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Southeast Alabama Dance Company Rules and Contract, 2010 – 2011
VERY IMPORTANT: All dancers MUST have a parent meet with SEADAC representatives at the scheduled meeting prior to auditions to participate in SEADAC. ALL DANCERS WHO RELY ON ANY FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THEIR PARENTS, REGARDLESS OF AGE, MUST HAVE A PARENT SIGN THE CONTRACT WITH THEM. Mandatory meeting is Sunday, August 15th, at 1:00 p.m. at DothanSchool of Dance.
1. The recommended age for dancers to audition for the company is 12, however; all company dancers and apprentices MUST be eleven (11) years of age or older. Required level for the company is Intermediate level and above.
2. Dancers are accepted into the company only after audition by the Artistic Director(s). If a dancer cannot be present at the scheduled audition he/she may request another audition time if approved by the Artistic Director(s). The Artistic Director(s) may hold a company audition at any time throughout the year if she sees appropriate.
3. THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR(S) MAKES ALL CASTING DECISIONS AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL PRODUCTION MATTERS. ALL CASTING DECISIONS ARE FINAL AND NON-NEGOTIABLE. IF YOU ARE NOT WILLING TO ACCEPT ANY PART GIVEN TO YOU BY THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR(S), DO NOT AUDITION!! Make sure you understand this rule! Sometimes choreographers cast dancers in one spot and then move them to another spot in the piece of choreography later on to best suit the choreography. Dancers must fully agree to accept the roles and changes in roles that are assigned to them by the Artistic Director(s) and / or Choreographer(s). All roles are important and dancers must earn their roles by working hard in class. Roles are not cast by age or number of years danced. Dancers must be willing to accept any part and dance with a corps of dancers. If you are cast as an understudy you must attend all choreography times and rehearsals for your understudy role. If you do not learn your understudy part you will be fined. Please do not question any casting decisions. This is all very important!!
4. Company members must agree to take the full curriculum of ballet technique classes required to be a member of the company which is 3 ballet classes weekly (not counting company class on Sunday) and 1 jazz class weekly. Most ballet classes should be on pointe’ if you are in the senior company. Class attendance must be maintained throughout the commitment term of this contract which is August 15th, 2010– June 11th, 2011. Each class must be 1 hour in time length or longer to count for 1 class. We do not count half classes. If weekly classes are not maintained they must be made up immediately or the dancer may not continue as a company member. ALL CLASSES MUST BE MADE UP WITHIN THREE WEEKS OF THE MISSED CLASS DATE. If you are late to regular class and you are not getting 1 hour in length of the class you may not count that class. ANY DANCER NOT MEETING THIS REQUIREMENT OF AT LEAST 90% ATTENDANCE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REMAIN A MEMBER OF THE COMPANY. Classes are counted in two terms, August 16th through December 5th, 2010 and January 1st, 2011 through May 1st, 2011. Classes cannot carry over into another term.
5. UNEXCUSED ABSENCES ARE NOT PERMITTED! UNEXCUSED ABSENCES WILL RESULT IN DISMISSAL FROM THE COMPANY. IF A DANCER IS NOT PRESENT AT A COMPANY CLASS OR REHEARSAL OR THEY WALK OUT OF CLASS OR REHEARSAL WITHOUT AN EXCUSE, THEY WILL BE REPLACED ON THE SPOT AND NOT PERMITTED TO REMAIN AS A COMPANY MEMBER.
6. IF YOU ARE LATE TO COMPANY CLASS OR REHEARSAL AT ANY TIME UNEXCUSED OR IF YOU ARE NOT IN “STUDIO A” OR ON STAGE READY TO DANCE AT THE SCHEDULED TIME YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY A FINE OR TAKE AN ADDITIONAL 4th BALLET CLASS DURING A TWO WEEK TIME PEROID FOLLOWING THE INFRACTION (AT THE DISCRETION OF THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR). IF THIS INFRACTION HAPPENS DURING PERFORMANCE WEEK WHICH IS ANY DRESS REHEARSAL FOR A SEADAC PERFORMANCE ON STAGE - THE DANCER(S) WILL PAY THE $50 FINE. IF THE PARENT(S) WILL NOT PAY THE FINE THE DANCERS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO HAVE/COMPETE A SOLO WITH THE DOTHAN SCHOOL OF DANCE OR SEADAC FOR THE NEXT COMPETITION / PERFORMANCE. MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THAT DSD SOLO WILL BE TAKEN AWAY BEFORE SEADAC SOLO EVERY TIME. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THIS POLICY!
7. Dancers will be allowed 3 EXCUSED absences from rehearsals during one production period. The Artistic Director is the only one who can excuse a company dancer. A production period runs August 15th –December 5th, 2010 and January 1, 2011 – June 11th, 2011. After 3 EXCUSED absences you will not be granted any more excuses except for hospital stay or death in the family. If you are sick you will be excused with a doctors excuse from class BUT if you are injured you must watch the class or rehearsal. Without a doctors excuse, you will be counted absent and must make up all classes. EXCUSED absences are permitted for important personal activities and will be given ONLY if the director is notified in writing BY A PARENT at least 2 WEEKS prior to the event. In the event of dismissal due to absences, the dancer will leave in a “bad standing” status and will NOT be allowed to audition for the company in the future. All requests must be emailed to Ashlie Wells at
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and Tiffany Swan at
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.
8. Absences will NOT be excused 2 WEEKS PRIOR to a major production or performance. No excuses will be given for the dates of November 21st - December 5th, 2010 or March 15th through the end of the month of March, 2011. (You should check your Spring Break plans because no excuses will be allowed). AT ANY TIME IF AN EMERGENCY HAPPENS DURING A REHEARSAL OR PERFORMANCE AND THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR CANNOT BE REACHED, A MESSAGE ON THE ANSWERING MACHINE AT DSD OR E-MAIL TO THE ARTISTIC DIRECTORS WILL SUFFICE AS AN EXCUSE IF THERE IS PROOF THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR WAS CALLED FIRST. Rehearsals will be every night the week before any major performance.
9. Dancers should arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled time of rehearsal or company class on Sunday in ample time to prepare properly for class and rehearsal. If you are late unexcused and miss rehearsal, you will either be taken out of the part or not allowed to perform your solo with The Dothan School of Dance at one competition, if we cannot take you out of the part due to the production suffering.
10. Company class and rehearsals will consistently be held every Sunday. There is also a SEADAC rehearsal scheduled each Thursday evening for rehearsals and choreography. All dancers in the dances rehearsing that Thursday will be required to attend. In the event that it is not possible to have company rehearsal and class on Sunday or Thursday, the rehearsal will be rescheduled for another day during the week. (examples are holidays, dance related events and performance team competitions)
11. Extra rehearsals and choreography sessions will be occasionally required on other days. Rehearsals will be added on other days of the week (besides Sunday) to learn choreography and rehearse for productions. Dancers MUST be available for all choreography dates and times unless excused by the artistic director(s). If excused during choreography, the dancer may not be in the choreography that he or she missed. Choreography dates are usually weekends and “extra” rehearsals are usually on Tuesday or Thursday night from 7:30-8:30. You MUST be available on these nights for extra rehearsals for productions. We will try to work with you for important events. Examples: Prom, ACT testing, College Scouting, etc.
12. Rehearsal schedules will be handed out and posted. They are constantly revised due to excuses handed in by the dancers. It is the dancer’s responsibility to know when and where rehearsals and performances are held. The posted schedule must be checked daily for changes and revisions to the schedule. It is the dancer’s job to constantly check for updates and revisions at the studio on the board.
13. Dancers must be neatly groomed. The standard ballet rules must be followed for hair and attire or dancers will NOT be allowed in class. HAIR MUST BE IN A SLICK SECURE BUN (that does not fall out during class), NOT A PULLED THROUGH PONYTAIL, DURING ALL CLASSES AND REHEARSALS. Dancers must wear pink tights and their company leotard to company class and rehearsal every Sunday. All other company rehearsal days dancers must wear pink tights and a solid colored leotard. The consequence for this infraction is the dancer must pay a fine or take a 4th ballet class. Dancers MUST have ribbons SEWN on all pointe shoes. The dancers must have full stage make-up, SLICK SECURE BUNS and false eyelashes for performances, photo sessions and dress rehearsals. If the dancers are not groomed properly they will be given a warning and sent out of class or off stage to fix the problem while everyone stops and waits to continue rehearsal. Improper hair and attire WILL NOT BE TOLERATED and these consequences have been designed to rectify the problem and get rid of the dancers who refuse to follow the rules. If this happens during production week and the parent or dancer refuses to pay the fine, the dancer will be in “bad standing” which means they will not be allowed to audition for SEADAC in the future and they will not be allowed to be a solo dancer with The Dothan School of Dance. (Keep in mind that no dancer at DSD, 12 years of age and over cannot do a solo unless they are a member of SEADAC.)
14. Dancers are expected to work 100% in classes and rehearsals. The Artistic Director(s), Assistant Artistic Director, choreographers or guest teachers have the authority to dismiss any dancer from class or rehearsal for disruptive or disrespectful behavior and / or not working to his/her capability. The Artistic Director(s) will decide what other stipulations are set before the dancer returns back to rehearsal if allowed and they will lose their company deposit.
15. Should a dancer find it necessary to withdraw from the company he/she will notify the Artistic Director(s) immediately and the dancer must agree to teach his/her choreography to another dancer before leaving the company. The Artistic Director(s) will determine whether the dancer may be able to re-audition for the company in the future.
16. SERBA this year will be held in Montgomery, AL on April 27th-May 1st, 2011. IT IS MANDATORY FOR ALL SEADAC DANCERS TO ATTEND THE FESTIVAL. There will be no excused absences for SERBA festival. Those who pull out and fail to attend the festival will not be able to audition for the company in the future. (Keep in mind that no dancer at DSD can do a solo unless they are a member of SEADAC.) In the event of any unforeseen emergency the dancer will be responsible for any expenses incurred by SEADAC. Company dancers are responsible for their hotel, food and travel expense. SEADAC will pay their registration fees and workshop fees for all senior company dancers chosen to perform at SERBA that joined in August 2010. If a senior company dancer joined after August 2010 and they are chosen to perform, they must pay half their kit fee and workshop fees to SERBA. Junior company members will be responsible for their registration and workshop fees and all other expenses listed above. The dancers will have to miss 2 days of school on Thursday and Friday. All dancers must travel and stay together as a group with chaperones chosen by the artistic director(s). If they resign and do not attend SERBA for any reason they will not be able to audition for SEADAC again in the future.
17. ALL COMPANY MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO ATTEND AND PAY FOR THE SEADAC SUMMER INTENSIVE WORKSHOP HELD JUNE 7-11, 2011. This is part of your commitment to the company and the workshop is MANDATORY so make your plans to attend the workshop. Graduating seniors are exempt from this rule. Any conflicts with school will be excused. If you are unexcused for the summer workshop you will lose your company deposit and will not be able to audition for SEADAC in the future.
18. Costumes, headpieces and accessories are provided by SEADAC. Shoes, tights, company cover-ups, and pink briefs are the responsibility of each company member. Expenses for any damage, vandalism or loss of costumes, accessories or props will be paid by the dancer responsible for that item. Dancers are not allowed to eat in any costume owned by SEADAC. If caught in violation of costuming, the dancer will be charged a fine which must be paid to remain a member of the company. If this happens during production week and the parent or dancer refuses to pay the fine, then the dancer will be in “bad standing” which means they will not be allowed to audition for SEADAC in the future and they will not be allowed to be a solo dancer with The Dothan School of Dance. (Keep in mind that no dancer at DSD can do a solo unless they are a member of SEADAC.)
19. All company members must maintain respectable behavior (both action and language) in the studio, theater and at all SEADAC events. Inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated at any SEADAC event. Older dancers are expected to set positive and healthy examples and be role models for younger dancers. Every company member must uphold a healthy and positive attitude to remain in the Southeast Alabama Dance Company. Dismissal will result if necessary at the discretion of the Artistic Director(s) for unacceptable behavior.
20. Merits will be given and documented by the artistic director. Three merits will result in a free ballet class to count for the dancer. Merits are given for outstanding role model behavior, superior work ethic and/or participating in extra SEADAC events. Merits will be kept on record throughout the 2010-11 year. Demerits will not be given. If dancers do not follow the rules set by the artistic director(s), the dancers will lose their company deposit and must repay a new deposit to remain in the company.
21. No cell phones will be allowed at any production rehearsal, performance or class. No cell phones will be allowed in any studio or stage rehearsal. If dancers are caught with a cell phone their cell phone will be taken up by the artistic directors, backstage workers or producers.
22. All dancers must be responsible for selling $400 in subscriptions by October 1st , 2010. Subscriptions must be paid before priority ticket request forms can be mailed out to the subscriber. All dancers joining SEADAC after August 15th, 2010, are required to sell at least $400 in subscriptions within 4 weeks of the date they joined the company.
23. All dancers must be available for spring show “Peter Pan” choreography dates January 2nd-10th, 2011. All school times will be excused.
24. All dancers chosen to perform will be required to attend all workshop classes and performances at The Alabama Dance Festival, January 28th-30th, 2011 in Birmingham, AL. Hotel, workshop and registration fees will be paid for by SEADAC. Dancers will be responsible for transportation & food expenses. All dancers must travel and stay together as a group with chaperones chosen by the artistic director(s). Tiffany will be in charge at ADF this year.
25. SEADAC dancers will be required to participate in all SEADAC fundraisers. Examples: This year each dancer will be required to sell at least 2 tickets to the fall show, sell raffle tickets, lead lock-in activities, dance in special performances, etc. All dancers joining SEADAC after August 15th, 2010 are required to participate in all fundraisers occurring from the date they join SEADAC.
26. Parents must join the DSD/SEADAC Parents’ Club and must meet the requirements of working as a committee chair or pay a $100 fee by October 1, 2010. Parents of dancers joining after August 15th, 2010 must also fulfill all Parents’ Club duties as all dancers benefit from the Parents’ Club fundraisers.
27. A company deposit of $125 will be paid to SEADAC to be a member of the company. A company membership fee of $50 is included in this amount. If at any time the dancer violates any rule stated in this contract and the fine is not paid, the dancer will lose all or a portion of their $75 ($125 - $50 membership fee) company deposit and must replace that portion of their deposit to remain a member of the company. The $75 deposit portion of the $125will be returned at the end of the year if no infractions are caused for them to be lost. Please pay special attention to rule #’s 4,5,6,8,9,13,14,18, and 20.
28. Dancers chosen must be available to learn choreography September 10, 11 & 12, 2010 weekend (not sure what days and times). All dancers must be available the last two weekends of August, 2010 for SEADAC choreography and the first Sunday in October for the Fall Performance unless excused.
29. ALL DANCERS MUST BE AVAILIABLE TO REHEARSE ON THURSDAY NIGHTS. THESE NIGHTS WILL NOT BE EXCUSED FOR EXTRA CIRRICULAR ACTIVITIES. SEADAC SHOULD BE FIRST PRIORITY OR NO PRIORITY. I WILL BE HAPPY TO SCHEDULE AROUND SOME THINGS FOR YOU IF YOU GIVE ME DATES ONE MONTH PRIOR.
Please sign this contract with respect for The Southeast Alabama Dance Company agreeing that you have faith in the organization and the directors. Make sure you have fully read numbers 1 – 27 of the rules and regulations for the 2010-2011 company year. Please sign only if you understand the rules and the Company Deposit / Merit system fully and that you accept them.
Also, please note that parent conversations will only take place with the parent(s) that sign(s) the contract. We are not interested in talking with any parent that is not knowledgeable of our up-front policies, rules and regulations.
These rules are designed to instill accountability, a positive work ethic, organizational skills, dependability, respect, commitment, determination, discipline, confidence, leadership qualities, responsibility and diligence in these dancers not only as dancers but people leading the next generation. You, as dancers and parents, are not going to agree with every rule but you will follow them or be asked to resign from the company.
VERY IMPORTANT: All dancers MUST have a parent meet with SEADAC representatives at the scheduled meeting prior to auditions to participate in SEADAC. ALL DANCERS WHO RELY ON ANY FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THEIR PARENTS, REGARDLESS OF AGE, MUST HAVE A PARENT SIGN THE CONTRACT WITH THEM.
Parent Signature Company Member Signature
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SEADAC Representative Artistic Director Signature
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Date
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Ashlie Wells
Director, The Dothan School of Dance
Co-Artistic Director, Southeast Alabama Dance Company
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