Pease contact us if you are interested in our full-time
competition programs for the 2023-2024 school-year.
Competition Plus is designed for the "dance is their thing" students. It is a comprehensive program for students who want to maximize their dance experience by taking advantage of the opportunities this program offers; additional technique classes, more convention experience and more time on stage performing. A high level of commitment, focus and an overall eagerness to learn is expected of these dancers.
Program Goals:
This program was created and implemented at BLDC to give our students an opportunity to participate in a competitive dance program that aims to give them the necessary education and experience needed to pursue dance at the collegiate and professional level. It’s worth mentioning that 21 dancers who participated in the Competition Plus program have gone on to pursue additional training in college dance programs, joined college dance teams and pursued professional dance careers.
Although your dancer may be years away from graduating high school, focused training, starting at a young age, gives students the time needed to develop their technique so they are prepared to take the next step, should they choose to. Through this program, we also give students experience and exposure to the dance world outside the studio. This helps educate the dancer and their family about the many opportunities available to continue dancing after high school.
Technique Class Requirements:
Providing a well-rounded dance education is a strong focus of this program. Dancers will have more required weekly technique classes than is required in our standard program. The classes take place M-Th and may include:
Additional tap, jazz & ballet technique classes, conditioning, flexibility, rhythm tap, modern, acro, etc. While additional classes are commonly offered in our Standard program as options, there are increased class requirements for participation in the Competition Plus program. Students from both programs often participate in shared technique classes.
Team Requirements:
The instructors will place accepted dancers in 7 required group dances that will be appropriate for their growth and training. These 7 dances will be a combination of Standard Competition team dances and Competition Plus dances and will include tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical and hip-hop. Additional dances may be offered but are not required.
Note: Solo, duo, and trio offerings will not count for the required 7 group dances. Dancers who are offered a solo, duo, or trio will do this in addition to their 7 group dances.
How is a Competition Plus dance different from a Standard Competition dance?
Competition Plus dances are made up of only dancers who have committed to the requirements of the program. In addition to competing these dances at the events everyone attends, they will also compete these dances at additional required Competition Plus events. Typically, CP dances are performed two more times than the Standard dances. It will be at the discretion of the BLDC faculty which dances will participate in which convention(s).
Guest Choreography Opportunities:
Dancers may be able to apply for a chance to work with guest choreographers on pieces for competitions. There will be additional fees required to participate in any guest-choreographed pieces and must be paid for in advance. Sometimes these costs can be relatively high. Please keep in mind that we need to cover the cost of flights, food, lodging, choreography fees, class rate, per diems, etc. These are opportunities that we would love for our dancers to have. However, these amazing opportunities do come with a financial commitment. Note: Placement in dances set by outside choreographers is not guaranteed.
Commitment:
This program is not only for students aiming for a career in dance. It is for those students who strive for excellence. It is essential that the dancers are dedicated to this commitment. This means that their technique classes, rehearsals and performances take priority over other extra-curricular activities. We strongly encourage you to consider whether your dancer can give the energy needed to this program if you are considering adding other activities to their schedule. This is especially important for activities that involve a large time commitment and/or practices/performances/games that conflict with the dancers' schedules, or simply will spread them too thin to reap the full benefits of this experience. It has proven to be difficult for the students to keep up the energy and focus needed when they are participating in multiple activities.
Tuition:
Yearly tuition is divided over 9 monthly payments of approximately $395 for unlimited classes.
Typical commitments include:
Participation in 2-3 Regional Competitions (Competition Plus)
Participation in 3-4 Required Conventions (Competition Plus)
Participation in required disciplines for dancer’s age group
Participation in all required technique and rehearsal classes and co-requisites as listed on your dancer’s team invitation
Participation in some weekend rehearsals, typically in November, December, and/or January
Possible participation in competition Stage Rehearsal
Participation in the BLDC Spring Dance Concert -recital
Typical commitments include:
Minimum of 7 competition dances required with the option to add additional dances
Required disciplines - Tap, Jazz, Lyrical/Contemporary, Hip-Hop & Ballet
Opportunity to audition for dances by guest choreographers - Past choreographers have included: Anthony Morigerato, Jason Parsons, Billy Bell, Ivan Koumaev, Chantel Aguirre, Dorrell Martin, Markus Shields
Option to add add additional groups of the same discipline
Option to audition for Solos, Duos/Trios
(The number of dances ranges from 7 - 15 dances per person, depending on placement and the decision of each family.)
Additional financial responsibilities include:
Annual Team Fee (Approximately $125)
Approximate $10 Annual Blast Fee (Non-Profit Parent Group)
Competition fees (Approximately $75 per dancer per dance for each competition)
Convention fees (One required convention per season, approximately $300 for each dancer).
Competition Costume Fee ($125 deposit per costume)
Extra Rehearsal Fees
Stage Rehearsal Fees
Specific Shoe Requirements for each dance discipline
Specific Makeup Requirements for Competitions
Travel and Lodging Costs to attend competitions/convention(s)
Program Goals:
This program was created and implemented at BLDC to give our students an opportunity to participate in a competitive dance program that aims to give them the necessary education and experience needed to pursue dance at the collegiate and professional level. It’s worth mentioning that 21 dancers who participated in the Competition Plus program have gone on to pursue additional training in college dance programs, joined college dance teams and pursued professional dance careers.
Although your dancer may be years away from graduating high school, focused training, starting at a young age, gives students the time needed to develop their technique so they are prepared to take the next step, should they choose to. Through this program, we also give students experience and exposure to the dance world outside the studio. This helps educate the dancer and their family about the many opportunities available to continue dancing after high school.
Technique Class Requirements:
Providing a well-rounded dance education is a strong focus of this program. Dancers will have more required weekly technique classes than is required in our standard program. The classes take place M-Th and may include:
Additional tap, jazz & ballet technique classes, conditioning, flexibility, rhythm tap, modern, acro, etc. While additional classes are commonly offered in our Standard program as options, there are increased class requirements for participation in the Competition Plus program. Students from both programs often participate in shared technique classes.
Team Requirements:
The instructors will place accepted dancers in 7 required group dances that will be appropriate for their growth and training. These 7 dances will be a combination of Standard Competition team dances and Competition Plus dances and will include tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical and hip-hop. Additional dances may be offered but are not required.
Note: Solo, duo, and trio offerings will not count for the required 7 group dances. Dancers who are offered a solo, duo, or trio will do this in addition to their 7 group dances.
How is a Competition Plus dance different from a Standard Competition dance?
Competition Plus dances are made up of only dancers who have committed to the requirements of the program. In addition to competing these dances at the events everyone attends, they will also compete these dances at additional required Competition Plus events. Typically, CP dances are performed two more times than the Standard dances. It will be at the discretion of the BLDC faculty which dances will participate in which convention(s).
Guest Choreography Opportunities:
Dancers may be able to apply for a chance to work with guest choreographers on pieces for competitions. There will be additional fees required to participate in any guest-choreographed pieces and must be paid for in advance. Sometimes these costs can be relatively high. Please keep in mind that we need to cover the cost of flights, food, lodging, choreography fees, class rate, per diems, etc. These are opportunities that we would love for our dancers to have. However, these amazing opportunities do come with a financial commitment. Note: Placement in dances set by outside choreographers is not guaranteed.
Commitment:
This program is not only for students aiming for a career in dance. It is for those students who strive for excellence. It is essential that the dancers are dedicated to this commitment. This means that their technique classes, rehearsals and performances take priority over other extra-curricular activities. We strongly encourage you to consider whether your dancer can give the energy needed to this program if you are considering adding other activities to their schedule. This is especially important for activities that involve a large time commitment and/or practices/performances/games that conflict with the dancers' schedules, or simply will spread them too thin to reap the full benefits of this experience. It has proven to be difficult for the students to keep up the energy and focus needed when they are participating in multiple activities.
Tuition:
Yearly tuition is divided over 9 monthly payments of approximately $395 for unlimited classes.
Typical commitments include:
Participation in 2-3 Regional Competitions (Competition Plus)
Participation in 3-4 Required Conventions (Competition Plus)
Participation in required disciplines for dancer’s age group
Participation in all required technique and rehearsal classes and co-requisites as listed on your dancer’s team invitation
Participation in some weekend rehearsals, typically in November, December, and/or January
Possible participation in competition Stage Rehearsal
Participation in the BLDC Spring Dance Concert -recital
Typical commitments include:
Minimum of 7 competition dances required with the option to add additional dances
Required disciplines - Tap, Jazz, Lyrical/Contemporary, Hip-Hop & Ballet
Opportunity to audition for dances by guest choreographers - Past choreographers have included: Anthony Morigerato, Jason Parsons, Billy Bell, Ivan Koumaev, Chantel Aguirre, Dorrell Martin, Markus Shields
Option to add add additional groups of the same discipline
Option to audition for Solos, Duos/Trios
(The number of dances ranges from 7 - 15 dances per person, depending on placement and the decision of each family.)
Additional financial responsibilities include:
Annual Team Fee (Approximately $125)
Approximate $10 Annual Blast Fee (Non-Profit Parent Group)
Competition fees (Approximately $75 per dancer per dance for each competition)
Convention fees (One required convention per season, approximately $300 for each dancer).
Competition Costume Fee ($125 deposit per costume)
Extra Rehearsal Fees
Stage Rehearsal Fees
Specific Shoe Requirements for each dance discipline
Specific Makeup Requirements for Competitions
Travel and Lodging Costs to attend competitions/convention(s)
