Contest Dates and Locations

PURE GOLD

COMPETITION 101

It’s that time of year…what we’ve been working so hard for. The time when our kicks are at their highest and our smiles are at their widest. Competition season is FINALLY here. This is the time of year where Pure Gold truly shines and it is at this point where all the late night practices and empty wallets are worth it.

A dance competition is very exciting but can also be overwhelming, especially if you have never been to one. This packet should help to answer questions for the rookie parents and be a helpful reminder for the veteran parents. As always, if you have any other questions, feel free to ask!

CONTEST DATES AND LOCATIONS

February 9, 2013

MA Dance regional contest at Grapevine High School

www.madance.com

February 15-16, 2013

Crowd Pleasers regional contest at Timbercreek High School

www.crowdpleasersdance.com

March 2, 2013

HTE Dance State contest at Northwest High School

www.htedance.com

March 22-23, 2013

MA Dance National contest at Fort Worth Convention Center

www.madance.com

***Schedules for the competitions are not posted until the week of the competition. The schedules will be posted on the company’s website for you to look at prior to the contest date. The competitions are an all day event with registration beginning around 7:00 AM and awards scheduled to begin around 9:00 PM or later. We will arrive at the school as a team and the girls are not allowed to leave until awards are complete and they have been dismissed. You may sign your daughter out after the award ceremony. There will be a sign up sheet similar to football season, please find Roxanne Peterson to sign the sheet.***

ENTRANCE FEES

For each competition, the girls will be given a time to rank up in the dance room with all of their stuff and we will take buses to the competition. The team will enter through a team entrance and spectators will enter through a separate entrance and pay an entrance fee. Fees for adults range around $10.00 for the smaller contests and around $15.00 for the larger contests such as State and Nationals. There are also discounts for children and senior citizens. These fees are mostly cash only so please be prepared. You will receive some sort of a wrist band or stamp which allows you to leave and return without having to pay again. Please see company website for specific contest entrance rules and fees.

FOOD

There are concession stands at all of the competitions. They will serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as snack foods. These are run by the hosting drill team and booster clubs as a fundraiser. That means no outside food or drink will be allowed. Please follow this rule so that we are not taking away profit from another team. The girls will need to buy their own food, so please send them with enough money to have all meals. Once again, it will be cash only. For smaller competitions, the girls will need about $20-$25 for the day and for larger competitions about $30-$35 a day. Also, there is no food or drink allowed in the dressing rooms.

VENDORS

At most competitions, there are stores and vendors set up selling their merchandise. They will be selling everything from rhinestoned hairbows to animal printed dance clothing. These vendors can be expensive, but the girls always seem to find something that they “must have”. Cash is the easiest form of payment, but some stores now accept major credit cards and checks. Going shopping is something to do on any “downtime” we might have between routines. Also, competition companies will sell patches for the dancers’ letter jackets. They will be sold throughout the day, and normally, they are also sold after the awards ceremony so that you can buy the correct patch. The patches range between $5-$10.

***Online shopping is very popular these days, so always ask the vendor for a website in case they do not have the correct size or color.***

MISC INFO

Walking into the competition can be very overwhelming for new parents. There are dancing girls everywhere, a force field of hairspray, and glitter galore. It can be quite confusing where everything is at and where you are supposed to be. When you arrive, you should receive a schedule and map of the school. Plan your day out at this point (where to be at what time, how to get to that place, when to eat…etc). This will help you be less stressed. All the Pure Gold parents will sit together in the stands with signs ready to cheer on the girls as a team of parents.

*You are allowed to bring cameras and video recorders to take your own pictures and videos at most contests. Please do not bring a camera stand or tripod.

*Come dressed comfortably; remember we are there all day long! Wear your pure gold gear, buttons, and comfortable shoes!

*Please note that men are not allowed in the dressing area at any time. There will be signs posted stating “men not allowed past this point”

Please remember that even though we are there to support and cheer for our girls, to be respectful and supportive of all participants. Please refrain from negative comments and be careful of what is said in the stands. You never know who is sitting around you! Disqualification and point deductions can come from parent behavior. As parents and adults, we set the example for the girls to follow. My expectations of the girl’s attitudes are high. They are to be polite and respectful to other schools so that they represent Boswell High School well. The Pure Gold Dance team is a group of young ladies, and I expect them to act as such. Your cooperation in setting this example and having the same expectations will be greatly appreciated.

Competition is a season like none other. There is lots of hard work put in by everyone who is involved. There is a lot of excitement; there can be some disappointment, but most of all it is FUN! The team has worked extremely hard all year long for these moments! Stay positive and supportive for them, because after all, isn’t it for them that we’re here? Now is when all our choreography is finished and formations are set. All costumes are here and the props are all painted. Now it is time to sit back, have fun and enjoy watching the girls do what they do best…ENTERTAIN!

I hope this will help you ease into this next season of our year and be able to enjoy it. If you have any more questions, don’t hesitate to ask.

Thank you for all that you do,

Amber Grigsbay and Kelli Adams

AWARD VOCABULARY

Here are a few of the common awards that will be given out at competitions

Superior – given for routines who receive a score of 85 or higher on a routine

Sweepstakes – given to schools who scored 85 or higher on all three routines

Super Sweepstakes – given to schools who scored 90 or higher on all three routines

High Point Dance Category – given to the school with the top score in each