DAZZLER TRY-OUTS 2015

Dazzler Try-outs will be heldfrom 3:30-5:30 in the TCMS gym on Friday, April 17. All girls currently in the 8th grade band or in the high school band that are academically eligible may try-out for Dazzlers. At the try-out each girl will perform a short dance routine, a stand dance, a short flag routine, and they will demonstrate marching fundamentals with and without a flag. During the try-outs we will be looking for a good attitude, poise, athleticism, flexibility, team-work, respect (for student leaders and adult leaders) and the ability to learn quickly. At the try-out girls should wear dark colored shorts, white t-shirts, tennis or jazz shoes, hair should be pulled back, and make-up should be neat. Try-out results will be posted Saturday morning, April 18, on the band room doors of TCCHS and TCMS.

There will be a try-out clinic held to prepare for the audition. The clinic will be conducted in the TCMS gym 3:30-5:30 on April 13-16. Each girl should dress as they would for gym class during the try-out clinic:t-shirt, shorts, tennis shoes (or dance shoes), and hair should be pulled back. Please dress comfortably but NEATLY and in good taste. Girls currently in the 7th grade band may attend the try-out clinic to gain dance and flag experience. They may also attend the try-outs on Friday but they will not actually be auditioning, it will just be considered a practice for them.

We will have optional practices for girls that are trying out for the first time and want to brush up on their fundamentals March 30-April 2 from 3:30-5:30 in the TCMS gym. Even though these practices are intended for “Rookie’s”, current Dazzlers are welcome to attend also.

PERMISSION FORM

No girl will be allowed to attend any part of try-outs unless they have turned in a permission form to a band director.

I give permission for ______to tryout to be a Dazzler. I understand that the decision will be final. I further understand that for performances with the marching band all members of the Dazzlers will wear their hair and make-up in a uniform manner that will be dictated by the band director. I also understand that to become a Dazzler and to maintain my Dazzler status I must meet GHSA eligibility requirements.

(Student) (Date)

(Parent) (Date)

TCCHS DAZZLERS

COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT ARE THEY?

The Dazzlers are an elite group of performers within the TCCHS Marching Band. They perform dance and flag routines during football pre-game and half-time shows, local community parades, pep rallies, Christmas and Spring band concerts, and they perform as a competitive group consistently winning superior ratings.

WHO ARE THEY?

Dazzlers are high school age girls who are currently enrolled in the band program. Only girls who are in the band may try-out for Dazzlers. They make very good grades, often winning academic awards. They also play their instruments very well. Many Dazzlers sit first chair in their section and they nearly all attend District Honor Band every year. Dazzlers have a very strong work ethic and do not mind “going the extra mile”. Some Dazzlers have had previous dance training and some have had none at all. Prior training is not a requirement to try-out.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DO AS A DAZZLER?

Dazzlers have to do a lot, nearly twice as much as everyone else! On top of all their performing duties listed above they also have to complete all requirements for their band class. This means that they have to show proficiency in their flag and dance routines AND they have to pass off all the marching music from memory, just like the other band students. This requires excellent memorization skills to learn the routines and to learn the music.

Dazzlers must be in excellent physical condition. Performing a half-time show is the equivilant of running as fast as you can for 10 min. while smiling and looking pleasant at the same time. Not an easy task! Dazzlers need to have the flexibility to perform a split or nearly perform a split. That level of flexibility is needed in the dance routines. They also need very strong and toned arms. Flags are VERY heavy and during fast songs it takes a tremendous amount of strength to twirl them.

WHAT DO DAZZLERS WEAR?

The Dazzleruniform is a dance-type costume that is worn with dance tights, shoes, and occasionally a leotard. Also during cold weather the Dazzlers wear a wind suit over their uniform. The Dazzlers are given a t-shirt that they wear for various community performances.

WILL IT COST ME ANYTHING?

Unfortunately we are not able to cover all the cost of being a Dazzler; but we do pay for everything that we possibly can. The only things that we ask that you pay for are the items that cannot be reused after you leave. The following is an estimated list of Dazzler expenses, other items could come up during the year:

1leotard$40

Jazz shoes$30

1 pair of tights$12

Tote bag$10

Earrings$15

Some Dazzlers chose to order extra of Dazzler supplies such as flag bags, and tights. This is an option that is encouraged but is not required; they pay for these extra supplies themselves. Each year Dazzlers are entrusted with approximately $700 worth of equipment and uniforms. If any Dazzler loses any equipment or any part of their uniform they are expected to pay for a replacement to be ordered.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Anytime you get 20-30 teenage girls together there are going to be some ups and downs. Fortunately there have been many more ups than downs. The Dazzlers work very hard and while they do have many more after school practices than other band students do,they also have a lot of fun. We have pool parties, and do other fun activities together. Being a Dazzler is a great way to meet new people and make some new friends. We have continued to be very proud of the Dazzlers as they excel academically, and musically. I know that next year will be the same with the Dazzlers working hard and having fun.

DAZZLER CAPTAIN TRY-OUTS 2015

As part of our assessment of your leadership skills you will work with a small group of girls during the try-out clinic. Your group will consist of some girls that have experience and some that don’t. Please plan to attend both weeks of try-out practice.

Included in this letter are specific instructions to what you will be expected to perform and teach as a part of your captain try-out.

We are looking for captains that have great attitudes, who care more about the team than themselves, and have excellent flag and dance abilities. A good captain is one that is a problem-solver, a peace-maker, a very hard worker, and someone who will show a tremendous amount of respect to students, student leaders, and adult leaders. We expect Dazzler captains to maintain excellent grades and to be very proficient on their instrument. We are always looking for leaders that have all of these qualities. You have between now and the day of Dazzler try-outs to show all of us that you have what it takes to be a great captain.

1. MAKE UP A STAND DANCE IN THE LINE DANCE TRADITION:

16-32 COUNTS THAT ARE REPEATED FACING DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.

You will teach this dance to your small group. They will perform it for the judges in bleachers so be sure it will look good in the bleachers.

2. MAKE UP A SWING FLAG PARADE ROUTINE TO THE BAND SONG OF YOUR CHOICE. YOU WILL PERFORM THIS ROUTINE WHILE MARCHING AROUND THE GYM. We are looking for choreography that will look good in a parade with all the Dazzlers performing. Not a routine suitable for a solo performance.

3. CALL MARCHING AND STATIONARY COMMANDS WITH AND WITHOUT A FLAG. YOU WILL ALSO TEACH THESE COMMANDS TO YOUR SMALL GROUP.

We are looking to see if you can call them correctly, pronounce them correctly, and speak so that all the girls can hear and understand you.

COMMANDS: attention, horns up/down, parade rest, low and high mark time, forward march, halt, left/right/about face and pivot with and without a flag. (Hint: don’t forget to talk about chins up and smiling!).

4. TEACH FLAG AND DANCE FUNDAMENTALS TO YOUR SMALL GROUP.

Flag Fundamentals: Drop Spin, Double Fast, Spacial, Backpass, Butterfly, Ext. Butterfly, Stir, Prep Toss, etc.

Dance Fundamentals: Jazz Square, Lendy, Pas de Bouree, Piroutte, Kick, Leaps, Chasse, Fouette, Jazz Run/Walk, Chaine turns, etc.

5. PLAY THE 12 MAJOR SCALES FROM MEMORY. YOUR SCALE SCORE WILL BE ADDED TO YOUR CAPTAIN TRY-OUT SCORE.