Dear TDC Families and Dancers,

We are very excited to announce that it’s time to start planning for Team TDC Auditions!

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Audition Dates:

Tuesday, April 8, 2025- Ballet Levels ½ and up
Friday, April 11, 2025- Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, Open, Musical Theater, Tap
Monday, May 5, 2025- Solo Auditions for new soloists or current soloists requesting different genre 

Auditions will be held at The Dance Center — please see all the important details below.

If your dancer is interested in being considered for the audition, please fill out AUDITION FORM. Once submitted, your dancer’s interest will be discussed with their teachers, and factors such as level, attendance, and placement will be reviewed. After this review, the front desk will reach out to confirm audition details and next steps.

Available Teams

We will be placing dancers on teams for multiple levels in:

• Jazz

• Lyrical

• Contemporary

• Ballet

• Musical Theater Jazz (jazz based piece in the musical theater genre)

• Tap

Full-Year Commitment

Please note that acceptance to any team (or multiple teams) is a commitment for the full year:

• June - August 2025: Choreography sessions (dates TBD, but please plan for a significant amount of choreography to take place the weekend before, during, and after our Jazz/Contemporary Intensive).

• Summer Intensives: Required for team dancers (details attached).

• August 2025 - June 2026: Fall class season, including recital.

This year-round process helps our team dancers develop important skills such as teamwork, growth, and responsibility — all essential to being part of Team TDC.

 

If this is something you are interested in for your dancer please be sure to read the upcoming paragraphs.  Please make sure you are able to say YES! to the following.

 

 

Estimated Team Class Requirements & Weekly Attendance (2025-2026 Season)

If you are considering auditioning for Team TDC, please review the required classes and attendance expectations for each level. Participation on any team is a full-year commitment.

Mini Level (By Invite)

• Required Classes:

  • 1 ballet class per week

  • 1 jazz/ lyrical combo or jazz class per week

  • Weekly team rehearsal class

• Competitions: 1 routine at 4 competitions

Petite/Junior Level (Jazz or Lyrical - based on placement at auditions)

• Required Classes:

  • 1 ballet class per week

  • 1 class in the genre for each team placement

  • 1 weekly team rehearsal per team genre

  • 1 additional technique class (strongly recommended: 2 ballet classes per week and/or 2 jazz or contemporary classes)

  • 1 turns/jumps/strengthening class per week (or, if unavailable, 1 additional technique class in ballet, jazz, lyrical, or contemporary)

• Competitions: 1 routine per genre at 4 competitions

Youth/Teen/Senior Level (Jazz, Contemporary, Open, Specialty, or Lyrical)

• Required Classes:

  • 2 ballet classes per week

  • 1 class in the genre for each team placement

  • 1 weekly team rehearsal per team genre

  • 1 additional technique class (strongly recommended: jazz, lyrical, or contemporary)

  • 1 turns/jumps/strengthening class per week (or, if unavailable, 1 additional technique class in ballet, jazz, lyrical, or contemporary)

• Competitions: 1 routine per genre at 4 competitions- Senior Open and Contemporary will compete at Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) (January-March and YAGP Finals if invited)

Ballet Team (Multiple Levels: Ballet 1/2 and up)

• Required Classes:

  • 2-3 ballet classes per week (depending on team level)

  • 1 additional class (pointe or contemporary)

  • 1 weekly team ballet class

• Competitions: 1 routine at competitions 

• Additional Event: All ballet teams will compete at Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) (January-March and YAGP Finals if invited)

Tap Team (Multiple Levels: Tap 2 and up)

• Required Classes:

  • 1-2 tap classes per week

  • 1 weekly tap team class

  • 1 ballet or jazz class per week

• Competitions: 1 routine at competitions & conventions

Competition & Convention Scheduling

Please be aware that competitions and conventions typically release their schedules approximately 7 days prior to the event. This means we will not know your dancer’s exact performance time until that week.

• Performances may begin as early as Thursday afternoon (though this is less common).

• Most often, dancers will perform on Friday morning, Friday afternoon, or later into the weekend.

• Please understand that we have no control over the exact timing of your dancer’s performance — these schedules are set by the competition organizers.

Season Schedule Planning

• Our goal is to release a full competition schedule as early as possible — typically by August 2025 for the 2025-2026 season.

• Once all competition and convention dates are officially announced, we will finalize and release our team’s season schedule to help families plan ahead.

2. Can you commit to the following financial aspects of team? (Hotel, travel, and food excluded)

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Team TDC Fees & Financial Commitment

Team Acceptance Admin Fee

• $200.00 (non-refundable)

• This fee is charged upon acceptance to Team TDC. It helps cover a small portion of coach travel costs for all five competitions and conventions.

• Please note: Not all team coaches will attend every event, but there will always be an adequate number of coaches present to support your dancer.

 

 

Competition Costs (approximately)

• Registration Fee: $25.00 per competition

• Entry Fees: $75.00-$90.00 per dance

• Choreography Fee (per group dance): $150.00-$200.00

 

 

Additional Required Costs

• Team Jacket: $165.00 (only if a new one is needed)

• Costumes: $130.00-$160.00 per dance (we strive to keep these as low as possible while ensuring quality)

 

 

Non-Refundable Policy (Important!)

All of the following are non-refundable under any circumstances, including withdrawal, injury, relocation, or medical leave:
✅ Competition Fees
✅ Team Admin Fee
✅ Group Choreography Fees
✅ Costume Fees
✅ Solo/Duet/Trio Choreography Fees

Why?

• Competitions require full payment months in advance, including a non-refundable deposit in July or August to reserve our space.

• We appreciate timely payments, as we pay for your dancer’s registration upfront and are not refunded by the competitions.

• Choreographers are contracted and paid per dancer in each routine — so once your child accepts a spot on a team, your fees directly contribute to their payment.

 

 

Important Competition & Backstage Notes

• Competitions and conventions are dancer-only backstage — parents are not permitted backstage.

• All dancers must arrive at competitions with hair and makeup done, ready to check in with their coaches and teammates in the dressing room.

 

 

Commitment Reminder

Accepting a spot on a team — including any solos, duets, or small groups — is a full-year commitment. Please make sure you and your dancer are fully committed before accepting, as withdrawals do not release you from financial obligations.

 

 

If the listed team commitments are manageable for your family and your dancer we would love to hear from you! 

3. Save the Dates for your required summer intensives! 

 

Summer Intensive Requirements for Team 

If your dancer is accepted to Team TDC, a space will automatically be saved for them in the required intensives.

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Required Summer Intensives (for all accepted team dancers):

• Ballet Intensive: June 16-20, 2025

• Jazz/Contemporary Intensive: July 28 - August 1, 2025

 

For Mini Team & Tap Team

• Specific intensive dates will be included in the Summer Class Schedule (coming soon).

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Additional Summer Options

You can also view our full Summer Camp Schedule at: www.dancecarmel.com.
We will offer multiple camps and classes for dancers at Beginning through Level 2, plus a dedicated Mini Team camp for meeting technique requirements.

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If You Have a Conflict

If your dancer cannot attend a required intensive due to a scheduled family vacation, they must make up the missed hours through summer classes or private lessons.
✅ If your dancer attends an outside dance intensive during the same week as a TDC intensive, the hours will count toward the requirement (no makeup needed).

 

 

4. Solos, Duos, Trios, and Small Groups
AUDITIONS- FOR NEW SOLOISTS OR CURRENT SOLOIST REQUESTING A SOLO DIFFERENT FROM THE GENRE THEY ARE CURRENTLY COMPETING IN THE 2025 SEASON

All individuals interested in a duo/ trio/ small group will audition with their level as well- see below.

Important Recommendation

As experienced directors, we strongly recommend dancers participate on Team for at least one full year before auditioning for any additional competition pieces. This helps dancers understand the time, teamwork, and commitment required—without adding extra pressure.
🚨 Mini Level Team Members are NOT eligible for these additional pieces.

 

 

Requirements for Solos, Duos, Trios, or Small Groups

✅ Weekly Rehearsal Commitment

• Solo (Jazz, Contemporary, Tap, Hip-Hop): 30-45 min private lesson per week

• Ballet Solo: 1 hour private per week (or 2 x 30 min privates per week)

✅ Choreography Fees (approximate)

• Solo: $550 - $1000+ per piece depending on choreographer

• Duet: $250 - $500 per dancer depending on choreographer

• Trio: $200 - $450 per dancer depending on choreographer

• Small Group: $250 - $600 per dancer depending on choreographer

• Studio Rental for Choreography: $30.00/hour (usually 3-5 hours total)

✅ Costume Fees

• Costumes typically range from $125 - $500, depending on design, embellishments, and headpieces.

✅ Mandatory Rehearsals & Attendance

• Dancers must commit to regular rehearsals with their assigned coach.

• Additional private lessons may be required if dancers need extra preparation.

• Dancers must maintain excellent attendance in ALL weekly classes.

✅ Competition & Convention Fees (approximate)

• Solo: $130 - $200 per event

• Duet: $75 - $100 per dancer per event

• Trio: $75 - $100 per dancer per event

• Small Group: $75 - $95 per dancer per event

 

 

Additional Piece Audition Process

Full-Year Commitment Reminder

If your dancer auditions for and accepts a solo, duet, trio, or small group, this is a full-year commitment, just like being on Team. Please make sure your dancer and family are fully prepared for the time, cost, and responsibility before committing.

 

 

For Current Team Soloists

✅ Current team soloists do not need to schedule an audition.
✅ Instead, solos will be evaluated based on your performance during the 2025 competition season (Feb-May).
✅ This allows the directors to assess your real on-stage experience, which is the most accurate way to evaluate your readiness for another solo.

 

 

For Dancers New to Solos (or Additional Pieces)

✅ New dancers wishing to be considered for a solo (or other additional piece) will need to perform a 45-second routine for the directors. This can be:

• Your current recital dance

• A section from a current team dance

• A current solo, duet, or trio piece

✅ No extra rehearsals are required for this audition — just bring your music on an iPad, iPhone, tablet, or other device.

✅ Dancers auditioning for duets, trios, or small groups do not need to audition with a partner. Directors will assign the piece type (solo/duo/trio/group) that best fits each dancer’s strengths and style after evaluations.

 

 

5.  Audition Times

Audition Schedule Overview

Tuesday, April 8 (Ballet Teams)

• 6:30-7:00 pm: Levels 1/2-3 (including AP Ballet)

• 7:00-7:30 pm: Levels 3/4-6

Wednesday, April 9 (Tap Audition)

• 6:00-7:00 pm: Levels 2 and up

Friday, April 11 (Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical, MT, Tap)- all dancers will be emailed with audition time and location

• 4:00-4:45 pm: Group 1 (BTA)

• 5:00-5:45 pm: Group 2 (CR)

• 6:00-6:45 pm: Groups 3 & 4 (CR)

• 6:45-7:30 pm: Groups 5 & 6 (CR)

• 7:30-8:30 pm: Musical Theater Teams (younger dancers will finish early)

Monday, May 5 (Solos)

• 5:00-6:00 pm: New Soloist /Genre Change Solo Auditions

 

 

Important Dates at a Glance

• Interest Form Due: March 20, 2025

• Ballet Team Auditions: April 8, 2025

• Jazz/Contemporary/Lyrical/MT/Tap Auditions: April 11, 2025

• Solo Auditions: May 5, 2025

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Ready to Commit?

If you and your dancer are able to meet these requirements and are excited to join Team TDC, we would love to hear from you! Once you submit your interest form, our team coaches and your teachers will review your dancer’s interest and readiness.

We hope this covers all your questions — and we are so excited for the opportunities ahead for Team TDC! Please complete the interest form by March 20 if your dancer is ready to take this next step.

With love & appreciation,
Team TDC