smalexan
High Bronze Member
Registered: June 07, 2009
Posts: 31
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Reply with quote | #1 |
So I'm curious....my daughter is about a year away from dance team tryouts and she has already voiced an interest in trying out. I'm curious as to which classes will help her most in trying out and/or being on dance team. She plans on doing combo (tap/jazz), jazz technique, ballet and hip-hop next year. I'm contemplating having her take off a year from hip-hop but I don't know if that would impact it.
Anyway what classes would help her most, in your opinion?
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Susanna
Single Mom to
Viktoria (11): Jazz, Tap, Ballet and Jazz Technique |
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dancemama3
Bronze Member
Registered: May 29, 2009
Posts: 12
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Reply with quote | #2 |
The last year before my DD joined the comp team our studio told us to shy away from the combo classes and take technical jazz, tap, ballet separately. These are more structured for kids who want to take it up a level. My DD stayed in hip-hop since (we were told) it helps with a different type of movement...
Does your studio offer strength and flex classes? Or showmanship... Every studio is a little different. |
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5_6_7_8
High Platinum Member
Registered: Oct 18, 2004
Posts: 4,094
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Reply with quote | #3 |
Ballet, separate jazz and tap classes. Hip hop, imo, is optional. Maybe a stretch/strength or pilates type class. Does your studio offer lyrical?
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"Contemporary choreography asks the dancer to look outside the box, beyond perfect form, to see the qualities movement itself can possess." - Unknown |
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smalexan
High Bronze Member
Registered: June 07, 2009
Posts: 31
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Reply with quote | #4 |
The jazz technique class is considered stretching/jazz technique - they don't separate jazz and tap until 7th grade. She will be in 6th grade next year. They do offer lyrical but she hasn't shown a real interest in it. Is lyrical something she might look into?
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Susanna
Single Mom to
Viktoria (11): Jazz, Tap, Ballet and Jazz Technique |
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jeanne4379
Diamond Member
Registered: Aug 21, 2005
Posts: 9,077
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Reply with quote | #5 |
I would urge you to stay away from the combo classes. There's to much wasted time in 'shoe changing.' Also, the division of time takes away from really learning something. The students want to learn TO dance, not A dance. Concentrate on true development of technique in ballet, jazz and tap. Separate classes are best.
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dancemama3
Bronze Member
Registered: May 29, 2009
Posts: 12
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Reply with quote | #6 |
My DD is not old enough for lyrical but it is one of my favorites to watch! Lyrical is more of a mix between jazz and ballet, and has lots of emotion behind the dance. At our studio the older kids compete in lyrical. Good choice! |
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5_6_7_8
High Platinum Member
Registered: Oct 18, 2004
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Reply with quote | #7 |
I think jazz and tap should be separated much earlier than grade 7.
Lyrical has become a very popular style in competition. What about modern? Good for core strength and control of body movements.
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"Contemporary choreography asks the dancer to look outside the box, beyond perfect form, to see the qualities movement itself can possess." - Unknown |
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lilluviesmom
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Registered: Sept 04, 2006
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Reply with quote | #8 |
Agreed. Classes should be seperate much earlier then 7th grade. Our studio only offers combo class up to Kindergarten then everything is a seperate technique class. For dance team she should have jazz and some hip-hop experience. Some teams do lyrical too depends on the level of the dancers. Good luck!
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aries795
High Silver Member
Registered: Feb 04, 2009
Posts: 133
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Reply with quote | #9 |
I have been told ballet, ballet, ballet....
Michelle wants to try out for her High school dance team in a year and I am trying to convince her make a decision between which is more important to her high school dance team or competition team as I can not pay for both! |
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dancemom23
Platinum Member
Registered: Sept 16, 2006
Posts: 1,778
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Reply with quote | #10 |
When my girls were on their HS dance team, it was mostly hip-hop. However, they never had hip-hop at our studio, and they were just fine. I think it depends on what type of team and what they actually do. Ours did some basketball games and some outside performances, but mostly competition which included various styles, and it changed each year.
Perhaps you can contact the school and/or coach and find out if there are specific requirements. Our coach had certain requirements that she used to score the girls at tryouts.
Our HS dance team was 7-12 grades - we were lucky in that we had older girls on the HS team that were also at our studio when my oldest was trying out for the team for 7th grade so we kinda knew what was up.
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Chris
Mom to dancers Kayleigh 18 & Alyssa 16 and golfer Kevin 14 |
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tappinmom
High Platinum Member
Registered: July 17, 2007
Posts: 2,980
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Reply with quote | #11 |
Ballet is uber important.
As far as combo classes until 7th grade that is strange. My ds hasn't had a combo class since he was 4.
About the school dance team - IMHO hip hop is a pretty big part of most dances these groups tend to do. |
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LasMa
Platinum Member
Registered: April 29, 2008
Posts: 1,319
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Reply with quote | #12 |
I agree about ballet, tappinmom. It's the foundation of everything.
smalexan, I'm not totally clear, but I assume you're talking about a school dance team? If so, a jazz specialty would be the way to go; at least, the school dance teams in our area of Calif are essentially jazz teams. There's usually a hiphop number thrown in, so a class in that would be good too.
If you're talking about a studio dance team, and your DD wants to get noticed, I'd steer clear of lyrical. It's a beautiful form, but there are just alot of lyricals. (We are taking 8 solos to competition tomorrow: 1 modern, 1 tap, and 6 lyricals. This ratio is very typical at comps here.) The solos that always stand out to me are the straight classical ballet, and tap -- they're rare.
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smalexan
High Bronze Member
Registered: June 07, 2009
Posts: 31
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Reply with quote | #13 |
Yes she wants to do her junior high team, which won't be til next year hence we are looking to see what she should be taking this year to prepare.
She is definitely taking ballet and hip-hop. She is also taking acro/tumbling which will probably just be for a year. And she is adding jazz technique. She takes the tap/jazz combo (and most schools in the area still do combos at this age) and has been since the beginning of time and I'm just hesitant to allow her to drop tap. She hates tap though...and she wants to drop combo and I'm really torn. So today she hits me with this "you've always told me I didn't have to sign up for anything if I didn't want too and I don't want to do tap..." It's true I've always told her she's not required to do anything she doesn't care to do...the only deal is she has to do the whole session of what she signs up for....
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Susanna
Single Mom to
Viktoria (11): Jazz, Tap, Ballet and Jazz Technique |
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LasMa
Platinum Member
Registered: April 29, 2008
Posts: 1,319
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Reply with quote | #14 |
For a school dance team, she's safe in dropping tap altogether (once the session is over, of course). The combination of ballet, hiphop and jazz will stand her in very good stead.
But I feel your pain! My DD started dance at 3 (now 17), and over the years I've been hit with every imaginable form of that argument "But I don't want to take that class anymore!" I always made her live up to what she'd committed to also. It made for an unhappy dancer on some days, but you know, doing something they don't want to do doesn't kill them, and it builds character.
Good luck to your DD in making the team -- keep us posted.
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Intheburbs
High Silver Member
Registered: Nov 25, 2008
Posts: 174
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Reply with quote | #15 |
If you have a year before the try-outs then I would try to find a studio that does offer jazz separately, along with the ballet and hip hop.
My daughter is 6 and just started taking separate full jazz classes and the difference is immediate. They do way more stretching and technique - your basic turns, kicks etc that she will need for the dance team.
Many dance teams at that age are not that competitive and take kids who have no dance experience, but can catch on - so do consider the level of competitiveness for that team too before getting too preoccupied with it!
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smalexan
High Bronze Member
Registered: June 07, 2009
Posts: 31
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Reply with quote | #16 |
Quote: Originally Posted by Intheburbs
If you have a year before the try-outs then I would try to find a studio that does offer jazz separately, along with the ballet and hip hop.
My daughter is 6 and just started taking separate full jazz classes and the difference is immediate. They do way more stretching and technique - your basic turns, kicks etc that she will need for the dance team.
Many dance teams at that age are not that competitive and take kids who have no dance experience, but can catch on - so do consider the level of competitiveness for that team too before getting too preoccupied with it!
The dance team does compete but they only do regional competitions. As far as I know they don't go to Disney. They aren't highly competitive but at the same time I know you usually need some dance experience. I have contacted a friend of mine because her daughter used to be on the team...she is supposed to shoot me an email of stuff they used to do for try-outs and whatnot.
Now the kicker is, (no pun intended) the high school my daughter wants to go to hasn't opened yet...next year is their first year and she wants to go b/c they are having a performing arts program (not only audition but recreational too - ie they will be able to take "intro dance" rather than gym etc). While the high school district we've been in is very very good I'd have no idea what to expect from them and they are just announcing the arts program (it will be dance, digital media, visual art, sculpture, and drama).
Yes she's a bit away from high school but I know one thing I've been told is that being on the junior high team does help them get on the high school team. Right now, the high school team is way better than the junior high team.
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Susanna
Single Mom to
Viktoria (11): Jazz, Tap, Ballet and Jazz Technique |
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smalexan
High Bronze Member
Registered: June 07, 2009
Posts: 31
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Reply with quote | #17 |
Quote: Originally Posted by Intheburbs
If you have a year before the try-outs then I would try to find a studio that does offer jazz separately, along with the ballet and hip hop.
My daughter is 6 and just started taking separate full jazz classes and the difference is immediate. They do way more stretching and technique - your basic turns, kicks etc that she will need for the dance team.
Many dance teams at that age are not that competitive and take kids who have no dance experience, but can catch on - so do consider the level of competitiveness for that team too before getting too preoccupied with it!
I wanted to say she is taking jazz separately. She will be taking jazz technique. They do not have a tap only class. The technique class is lots of turns and leaps and splits etc.
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Susanna
Single Mom to
Viktoria (11): Jazz, Tap, Ballet and Jazz Technique |
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lildancersmom
Platinum Member
Registered: Jan 16, 2006
Posts: 1,628
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Reply with quote | #18 |
I'd say if you can double up on the jazz tech classes and the ballet tech classes - you can't get to much tech training. By 11 I'd say that minimum 5 hours per week and definitly keep the hip hop it is great to have for try outs
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