, including when they are dancing.
Team Parent Meeting: Our first mandatory parent meeting of the season will be during September. This meeting will be held virtually and live streamed in our Team Facebook group so make sure you’re on that. This is the same day as the extra Saturday rehearsals for the month of September. We will be covering changes and updates for the dance year, expectations, costuming, etc. There are no major changes happening to scheduling or anything covered during registration, just kicking off the season on the same page. We expect to be done within 1 hour, with some time for questions. We would like to encourage all new families who would like more information about how all of this works, the way competitions run, etc, to stay on after that time for an additional 30 minutes or so (returning parents who do not feel the need to cover it can log off).
Choreography Camp Schedules: Please click HERE for your dancer’s choreography camps for the end of August. This is a linked/living document so we update as often as we can. The October dates will be finalized and emailed out by August 24th along with other competition dates that we have available. If we get the October choreography dates ahead of time, we will post on the team Facebook page that they have been updated on this live document.
Extra Saturday Rehearsal Schedules: The same document that has the Choreography Camp Schedules has an additional tab which will have the Extra Saturday Rehearsals for each month. Please note at the top of each month, it will say Finalized or NOT finalized. September’s has NOT been finalized yet. We will inform you when we have this complete. Each month, we will try our best to rotate who has the earlier times and who has the later times. Please keep in mind, we do our best to not have large breaks for your dancers, but with many dancers on multiple Teams this isn’t always possible to avoid.
Fee Reminders: Just a reminder when Team fees will be charged to the account on file.
Week of August 3rd: Second ½ of September Tuition, choreography camps, and misc. sizing day items.
9/15/20: October tuition
9/25/20: Costume Fees
1/4/21: Team fees: This is usually the largest amount due at one time so we want to give you as much time as possible to plan ahead. If you would like to pre-pay in smaller amounts, please contact Alyssa at [email protected] to make arrangements. Pricing for competitions have not been updated yet. We will include this in future newsletters.
Optional Conventions & Blue Team Required Convention (but open to all dancers): Any Team Dancer can attend a Dance Convention through APA. Please register as stated below. We are excited to offer conventions again this year, as it is such an amazing way for dancers to get more opportunities and training. Conventions offer exciting classes in all types of dance including Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Hip Hop, Lyrical Jazz, Contemporary, and Musical Theater. NYCDA offers scholarship auditions and a strong focus on developing technique and artistry in dancing. Showstopper, specifically, offers acting, voice, and specialty classes as well! Dancers will learn high energy and innovative choreography from some of today’ s hottest choreographers and professional dancers throughout the country, as well as experience classes focused on technique and dance alongside their peers from around the neighboring states. It’s an inspiring, supportive, positive, and fun event for all ages and levels. Conventions are only required for Blue Level Dancers, but highly recommended to all teams!
*FYI – if students are missing rehearsals and dance classes on a Friday or Saturday, they would be excused and it would not be counted as an absence because they are attending a studio-endorsed, dance-related event.
OPTIONAL ~ Showstopper Dance Convention (must be 6 years old by 10/13). Please make sure this does not conflict with your dancer’s choreography camps.
2 days, $250 per dancer.
No observer fee for parents who’d like to watch.
October 17-18th Wisconsin Dells, WI Kalahari Resort – 1305 Kalahari Dr. Wisconsin Dells, WI
How to Register: Pay the APA front desk Monday-Thursday 4pm-9pm by due August 30th. If you would like to use the account on file or a credit card there is a 3% service fee.
Room rate is $169 per night and includes 4 waterpark tickets! Please call 1-877-253-5466 and reference Showstopper Dance Convention (they did not provide us w/ a group code). For additional details on this particular convention please visit this link.
OPTIONAL ~ Groove Dance Convention (suggested for students ages 7 and older). Please make sure this does not conflict with your dancer’s choreography camps.
1 day only, $135 per dancer
$20 parent observer fee would have to be purchased the day of from the merchandise store.
Sunday, October 25th Wisconsin Center – Downtown Milwaukee – 400 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Exact times will be released closer to the convention. This will start in the morning and go until late afternoon.
How to Register: Pay the APA front desk Monday-Thursday 4pm-9pm by August 30th. If you would like to use the account on file or a credit card there is a 3% service fee ($3.75).
BLUE TEAM student requirement ~NYCDA Dance Convention – Registration Due – November 23rd This is a BLUE TEAM student requirement. Other conventions are optional. This is the official APA convention that staff will attend, if that factors into your decision.
1-Day Workshop: Ready, Set, Dance: Ages 5-7: $115* (confirming price)
2-Day Workshop: Ages 8 and older: $265
Spectator Fee: $50 p/p
Chicago, February 12th-14th at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare
How to Register: Pay the APA front desk Monday-Thursday 4pm-9pm by November 23rd. If you would like to use the account on file or a credit card there is a 3% service fee.
Competitive Competitions/Events Schedule 2020/2021: We are still working to finalize dates and events (we are dependent upon competitions releasing their dates too). The full schedule should be updated and confirmed by October 1st. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]