Dance Arts Centre Performing Arts Company

Frequently Asked Questions

If you are considering joining Dance Arts Centre's outstanding Performing Arts Company (DACPAC), we urge you to read through these Frequently Asked Questions and discuss all the requirements, commitments and obligations with your family. Being a member of DACPAC is an fantastic experience, but it does involves a high level of dancer and family commitment. We want you to have a thorough understanding of what is required to be a part of our dance family.

If you have more questions, please contact us and we will be glad to discuss DACPAC with you.

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What is Dance Arts Centre's Performing Arts Company (DACPAC)?

Dance Arts Centre’s Performing Arts Company is an amazing group of approximately 80 students, ages 5 through 18, who are passionate about dance and performing! DACPAC members take Jazz, Ballet/Pointe, Tap, Lyrical, Technique/Turns/Leaps and Hip-Hop classes at Dance Arts Centre and participate in a minimum of 5 Regional dance competitions per year along with a National finals competition during the summer.

DACPAC dancers attend regional workshops, receive training from guest teachers, and have an overall fantastically good time!

How do I become a member of DACPAC?

Members are evaluated and selected by the Directors of Dance Arts Centre, Jeff Boss and Jamie Wardrop. The minimum age for DACPAC members is 5 years old, with at least one year of dance experience. Jeff and Jamie will meet with you and your parents to explain the requirements and commitment needed to be in DACPAC, and to answer any questions you may have.

We want you to spend an evening with us in Company classes so you can see what it’s like at our studio and we can help you decide if DACPAC is right for you. Please contact us for an appointment.

I don't know what skill or experience level I would be with DACPAC. What group would I be in?

Since competitions are set up by age categories, we group our Company to align with competition age groups. There is not a standard among all the dance competitions, but most take the average age of all dancers in a dance number at either the time of competition or the beginning of the calendar year, and use this to determine competition placement.

DACPAC is made up of 4 Companies:

Mini: Ages 5-8
Junior: Ages 8-12
Teen: Ages 11-15
Senior: Ages 14-18

Occasionally, there are exceptions to these groupings and a student will be placed in a different Company based upon their individual skill levels. This decision is made by the Directors and is on a case-by-case basis. If you feel you should be in a different Company than the one assigned to you, please discuss this with the Directors.

What weekly classes do I take when I’m in DACPAC?

Classes are assigned by Company (Jr., Teen, etc.), and vary based upon the Company. Most classes you will attend are entirely Company dancers. All dancers will take Ballet, Jazz, Technique, Tap, and Hip Hop. Some Companies will take other required classes such as Lyrical for Juniors, Teens and Seniors, Pointe for Teens and Seniors and Conditioning for Seniors. There are optional classes available to all dancers.

We understand that although dance is important to our students, school and scholastic efforts take top priority. Therefore, all company-required dance classes will meet two nights during the week, for 2 to 4 hours per night. This leaves nights during the week free for homework and other commitments, or you may take other, optional DACPAC classes.

How long is the season?

Classes start in August and continue through May. The company requirement extends into the summer for Bootcamp, Nationals Rehearsals, and Nationals.

When are the competitions, and how do I know which ones DACPAC attends?

At the beginning of the season, the Directors decide the 5 regional competitions and Nationals DACPAC will attend. They give careful consideration to this, and only select high-caliber, reputable competitions. Shortly after their decision is made, the dates for competitions will be published, usually by the end of September. Competitions are on the weekends, usually Saturday and Sunday and occasionally Friday night. Our first regional competition is usually in February and the last one is in late April or early May. Nationals are usually late in June or July.

We don't know the times of our Group Numbers until a week or two before the event. As soon as we receive the schedule, it will be passed on to you. Since we know our competition dates months in advance, this allows you and your family time to adequately plan your schedules around competitions.

Although we try to select regional competitions in the greater Atlanta area, occasionally we may have to travel to attend a competition, usually no more than 1 to 2 hours from DAC by car. For example, we have attended regionals in Greenville-Spartanburg SC, a 2-hour drive from DAC.

Are there any other competitions I can attend?

There are usually opportunities for optional competitions for solos, duets and trios.

Optional competition names and dates will be announced well in advance.

What is Bootcamp?

Bootcamp is made up of classes and workshops taught by Guest Teachers and Choreographers and is held in the summer, after the normal class season ends (May) and before Nationals. These Master Classes give DACPAC dancers some of the best instruction available in the Southeast!

How many different dance groups or numbers will I be in?

All dancers (Mini through Senior) will be in the Company Production number and in one Large Group or Production Number for their assigned Company (Mini, Jr., etc). After that, you are free to select the quantity of numbers you want to be in, up to the maximum available for a particular Company. You will remain in the same numbers for the entire season (August through May). On average, our Minis will be in 2 Groups (Company Production and Mini Large Group), and our Seniors may be in anywhere from 2 Groups through 10 Groups. For the 2007-08 Season, there were a total of 30 DACPAC Group numbers.

I want to be in as many Group numbers as possible. How do I do this?

Dancers audition at the beginning of the season and placement in Groups will be made by the Directors. Be aware that the dancer may not be placed in as many numbers as they elect to participate in due to space and resource limits.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Please be aware that the more group numbers a dancer and their family select, the commitment level and costs rise as well. Rehearsal times, costume fees, and competition entry fees all rise proportionally with the quantity of dance numbers. This decision is up to you, and is an IMPORTANT decision and commitment of both your time and money. Please make sure you give it careful consideration.

See the Company Tuition page for more details about costs.

Do only members of a single Company Group (Jr., Teen, etc.) dance in each number?

No. Although some of the time a Group number is made up of dancers within a Company, there are times the Directors decide to place certain dancers together to tap into (no pun intended!) a dancer’s particular strengths or abilities and to compete with the strongest Group for an age category. Sometimes a Company Group piece will be open to any dancer in that Company.

When do the Competition Group Numbers rehearse?

Groups are rehearsed on the weekend (Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday), and are scheduled well in advance. We try to schedule all Groups for a Company (Sr., Mini, etc) around the same time on a single day, but there may be times when your Group rehearsals are spread out across a day or may be on more than one day.

As we get closer to competition times, week-night classes will be re-arranged and Group rehearsals will be scheduled. You will know this schedule well in advance. Some of your regular weekly classes will be cancelled and replaced with Group rehearsals. Please be aware that even though your normal class nights may be, for example, Tuesday and Thursdays, your Group rehearsals during "pre-competition" time may be on Wednesdays and Thursdays, or possibly just on a single night (depending on how many Groups you are in).

Can I do a solo, duet or trio?

Yes, and this is your time to shine! Solos, duets and trios are optional and are available to any company member. If you elect to do a solo, duet or trio, you will meet with the Directors at the beginning of the season and decide on the style of dance and the music. For duets or trios, the Directors will group dancers based upon the individual dancers' strengths and skills. Every effort will be made to honor pairing requests; the Directors must approve all groupings.

Once everything is agreed upon, you will schedule private choreography sessions. Choreography will be set by a Dance Arts Centre choreographer, or a choreographer approved by the Directors. You will be charged a flat fee for choreography. The fee includes as many privates as needed to complete and “set” the choreography. Once your choreography has been completed, you can continue scheduling privates to rehearse and “clean” your number. The teacher’s hourly rates will apply to these sessions, and must be paid for through the DAC Office when the private is scheduled.

You are responsible for scheduling and signing up for your privates and you do this through the DAC Office Manager.

Costumes for solos, duets, and trios are the responsibility of the dancer. Our costumer is available to custom-make costumes, or you may use a costumer of your choosing. All costumes must be approved by the Directors. Frequently, prior year DACPAC costumes are available for purchase from others in the Company, and may be altered or modified for your needs.

Check the Dance Company tuition page for solo/duo/trio costs.

What about the costumes for competition?

All of DACPAC’s costumes are custom made. We have a great costumer who works wonders each year providing us with some of the best costumes seen at competitions! The average cost per costume is $175 to $200. You will pay for your costumes in several steps throughout the year. A per-costume deposit is due at the beginning of the season, and balances are paid in several payments prior to the beginning of the competition season.

Because each costume is custom made and fitted to the dancer, we make sure that the fit is exact. If you have problems with your costume, be sure to let your teacher know so that adjustments can be made. The costumes are yours to keep and you are responsible for ensuring that all costumes and accessories are kept neat and in good repair, and arrive at (and go home from!) the competition intact.

Tights and shoes are the responsibility of the dancer, and will vary for each Group. A list of styles, brands, colors and types of shoe or tight for each Group will be published. The brands and styles change year-to-year, so check with us before making any purchases.

Are there other costume accessories needed?

Yes. For girls, this generally includes one pair of earrings, one choker, and a hair accessory (barrette, clip, etc).. There is usually one set of accessories per year for all Groups, although occasionally a Group will have a different requirement. To ensure uniformity, DACPAC generally will purchase everything and you will buy your own personal items from DACPAC.

Can I speak candidly with a DACPAC parent so I can decide if DACPAC's right for my child?

Yes, in fact, we strongly encourage you to talk with DACPAC members and their families. Our strongest supporters are our dancers’ families, and they can tell you about their experiences. Please contact us and we can refer you to a DACPAC family who would be happy to talk with you.

I really want to be in DACPAC, but I may not be able to attend the Nationals in the summer. Is this OK?

Yes, but please let us know about it well in advance, as we must re-set numbers to accommodate the missing dancer. You will know the location and dates of the Nationals competition at the beginning of the season, which gives plenty of time to plan and make arrangements to attend. Please make every effort to attend, as we want all our dancers to be able to experience the excitement of a National competition. But we understand that there may be reasons that a dancer may not be able to attend. Nationals usually require out-of-state travel and the expense associated with several days to a week at a resort-type area such as Daytona Beach, Walt Disney World or Las Vegas.

Your National Entry Fees for group numbers will be paid out of your Escrow Account and are non-refundable, regardless of your attending Nationals or not.

All other expenses, including travel, lodging, meals, etc. are the responsibility of the dancer’s family.

How much does everything cost?

Costs vary based upon how many group numbers a dancer participates in.

Please see the Company Tuition and Costs page for pricing details.

What is an Escrow Account?

At the beginning of the season, you will receive a payment coupon book showing your financial obligations for monthly tuition, Competition Group entry fees, boot camp and "Z" fee. The grand total for the entire season is calculated and split up into 9 monthly payments. Your Escrow Account is an easy way to distribute the wallet-impact of competition fees over the entire season!

Please see the Company Tuition and Costs page for more information about how the Escrow Account can help you manage your budget.

Is there a booster club or other type of fund-raising resource to help with expenses?

Yes. The DACPAC Booster Club is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization that provides educational, financial and social support to DACPAC. One of the Booster Club's major goals is to raise funds to help defray the costs of entry fees, travel and lodging for regional and national events.

Through sponsorship from local businesses and benefactors, a tiered sponsorship program benefits the supporting business through advertisements seen by hundreds of DACPAC families and friends. Your business will be recognized as a supporter of an elite, nationally recognized dance company. Sponsors can expect increased patronage by family and friends of DACPAC.

Are there any other performing opportunities that aren't competitions?

Yes. Our annual DACPAC Showcase performance is held just before the first competition, and is a public show where friends and families of DACPAC can get a “sneak peek” at all our Groups! The Showcase is usually held in a local high school theater with a seating capacity of approximately 400. The Showcase is organized by our Booster Club and includes not only a fantastic night of dance presentations, but also is a fundraiser. There are gift basket raffles, a silent auction, and many other great opportunities to support our dancers and to thank our DACPAC sponsors and donors.

All company dancers participate in the studio's end-of-year recital in May.

Also, we occasionally have opportunities to perform at local festivals and events supporting our community.