Dance Company 2011-2012

AMP runs 5 Student Dance Companies, providing pre-professional experience for serious dancers ages 9-20 years old. Students must participate in a rigorous month-long audition process (applications, dancing, oral/written interviews) to enter one of five dance companies (Impact, Vibe, Impulse, Axis and Axis Pro) which combined include 40 dancers. Company dancers are trained in ballet and jazz technique, choreography, and have opportunities to attend Master Classes, travel to conventions, and perform at local events.

Through AMP’s partnership with Santa Barbara Dance Arts, company dancers receive their formal dance training through a broad and rigorous curriculum offered by Dance Arts faculty. Company members are also trained in mentorship and philanthropy. Dancers serve as dance company captains, big sisters to younger dancers, and teaching assistants. Company dancers also learn about the business of running and sustaining dance programs at a local level.

Our companies have their own annual show at Center Stage Theatre called Configuration in which the company members perform their repertory and are taught to choreograph and assist in production, lighting, and costuming. Year after year, Company members insist this is their favorite weekend of the year and for the last two years we have sold out 4 houses and are adding a 5th performance for 2012! Collaborating with Santa Barbara Dance Arts has allowed AMP to host its second annual Student Choreography Showcase directly in a dance studio. This show was completely directed and produced by the Axis and Axis Pro Dance Companies with the assistance of the other three companies. These young philanthropists raised over $5000 for the Arts Mentorship Program scholarship and company programs.

AMP’s Student Dance Companies also have unique opportunities to perform and travel. The dancers attend The PULSE Convention in Las Vegas with So You Think You Can Dance and America’s Best Dance Crew professionals. In 2010, Axis Dance Company received the great honor of being the Faculty Favorite and was invited to perform in NYC and LA. The Dance Companies also perform at local events including: SBCC Football Game Halftime, UCSB Gaucho Basketball Halftime, The Lemon Festival, Earth Day, MUS Carnival, Crane School, SB International Film Festival, Dance Alliance’s On the Verge and BASSH, and Santa Barbara Dance Day. Be sure to view the Company Calendar before signing up to audition. Audition Prep and Audition Sign-up sheet will be due on August 12th and the Company Questionnaire (for Dancers and Parents) will be due the FIRST day of auditions. These will be available on the web mid-June.

Requirements To Audition

We encourage ALL interested dancers to audition even if it is for the EXPERIENCE! It takes pressure off of future audition years.

• 9 years old +


• Movement/Technique - double pirouette, double chaine, grande jete


• THOROUGH review of calendar and understanding of time & commitment.


• COMPLETED AUDITION PACKET

Audition 2011-12 (Read on for detailed Company info, cost and audition breakdown)

Thorough review of Calendar. Click HERE – this is not updated so current company members should rely on EMAIL updates.

• Audition Dates:


• Wed 7 September- 6p-6:30p - Mandatory Parent/Dancer meeting
• Thurs 8 September – 3:30-4pm Check In – 4pm – 6pm Audition Day 1
• Fri 9 September – 3:45-7:30 – Audition Day 2
• Sat 10 September – 9am-noon – Audition Day 3
• Sun 11 September – NOON – results posted
• Mon 12 September- Classes begin
• Fri 16 September – 5:00 -6:30 Mandatory OREINTATION for dancer and parent and PHOTO!


• In preparation for the audition and the start of classes we offer an audition prep/mini session… also Independent PE classes (NOTE: Schools increased required hours so more is offered during these weeks than in the past!)


• Click here to download the revised AUDITION PREP and AUDITION SIGN UP SHEET. Due by August 12th! (Update NEW sheet)


• 2011-12 COMPANY AUDITION PACKET - Must be completed and brought to auditions. THIS IS REQUIRED!! Click HERE to download


• Axis Pro Supplemental Packet - Click HERE to download


• Pre audition private consultations are available and recommended. $50 per hour and $85 per hour. office to schedule. It is best to set these before summer or early summer so your dancer has time to work on the feedback from the directors.

Companies Requirements & Guidelines:

NOTE: In 2011-2012 season, placement will be made in the FALL. The first week of classes will be an audition. All dancers must go to their 2010/11 classes the first week or two to be assessed. Therefore training throughout the summer could affect your dancer’s placement.

All Company Members

• Performances: Lemon Festival, Configuration, Earth Day, Dance Day, Year-End Recital


• Can attend the PULSE Convention in Las Vegas (with Mia Michaels, Wade Robson, Tyce Diorio an more)


• NOTE for Juniors and Seniors in High School – We are giving you a bonus of 30 points to help with the extra pressures you are facing with school and college prep.


• FEES - the fee for Company ($475 – detailed on next page). Dancers participating in BOTH Pro and Axis Senior will pay $475 plus an additional $150.


• Opportunity to audition to dance in Big Stage Productions Fall musical at The Lobero in January! (Sold out three houses in 2011). Audition, schedule, and fees TBD.

Breakdown By Company

AXIS PROFESSIONAL DANCE COMPANY
(3-6 members) - Read below for more info

• 4 Repertory Pieces (2 with Axis Senior and 2 with Pro only) PLUS the ability to participate in the Optional Piece.


• Ability to perform in PULSE (2 opportunities if desired)


• Ability to ‘opt out’ of one piece


• UCSB shadow date – day in the life of a dance major


• Extra performance opportunity – Kinesis (SB Dance Alliance)


• NEW Solo Audition – one dancer will audition to bring a solo to the New York City Dance Alliance Competition in late March in the Bay Area. This will be set by a faculty choreographer and the prizes for this honor include college scholarships. $250 fee and $250 subsidized by AMP to cover costs of choreographer and costumes. Additional costs for travel and comp fees TBD. The Solo will also be featured in Configuration!

• High School Junior or Senior – College (max 23 yrs old)


• Jazz 2x week, Ballet 2x per week, and rehearsals set by the company at Pre-Audition Pro Meeting (see Calendar)


• PLUS flexible choices for college bound and University dancers to meet extra requirements (extra class OR honors project see Axis Pro section on back page for details)

AXIS SENIOR DANCE COMPANY
(5-9 members)

• 4 Repertory Pieces (some will include Axis Pro members), PLUS ability to participate in the Optional Piece.


• Ability to perform in PULSE (at least 1 opportunity – 2nd piece TBD)


• Ability to ‘opt out’ of one piece


• Directs and Produces the Student Choreography Showcase


• Extra performance opportunity – Kinesis (SB Dance Alliance)

• Company Class – Tuesdays 7:00 – 8:30


• Jazz 2x week, Ballet 2x per week and one additional dance class

IMPULSE, VIBE & IMPACT
(7-12 members)

Company Class – Friday 5:15 – 6:45pm - Jazz class 2x per week, and Ballet 2x per week.

• 3 Repertory Pieces (some will include Axis Pro members), PLUS ability to participate in the Optional Piece.


• Ability to attend PULSE Convention in Las Vegas


• Assists in production of the Student Choreography Showcase

• Company Class – Tuesdays 7:00 – 8:30


• Jazz 2x week, Ballet 2x per week and one additional dance class

Commitment for Company Families- IMPORTANT!

More than ever these students are pulled in every direction with commitments. While we love that our students are well-rounded and participate in many activities, it is very important that Company is the PRIMARY activity outside of school and can take precedence over other activities. Extracurricular programs such as dance teams, school plays, or playing a competitive sport have caused undue stress and burnout in students and we strongly advise that both parent and dancers examine calendars carefully before committing to Company.

This also goes for volunteer work, mock trial, and other endeavors. We have found that these activities are possible to do with Company and help round out your College Applications… HOWEVER - They are only successful with Company IF you to navigate the calendars before the audition process begins to avoid extra rehearsals, fees, and pressure on the other Company members and Faculty.

Payment

Checks are due at orientation along with a deposit for Convention. Please make them payable to the Arts Mentorship Program. There are NO scholarships available for company dues or convention; however there are limited funds available for classes. Please pick up a scholarship application from the office.

Audition Components

Warm ups and breaks will be given throughout the audition process.

Auditions will be judged on a point system based on: technique, performance skills, behavior/attitude, ability to pick up new material and interviews/packets will be rated on a point system as well. Final results are determined by point totals over the entire audition experience. Behavior will affect placement!

Note: Company members from previous year will have a set of bonus points based on their performance and behavior the prior year. (This can be a plus or minus factor.)

Wednesday September 7 is the mandatory Parent/Dancer Meeting at 6pm-6:30 (After audition prep class!)

AUDITION DAY 1 - Thursday, September 8
Submit Completed Audition Packet (SEE ABOVE)- Must be submitted at the beginning of the audition. STUDENTS WITHOUT PACKET WILL HAVE POINT DEDUCTIONS!

AUDITION DAY 2 - Friday, September 9

AUDITION DAY 3 - Saturday, September 10

Audition results will be posted on Sunday, September 11th NOON at the Studio

Giving Back and Company Sisters

This year we are asking that our company members ‘give back’ to the Arts Mentorship Program by volunteering for various events throughout the year. This last year, we added our Sisters program where each of our Company members was assigned a Sister. This helped newer company members be paired with our seasoned veterans and feel welcomed into the program.

Contract and Points

At the orientation, company members and parents sign a contract for the year. We use points to track attendance, and behavior and maintain accountability to their team and help re-enforce responsibility.
GUIDELINES - ALL COMPANY MEMBERS START WITH 125 POINTS. (All High School Juniors and Seniors – will get an additional 30 points)

1. All attendance points apply to COMPANY CLASS, TECHNIQUE CLASS, and BALLET/LYRICAL CLASS for the ENTIRE YEAR!
2. -10 points per absence & -5 points per tardy (No points are given for illness, religious holiday or MANDATORY school events. )  
3. All behavior points apply to ANY DANCE ARTS class, performance, event!
4. If any company member gets -80 points, they are put on warning (parents and student will be notified).
5. If any company member gets -100 points, they will expelled from the company and replaced by an alternate.
6. Company members that are expelled MAY audition the following year.
7. Any infractions (including expulsions) will be taken into consideration for auditions the following year.

Compare and Contrast: Company vs. Dance Team (Emeralds etc) or OTHER Activities

At some point all young people must start to make choices as they become more committed to their various after-school activities. We do not necessarily ascribe to that philosophy and encourage our dancers to be well-rounded and involved with activities outside of dance. We do say this with an ounce of caution as we do not like to see dancers over-extended or under committed as this is about the Company/team not just the individual. When deciding if Company is right for you, please look at our Calendar and be realistic about your ability to commit to all necessary dates. We do mean mandatory when it is stated and the spirit of the group requires all members to participate when called upon.

Our program is VERY different than school dance teams. Our mission and focus are fundamentally different along with the cost and commitment. Both are great programs, but one may suit your young dancer better than another. OR, you may opt to do both! Please feel free to contact us if you have questions. We also have several mothers who have had daughters do both programs and that can offer some insight. Unfortunately, Markettes/Cheer is not complimentary with our program at this time.

Axis Pro Supplement

Axis Pro is a unique opportunity for young adults to train in a professional environment with flexibility and freedom to cope with a busy schedule. Dancers must be a Junior or Senior in high school and college (age 23) with guest spots for young faculty. The Axis Dance Company has 2 components: Axis Senior Dance Company and Axis Pro. Sometimes Axis will perform as ONE unified company and other times they will perform separately. Read on to learn more about and how the two work together.

Axis Professional Dance Company.

• All dancers 18-21 years old must attend training about the legal and professional responsibility they have as mentors with minors in the company.
• There will be a supplemental packet for the Pro to be submitted at auditions.
• 1 piece set by faculty choreographer for Axis Pro only.
• 2nd piece can be a faculty piece OR a piece to be set by Winning Student Choreographer on Axis Pro– read below for details.
• All Pro members are eligible to submit a concept, music, costume and movement sample to the faculty.
• If more than one member wants to choreograph, the faculty will choose the winning concept and that will be the piece set on Axis Pro (or Axis Pro and additional dancers based on auditions)
• There will be a small stipend for the student choreographer for their time AND a budget for costumes.
• Axis Pro must take required classes OR
• TECHNIQUE - 1 more dance class per week – any discipline at Dance Arts
• LEADERSHIP – mentor one of the companies and regularly attend their rehearsals. This could result in choreography opportunities for the Junior Companies. Or, assisting class at Dance Arts qualifies as well.
• HONORS PROJECT – submit a project for approval by faculty that involves dance and the community.
• Of course, dancers may opt to do both.

* A note about STRUCTURE:

• Axis Pro is designed to foster independence and responsibility. While there is a structured component to the program, this is meant for dancers ready to take initiative and leadership in a different way than in Axis Senior
• At the beginning of the year, we will hold an Axis Pro Orientation. At that time we will determine the style the group would like to work in and if the group wants standing rehearsals or to set specific times to meet on weekends/early afternoons.
• There will not be regular weekly updates about PRO rehearsals. Those will be determined as a group and you are responsible to keep track of your rehearsal time.
• Axis Pro is a living thing that will grow and change with the group of individuals in the company. Be patient and flexible!

Which should I do? Should I do both? Axis or Pro?

Doing both is for a very focused individual who wants to be completely immersed in dance. It is a very large time commitment, but could be wonderful to expand the performance experience and training of a young dancer. While it is a lot, it is possible… It is all about planning. Alana is happy to work out the logistics with you privately if this is your goal.

Regardless of which path you choose, planning is key for any older dancer. If you know you want to participate in other activities, look at your year from start to finish. We are happy to sit with you to decide what program is best for you… do you need to ‘opt out’? Should you do Senior one more year? At this time in your life this process will be key in your development!!

We will have a meeting late August to discuss and help dancers decide the best path for them.