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We now have two types of formation teams - Performance Team & Competition
Team - read on
Performance Group
Formation Dance Teams Practice starts Sunday, June 1 2008 for 12 weeks Sometimes we have brought our performance dance team to a dance competition, and the students absolutely loved it! Our competition team recently took first place at the San Jose State Classic, and they have a long line up of competitions scheduled in 2007. We need more dancers, especially men! This team will work more seriously on their dancing, competing against other dance teams at local competitions. Auditions will be required for all team members. We will want a total of 8 couples plus substitutes. NO PARTNER NEEDED. Competition Dances
Audition & Practice times: Competition team fees:
Dance Competition Schedule through April 2008: There are other dance competitions that do something called Team Match. It's a fun way to compete as a team in other dances. Those are listed above. A team match is planned for the Stanford Cardinal Classic. The team match will consist of the following four dances: International style waltz, cha-cha, quickstep, and rumba. One representative couple from each team will enter each dance. Each team should consist of eight people; however, teams of six or seven will be permitted if a school or group is not able to produce a full team of eight. Any school, organization, or group may enter this event. Team match entries will be accepted on the day of the competition. Group Routine Expectations, for Students & Coaching Performing or competing is a great way for the dance student, even at the beginning level, to greatly improve their dancing, and remove any fears they may have with getting out on the dance floor. With a group routine, you have the opportunity to perform, without feeling all alone out on the floor. A great way to get started! Bud wants to share this terrific experience with you. We will provide the choreography & coaching to create a fun & enjoyable routine to both perform and to watch. In order to best accomplish this, some questions you may have need to be clear from the outset. 1. Registration: You may register by contacting Bud Ayers via email (preferred) at bud.ayers@gmail.com or voice mail on 408.807.2749. Please include your contact information (name, phone # & email address if applicable), and the formation dance(s) you wish to perform. A minimum of 10 students will be required to start the formation team. Please note that with less than 10 students, there are not enough participants to cover floor rental fees & coaching time. 2. Fees: Students will pay up front for floor fees and coaching time. We pay the floor fee up front, and will need to request this of the students as well. If a situation arises where the student must drop out of the routine, the student must make every effort to find the replacement. Fees will not be refunded. Fees are $135 for one dance, $255 for both dances to cover floor fees and coaching time. For those new to formation team dancing, much coaching time must be spent listening & counting music & putting together choreography. This time is included in the fee. 3. Attendance: Attendance is crucial to the success of the formation and for the choreography. Each time a person misses a practice, it affects the entire team, resulting in a void in the formation. We understand that occasionally, some practices will be missed. However, you are expected to get with other team members, or schedule a private lesson to get caught up. 4. Practicing: A lot needs to be done during the scheduled practice time. Any practicing or studying the student does on their own outside this time is highly recommended. Videotaping of the practices is strongly encouraged, as is taking notes. Students usually set up extra practice time – attendance is encouraged. 5. If you’re having difficulty with learning the technique or the footwork, again, we encourage you to seek help either from fellow students, or schedule private lessons. 6. Substitutes: We will be requesting substitutes. If the substitute attends more practices than the regular members of the team, the substitute MAY take their place on the team. The substitute is required to pay the registration fee, regardless of whether or not they perform. 7. Costumes: Students will be expected to pay for their own costumes. Prices and general design will be discussed and agreed to in advance, but final decisions will be made by Shall We Dance. Every effort will be made to select the best design at the most reasonable price. If SWD has purchased/constructed the costume on behalf of the student, the student will reimburse SWD accordingly. Costumes for the ladies typically range $20-$90, and for the gents, $20-$40, higher only occasionally. The student is only charged for the actual costs of fabric, or purchased item. We do not make money on the costumes. Should the costume need to be sewn, it is expected that the students will make the effort to do their own sewing, or find someone to do it for them. If we need to have a specific person do it, then the student will be expected to pay that person to do the sewing at a nominal fee. For ladies costumes, this is typically done by Sandy Nichols who offers her services at greatly reduced fees. She is to be paid directly for her services, costume will be handed to the student upon completion of full payment. DO NOT HASSLE HER!!! She does this is a huge favor to the team, and as the fun for her dwindles, so will her fees begin to reflect the extra burden. 8. Dress rehearsal: The last practice will be a dress rehearsal. Please come in full costume, and we will take photos at that time. 9. Choreography: SWD will make every effort to prepare choreography that the team is capable of learning, and creating a fun & effective environment for the learning to take place. 10. Have fun Please note that we have had some students in the past who, in their effort to help others, often attempt to coach their fellow students in style & technique. This is not recommended, due to the conflict that it may cause, unless the teacher has informed everyone that this student is qualified to teach the technique. Often, this student is merely repeating what they have been taught in private lessons or in group classes. If a student asks another student for help, of course, it is anticipated that this student will help as much as possible, but please do not offer this advice unless asked. Last but not least, please inform us of any concerns you may have, and we will try to address those concerns as quickly as possible.
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Comments from our Audience
August 24 2004,
I think tonight was something that
you could really be proud of. Not only of your choreography, which
was excellent, but of your own outstanding dancing. You belong to a
certain elite that has developed this special skill and who is also
capable of passing that along to others. I think it is a rather
rare achievement. I think your age, which sometimes bothers you, is
not really a factor that should concern you. It had nothing to do
with the excellence that I saw tonight.
Karl
I really enjoyed it.
Great entertainment, and
the dancing is wonderful. From the novice to the experienced, the
show has it all. Worth both your money and time!
Barbara Gore
Your nonstop show with its diversity of production numbers and couples’ dances was very exciting. The dancers demonstrated both great technique, as well as Hollywood’s factor X, in their presentations. All of the numbers had terrific original choreography and costuming with the students’ best abilities being showcased. I especially recall the two very different sambas, the Viennese waltz, and, oh my, the fiery Paso Doble. Your Christmas East Coast swing number, no doubt, is a signature piece for your group.
Who am I to comment? I've been a dance teacher for over 15 years. For 7 years I taught ballet and tap and staged at least 50 shows for my own studio. Here at work I have taught country western line dancing (Texercise) at noon in the boardroom every day for 8 years. I can send you a tape of my solo (hustle) and grand finale pieces (East Coast swing) which I choreographed and performed for College of San Mateo.
You asked if I would be interested in joining the formation team. Most definitely. Please keep me apprised of your activities.
Cheryl
 What I liked about this particular program were the brief descriptions of the performers and the dance they were about to do. It gave me a chance to get the to know the performers rather than just watching two people dancing Name withheld
I don't remember why I decided to join the formation teams, either it's an excuse to avoid working on my backyard and cleaning up the house, or simply enjoying dancing so much.... maybe it's both. Over the past 12+ weeks, the formation experience Though the performance is over, the fun doesn't end here since I've got to know some more new friends who share the same interest. Thank you Bud & Deb, my formation partners, and friends. Ray Ng This was my first involvement with dance formation. I met a group of people who were artistic and very involved in their work. I was especially impressed by Ed, Ejazz, Lisa and Natalie. Everybody worked very hard and was professional. We people labored thru at least a dozen rehearsals, each time learning a new step or a new pose. I really think we can keep our Waltz and Salsa performance for competing against some group performance for the future. I am a single Mom and I have two children, my boys are now 13 and 8 years old. I was happy to be the first one to present ballroom dancing to my children. If chance be, I would like to do this presentation at the Middle School dance party! Dance, Dance and continue to Dance. Regards, |
