Dance Arts Centre Performing Arts Company

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 (optionally) Acro 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!

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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.

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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 5 Companies:

Mini: Ages 5-8

Junior: Ages 8-12

Pre-Teen: Ages 9-13

Teen: Ages 12-15

Senior: Ages 15-18

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.

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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, and Tap. Some Companies will take other required classes, such as Acro for Mini’s, Juniors and Pre-Teens, Lyrical, Technique or Turns/Leaps, and Pointe for Juniors, Pre-Teens, Teens and Seniors. There are optional classes available to all dancers, such as Hip-Hop, Acro, or “dancing-up” to another Company group (with Directors’ approval).

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.

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

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.

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There are usually opportunities for optional competitions for solos, duets and trios. Optional competition names and dates will be announced well in advance.

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Bootcamp is held in the summer and includes classes taught by Guest Teachers and Choreographers. These Master Classes give DACPAC dancers some of the best instruction available in the Southeast!

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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 2006-07 Season, there were a total of 26 DACPAC Group numbers.

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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.

Also know that the more numbers a dancer and their family select, the commitment level and costs will rise as well. Rehearsal times, tuition, 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. Please make sure you give it careful consideration.

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No, not necessarily. Although most 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.

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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).

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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.

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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.

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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.   DACPAC will purchase everything and you will buy your own items from DACPAC.

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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.

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

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You will pay a monthly tuition fee which covers your weekly classes, Group choreography, and rehearsal fees for all of your Group numbers. The amount varies by Company (Mini, Jr., etc), and also varies by the number of Group competition numbers a dancer is in. If a guest choreographer is brought in to set a number, a separate choreography fee may apply.

Competition Group entry fees are charged per dancer, and are paid out of your escrow account.

Costumes are charged per-costume, and are paid in several installments over the year.

Sample Fees for 1 dancer (Jr., Pre-Teen, Teen or Sr. Company) participating in 4 Group numbers (Note: these fees are for example only. Your actual fees will be discussed with you by the staff at the beginning of the season.)

Monthly tuition, including weekly classes, group choreography fees and rehearsals	$210 per month
Competition group entry fees average $30 per competition per dancer x 4 group numbers x 5 regional competitions - ($30 x 4 numbers x 5 regional events)	$600 annually
Costumes, average cost $175-$200 per costume ($175 x 4)	$700 annually
"Z" fee, which covers miscellaneous expenses for competitions, such as truck rentals for set & prop transportation, equipment storage fees, set and prop construction.	$150 annually

Sample Fees for Solos, Duets or Trios:

Solo choreography fee	$400 per solo
Duet or trio choreography fee	$500 total for number
Competition solo entry fee $70 per competition x 4 regional events	$280
Costumes, average cost $175-$200 per costume	$175

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At the beginning of the season, you will receive a payment coupon book showing your financial obligations for monthly tuition, Group choreography fees, rehearsal fees, competition Group entry fees 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!

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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.

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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.

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