HENDRICKSON
SILVER DANCERS
AUDITION BOOKLET
2012- 2013
Silver Dancers Audition Clinic Schedule- October/November 2011
10/31-11/14 Anytime: Pick up an audition packet from the dance room in A-hall or download from www.hendricksonsilverdancers.com
10/31-11/14 Anytime: Have Ms. Lawhon (registrar) or Ms. Adame (Student Services) fill out G.P.A. verification form
11/7 6:00p: Short informational parent/student audition meeting in the lecture hall- PAC (Optional but highly recommended)
11/14 4:30p: Audition Packets Due to Ms. Dudley by no later than 4:30. No exceptions!
4:30-6:30p: First day of audition clinic! (Mandatory) Learn jazz dance for tryouts.
* Meet in the dance room in the fine arts wing
11/15 4:30-6:30p: Second day of audition clinic! (Mandatory) Learn kick dance for tryouts.
*Meet in the dance room in the fine arts wing
11/16 4:30-6:00p: Third day of audition clinic! (Mandatory) Review both dances and go over audition process
*Meet in the dance room in the fine arts wing
11/17 5:00p-?: Silver Dancer Auditions- CLOSED TO ALL SPECTATORS
*Hendrickson PAC
Tryout Checklist
- Pick up auditions packets from front office, dance room, or download from www.hendricksonsilverdancers.com
- Attend information parent/student meeting on 11/7 at 6:00pm in lecture hall- PAC (Optional but highly recommend)
- Silver Dancer Application- due to Ms. Dudley by 4:30 on 11/14 or may be turned in earlier
- Copy of 1st 9 weeks report card
- G.P.A. verification form- if you are a sophomore or junior
- Insurance/Medical release form
- Black Leotard, black bottoms (jazz pants, yoga pants, or hot shorts), and black jazz shoes
- Attend 3 days of tryout clinic Monday-Wednesday before auditions on Thursday. Have fun and work hard!
- Tryout for Silver Dancers on Thursday, November 17th
* If you make the team in November, you will be required to be in the 3rd period dance class for the Spring semester.
Hendrickson High School Silver Dancers Constitution
Purpose
The purpose of the Silver Dancers organization is to encourage quality performance, high academic standards, loyal school spirit, and high personal values among its members. Through the development of dance technique, leadership, cooperation, self-discipline, and sportsmanship in each individual member, the Silver Dancers will fulfill their purpose for the benefit of Hendrickson High School and the community of Pflugerville Independent School District.
Eligibility
To qualify for membership and participation as a Silver Dancer, a student must:
1. Submit all required paperwork on or before the first day of the audition clinic.
a. Dance Team Application and waiver of financial responsibility (same page)
b. Insurance/medical release form
c. Most recent 9 weeks report card
d. Attached G.P.A. verification card from the registrar
2. Each student must be in regular attendance with no more than 10 absences.
3. Each student must have a 2.0 grade point average. If the student auditioning does not have a 2.0 GPA they must contact the Director at prior to the auditions.
4. Each student must be enrolled in PISD prior to try-outs. Exception: Proof of living within the district boundaries.
5. Each student must be eligible under U.I.L rules. At the beginning of the school year following try outs each student must have earned the cumulative number of credits.
a. Beginning the 9th grade year- promoted from 8th grade to 9th grade.
b. Beginning the 10th grade year- Having at least 5 credits toward graduation.
c. Beginning the 11thgrade year- Having at least 10 credits toward graduation.
d. Beginning the 12th grade year- Having at least 15 credits toward graduation.
6. Each student must attend the audition clinic in its entirety, which will be conducted on days, times and locations set by the Director. Only prior notification of an acceptable absence will be excused.
7. Students will not be eligible if they have been dismissed from ANY high school extra curricular activities including but not limited to dance team, colorguard, band, choir, cheerleading, or athletic teams.
8. Any student who has been suspended from school for the current school year is not eligible for the dance team.
9. A student who has been attending high school for seven or more semesters is not eligible to become a dance team candidate.
10. Students who have been or will be in high school for more than four years are not eligible for dance team membership.
11. All current Silver Dancers must tryout each year to remain on the team. Current membership does not guarantee a spot for any subsequent year(s).
12. The students earn a letter jacket after one complete year on the team if you are about to start your second year on the team. You must be an active member of the team for two years to be eligible. These are not provided by the Silver Dancers or PISD.
Audition Clinic
1. All materials for auditions will be due by 4:30p on November 14th, 2011. There will be no late applications accepted after this time.
2. No previous dance training is required, but experience is helpful.
3. All candidates will learn audition etiquette, a kick combination, and a jazz dance.
4. Students must attend all 3 days of the clinic to be eligible for auditions unless otherwise discussed with the Director.
Auditions
1. Each candidate must come in approved apparel
a. Black leotard, black socks or tights, fitted black jazz pants or fitted black shorts and black jazz shoes.
b. Candidates must wear a candidate identification number on the audition day with the judges.
c. The candidate’s hair must be worn in a low parted ponytail.
2. Candidates will audition in front of the judges committee consisting of 3 judges and the director. Each of these judges will makeup 20% of the score for a total of 100%. The additional 20% will come from teacher recommendations. If the candidates do not have teacher recommendation forms turned in, they will not get credit for that teacher.
3. The candidates will be scored on splits, memory, kick technique, precision, jazz technique, and performance value.
4. Auditions are closed to all spectators. The administrator, director, judges and candidates will be the only individuals allowed in the audition area.
5. All decisions made by the judges committee are final.
6. Once a student is selected at the November tryouts, they are on a probationary contract until May 2012. The contract will be handed out to the Silver Dancer newbies once selections have been made.
Expenses
1. Every effort is made to keep expenses reasonable, but there are considerable costs associated with Silver Dancers.
2. Team members are required to pay fair share expenses and uniform expenses (described below).
3. The cost of dance team at HHS is an approximate $650 mandatory sponsor payment for members. This money is used for transportation, props for football and spring show, choreography, contest entry fees, spring show setup, spring show lighting, spring show decorations and much more. This cost will be divided up into four separate payments throughout the school year.
4. In addition to the fair share amount, there will be uniform expenses. These will be ordered during the spring for the following year’s team. The cost of this will vary between members based on their individual needs. A payment schedule will be set up after the new team is selected, and will start promptly after tryouts. Final Payments will be due by May 7th, 2012
a. Costs include but are not limited to camp/practice wear, warm-ups, boots, uniforms, dance shoes, camp expenses etc.
b. Cost will be much less for returning members
c. See attached sheet for an estimate of uniform costs
d. These items are property of the member purchasing them and are not to be returned to the Silver Dancer organization
*The Silver Dancers are required to wear all black dance clothes everyday for practice, so orders for practice clothes must be placed accordingly.
5. Refusal or inability to meet financial requirements may result in student’s suspension from performance opportunities.
6. In an effort to ease the individual financial burden, the Silver Dancers are provided several opportunities to fundraise throughout the year. All members must participate in both team and individual fundraising. Refusal to participate in a required fundraiser, where proceeds benefit the team as a whole, may result in dismissal from the team. FUNDRAISING IS NOT OPTIONAL.
7. All money should be given to the Director personally in the dance office.
8. No refunds are given. If a student is removed from the team, they must be current and up to date on their payments. They will not be refunded this money. During the spring semester of the newbie year, the student may be able to be refunded if not all of the uniform items have been purchased.
Participation Requirements
1. A dance team member will serve the first day of summer through the last day of the following school year.
2. If a member resigns before the end of the last day of the following school year, she will forfeit their membership for the subsequent year.
3. The student must be a sophomore, junior, or senior in standing.
4. Members must be willing to carry out all provisions of the Silver Dancer rules and regulations.
5. Members must be willing to resign gracefully upon failure to live up to the requirements of membership.
6. The Silver Dancers Organization is a year round performance group. Members are required to participate in football season, basketball season, competition season, spring show, summer camps and various parades and performance opportunities.
7. Silver Dancers will audition for ALL performances. The areas that will be judged during these auditions will include technique, execution, strength, flexibility, memory, and performance ability.
8. All dancers must practice all routines for all performances even if they do not hold a spot in the formation. At any time, a performer can become injured and the need for an alternate dancer will arise. The dancers that work hard on the side and improve on the dances will always be considered for placement in a routine.
9. A member may be cut from a dance for the following: lack of memory, technique, projection, flexibility, coordination, strength, or endurance. The Directors with the assistance of the officers makes the final decision on who is chosen for a dance.
10. The student may not be able to participate in sports. This will be decided on a case by case basis.
11. Silver Dancers must be enrolled in the double blocked Silver Dancer classes, which take place 1st and 5th period.
12. Silver Dancers must comply with the HHS Dance Team Constitution, UIL rules, and the PISD Athletic Code of Conduct Handbook. Should a student be cited for illegal activities outside of school, she will be removed from the team.
13. Participation in any event requires members to be in complete uniform.
14. If a member is going to miss practice for any reason they must have approval from the Director in advance. If the member is ill, they must call their officer as well as leave a message on the dance office voicemail (594-1168). This phone call must happen BEFORE practice starts.
15. Absences:
a. If a member is absent from a practice, it is her responsibility to acquire any missed information during their time of absence.
b. Any member absent the day of performance tryouts will make her ineligible to perform.
c. During Football Season, if a member is absent the day of tryouts or any day between tryouts and performance, they will be ineligible to perform.
d. Any member absent the last practice before a performance will make her ineligible to perform.
e. Missing practice and/or performance due to outside work responsibilities will not be excused.
f. Silver Dancers must travel in and out of town to UIL activities, with the team, unless otherwise approved by the Director.
g. A member may not leave any function for any reason other than illness, injury, or death in the family. In the event that a member has been given permission by the director, they may only depart with a parent or guardian. The Director must also be given a signed note from the parent/guardian.
General Conduct
1. Silver Dancers must comply with all expectations which are written and verbally addressed by the Director. Non-compliance will result in consequences to be determined by the Director.
a. Members that do not comply with set expectations may receive conditioning consequences or demerits, which may lead to benching or possible termination.
i. 5 demerits = suspension for 3 performances
ii. 10 demerits = suspension for remainder of semester
iii. 15 demerits= dismissal from team
b. Members are responsible for notifying parents or guardians of any warnings, demerits or merits they receive.
2. Participation in Silver Dancers is a privilege which carries with it responsibilities to the school, to the organization, to the student body and to the community. Therefore, a dance team member is never to be truant from class. She is never to smoke, drink, or use any kind of illegal drug either on or off campus while a member of drill team. Profanity shall not be a part of her vocabulary. She must maintain sound citizenship and desirable social traits. Remember, your attitude and behavior reflects on the entire team.
3. The Silver Dancers are never to be at an event where any illegal activities are taking place. Regardless of whether the Silver Dancer is participating in the activities or not, regardless of whether an adult is present or not. Silver Dancers are expected to not participate or be around any illegal activities.
4. Merits/Demerits accumulate throughout each semester, as well as over summer break. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BE AWARE OF YOUR DEMERIT SITUATION.
5. Demerits cannot be removed. They start over at the beginning of each dance team semester. There are three dance team semesters- Fall semester, Spring semester, and Summer semester (last day of school to first day of school).
6. Merits offset grades each 9 weeks. Each Silver Dancer will start with an 80 at the beginning of each 9 weeks. Each merit earned will add 1 point to that 9 weeks average. 20 merits must be earned each 9 weeks in order to receive a 100 in the Silver Dancer class. Merits must be recorded on the merit sheets, located in the cubbies outside of the dance office. These should be turned in to your squad officer at demerit/merit meetings during practice. All merits must be signed off on by an adult in charge of the event in which the merit was earned. Each individual Silver Dancer is responsible for keeping up with their own merits and 9 weeks grade. If the Silver Dancer has any questions, it is their responsibility to meet with their officer and/or director to answer these questions.