Cutting Edge Information Packet and Handbook Directors Meg Haven and Cody Rush (513) 887 4824
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Cutting Edge Auditions (Please note: you need to come to auditions BOTH days! Each day is a different type of audition, both of which are required to make the group!) Dance auditions will be held on Wednesday, May 6th from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm in the auditorium at Hamilton High School. Please sign the forms at the back of this packet and bring them with you to your audition!! Once you have done your dance audition, you are free to leave that night. Dance auditions will run as follows: (Note: No one will be allowed to check in later than 5:15 unless special arrangements have been made in advance) 5:00 5:15 : Check in 5:15 5:45 : Learn dance 6:00 8:00 : Dance auditions You will be auditioning in small groups of 5 or less. You will have time between learning the dance and your audition to practice in the hallways. There will be high schoolers there to help you, so please feel free to ask for their assistance if you need it. You will need to wear loose fitting, comfortable clothes that you can move in. Please style your hair so it doesn t hang in your face (we need to see those gorgeous SMILES!) You must wear athletic shoes or dance shoes. No flip flops, heels, sandals, etc. If your clothing and footwear is not appropriate, you will be asked to change. Vocal auditions will be held in the choir room at HHS. You may audition at any point between 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm. You will be asked to sing the Star Spangled Banner a capella. There will be a piano there to assist you in getting started, however, the pianist will not accompany you throughout the song. Once you have sung for us, we ask that you please leave so you re not distracting others who are waiting to audition. The final list will be posted on Friday, May 15th. The initial parent meeting will be Tuesday, June 16th at 6:30 pm in the HHS Auditorium. You must sign BOTH papers at the back of this packet and bring them with you to your audition. If you do not have the papers signed and with you at auditions, you will not be permitted to audition.
Cutting Edge Dear students, We are very excited that you want to be a part of this group. We look forward to directing a group of well behaved and responsible young adults. A show choir achieves success through the dedication, hard work, and uniformity of every member! Parental support is important, but we believe that the bulk of responsibility should be placed upon the members of Cutting Edge. Please take the time to read our expectations and discuss them with your parents so you can be positive that Cutting Edge is right for you! ATTENDANCE Members are expected to attend ALL rehearsals and performances throughout the school year. An absence due to a personal illness or family emergency will be excused if accompanied by a phone call or email from a parent or guardian. An absence due to participation in another activity (such as sports, dance class, school concerts, etc) will only be excused if we are given notice at least 48 hours in advance. Members with 3 unexcused absences will be dismissed from the group. 1. Rehearsals are Monday evenings from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm. (On days when no school is scheduled, we will rehearse as normal. On days when school is cancelled due to inclement weather, we will send out an email or FB post to notify everyone whether we are having rehearsal or not.) During competition season, we will have rehearsals on Mondays and Thursdays from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm. 2. Members are expected to be at rehearsal ON TIME, with their music binder with them (even if it s scheduled to be a dance only rehearsal), and a water bottle. NO SODA, GUM, CANDY, or FOOD will be allowed at rehearsal! 3. School policy prevents anyone absent more than a half day at school to attend rehearsals or concerts for that day. Please strive for perfect attendance at school! 4. An absence because of no ride is NOT an excuse. Please plan ahead!
5. An unexcused absence from a performance will result in dismissal from the group! CONDUCT Members of Cutting Edge are expected to behave responsibly and exhibit professional behavior at all times. This means obeying all school rules, as well as the rules of competition day, and the rehearsal/performance spaces we will be in. Some of these include: 1. Being attentive during rehearsals and not talking while we are working! 2. No gum chewing, eating, or drinking (except water) during rehearsals. 3. Being prepared for rehearsal (being on time, dressed appropriately, having your music and a pencil to take notes.) If you are not wearing the proper footwear or clothing to dance in at every rehearsal, you will be asked to change or go home. 4. Be courteous to everyone by using appropriate language and behavior at all times. Always be kind, please! GRADES Students must receive a D or above in all classes for each grading period. Students having an F will not be allowed to continue in Cutting Edge due to the large time commitment required by the group. PERSONAL GROOMING No unnaturally colored hair will be permitted during performances/competitions. Members will be required to properly groom their hair (Girls, you will have an assigned style. Boys, you cannot have hair hanging in your face.) FEES There are many costs that go into a group. All fees MUST be paid in full or you will not be allowed to perform with us! At the end of competition season, you may keep your costume. Once a payment is made, it is non refundable, including fundraised money! If a student is dismissed from the group or quits, they will NOT be issued a refund. FEES: $400. This covers costumes, competition entry fees, song arrangements, and a Cutting Edge t shirt (which will be your uniform at competitions!). Girls, you will need to purchase bodysuits, shoes, spankies, tights, and garment bags separately. Boys, you will need to purchase shoes and garment bags separately.
1st payment ($125) due: 6/16/2015 2nd payment ($150) due: 8/3/2015 Final payment ($125) due: 9/14/2015 CAMP Camp will be held the week of August 3rd 7th at Hamilton High School. We will rehearse from 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm each day that week. Cutting Edge members are required to bring their own dinner! We do not provide dinner! FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITIES Due to a change in legalities last year, any fundraising opportunities we provide to you will go toward the general fund. We are no longer legally permitted to credit individual accounts for fundraisers sponsored by the organization. However, you are more than welcome to fundraise on your own and submit the money for your payment. We recommend buying bulk candy packs (Wal*Mart has them for $12 $18 each) and selling the candy bars for $1.00 apiece, seeking out opportunities with groups like Yankee Candle, 31, Tupperware, etc, or crowd sourcing online (Go Fund Me is a great website.) PERSONAL COMMITMENT Students are required to practice songs and choreography outside of rehearsals. If you miss a rehearsal, even for excused absences, you are required to get with another Cutting Edge member to review what you missed. It is not the Directors responsibility to catch you up, it is YOURS. Thank you for taking the time to read this information. It is VERY important that you understand that it is YOUR responsibility (not your parents ) to inform the Directors of any questions, concerns, or possible scheduling conflicts and to make up any missed work on your own. Remember, a show choir is about doing everything in sync and each member contributing to their part. The success of the group relies on members working to help THE GROUP, not to help themselves or stand out as shining stars. We look forward to a super year (oooooh! Pun from last year s theme!) Feel free to call or email at any time with questions or concerns. Ms. Meg Haven and Mr. Cody Rush mhaven@hcsdoh.org
(513) 887 4824 Cutting Edge Personal Information Form NAME: GRADE: SCHOOL YOU WILL BE ATTENDING NEXT YEAR: ADDRESS: PARENT S NAME(S): PHONE NUMBER: YOUR EMAIL: YOUR PARENT S EMAIL: Are you in Choir Band Orchestra class next school year? (Please select one or more.) Give a brief description of your musical background (instruments played, classes taken, voice or dance lessons, etc.)
List all after school activities which might conflict with Cutting Edge (including sports, other Arts programs, private lessons, etc. Include days and times, please.) How would you make a positive contribution to this group? Cutting Edge Guidelines and Expectations Contract ATTENDANCE POLICY: I understand the attendance policy and am aware that 3 unexcused absences will result in dismissal from the group. Parent signature: Date: Student signature: Date: GRADES: I understand that my child must maintain passing grades throughout the school year and that an F will result in dismissal from the group. Parent signature: Date: Student signature: Date:
FEES: I understand that it is my obligation to have fees paid on time. I understand that performers with unpaid fees will not be allowed to perform with the group and anyone with unpaid fees remaining after competition season will not be permitted to audition for the following year. Parent signature: Date: Student signature: Date: