Festival Student Information
The high level of competition at the festivals requires much commitment by
the student and the parents.
Attendance: When guest choreographers are invited
to the advanced classes during the year, all students of these classes must
be there or they will not be included in the routine, without exception.
Mandatory Ballet Classes: All Festival students
at Dance West are required to take ballet classes. Students entering a jazz
solo in Surrey or Coquitlam festivals are required to take two ballet classes
per week. Students in a ballet festival class will be required to take technique,
exam and festival classes. Attendance for required classes will be checked
and non-attendees will be asked to leave their festival classes.
Rehearsals: In order to prepare Festival students
for their performances, a studio rehearsal time is booked closer to the
festival dates. Attendance at these rehearsals is mandatory.
Festival Fees: Fees must be paid by November 1 or
when the entry forms are sent in. These fees are submitted directly to the
festival and are non-refundable
Costumes: Most festival classes will have more
than one routine and so will require more than one costume. A deposit is collected
upon registration in a festival class. To help space out the expense, costumes
are completed at various intervals throughout the season. The majority of
costumes will be ready from December to February, please budget for these
items and have payments ready. Average cost per costume is $75-100. Festival
Solos, Duos and Trios are responsible for their own costumes. Please make
arrangements with the studio's seamstresses as early as possible to avoid
disappointment. Soloists must check the festival rules for their category's
costume requirements.
Music: All festival students should submit a blank
cd for the teacher to record a copy of the music onto when requested. There
is no charge for the recording service. Solos, duos and trios are responsible
for submitting their own cd when they perform at festival. Each student should
have a backup cd with them also.
Solo/Duo Students: Each full-private lesson will
entitle the student to two routines for performance. If you wish more than
this, then extra choreography fees will apply, and extra time with your choreographer
needs to be booked. All routines should be video-taped by parents. All solos
and duos may perform one routine in the year-end show if they receive a mark
of 80 or higher at two dance competitons.