Congratulations on being accepted into Immortal Dance Force, Gotta Dance s Competition Team! Your Gotta Dance board members are: Jana Belot, Executive Director Kathleen Beatty, Immortal Dance Force Director Kevin Byrne, Immortal Dance Force Co-Director Terri Pisciotti, Immortal Board Member Throughout the season, all Immortal Dance Force communications should be directed to the email below; please do not contact the main office with questions. ImmortalGottaDance@gmail.com IMPORTANT GOALS AND PURPOSE PLEASE READ CAREFULLY The benefits of competitive dance are numerous. Dance in any form teaches proper posture, rhythm, coordination, strength, flexibility, classroom etiquette, discipline, commitment and teamwork. These qualities are all magnified within the competitive program. This intensive level of training enables each dancer to reach his or her full potential. Whether your dancer is headed for a career in the performing arts or any other field, the joy, hard work, and friendships gained will last a lifetime. Each dancer has a responsibility to the company to attend all classes and retain choreography. Each dancer must maintain this high standard for the group to reach its potential. Team spirit is encouraged and promoted by all team members. The team directors will set obtainable goals that we expect all members to meet. We believe that the pride, accomplishment, loyalty, and teamwork gained from this experience are rewards far more important than medals or trophies. Please note that there has been an important change to our rehearsal schedule this year! Our second competition is not being held in November. We have adjusted the Bootcamp and Sunday rehearsal schedules accordingly in order to extend our season. Please pay special attention to the dates of your groups rehearsals as they do vary. Please also note that we will take a short break from Sunday rehearsals after our Starbound November competition until Dec 16th, then another break until Jan 6th. Our season will end after our final competition Jan 26/27th. REHEARSAL SCHEDULE *Detailed group rehearsal times are provided at the end of the contract Summer Bootcamp Rehearsal Dates: Each group/solo/duo/trio will meet for four rehearsals during Summer Bootcamp. Aug 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and Aug 27, 28, 29 Fall/ Winter Rehearsals & Competition Dates: Sundays: Sept 9(Mandatory), 16, 23, 30 Oct 7, 14, 21, 28(Mandatory/Dress Rehearsal/Team Day) *Nov4(Mandatory), Nov 11(Mandatory), Nov 18(Mandatory)* *Starbound competition has not yet released their full dates. Based on previous years, Starbound competition will possibly be November 3/4, 10/11 or 17/18. BREAK Sunday: Dec 16th BREAK Sunday: Jan 6, 13(Mandatory), 20(Mandatory), 26/27 Beyond the Stars Competition, Somerset, NJ (Mandatory) Page 1
Contract 2018 ATTENDANCE Attendance at Immortal Dance Force rehearsals must be a priority. Dancers will be permitted ONE absence only from a non-mandatory rehearsal. Absences are not permitted for mandatory rehearsals. Please email ImmortalGottaDance@gmail.com as soon as possible if an absence is necessary. Rehearsals are scheduled so as to avoid conflicts with regular dance classes. The Immortal Directors and Nutcracker Directors will work together to make every effort to avoid conflicts with Nutcracker rehearsals in the fall. We understand that schedules are packed, but the attendance policy will be strictly enforced. If you miss more than one allowed absence for ANY reason, you will be removed from Immortal Dance Force. This includes absences due to family functions, emergency, or religious reason. We hope that all Immortal Dance Force members consider their ability to meet this requirement before registering. PUNCTUALITY Dancers are required to be on time for all rehearsals and performances. Immortal follows a 3-strike policy: for every five minutes you are late for a rehearsal, you will receive 1 strike. 3 strikes will equal 1 absence. If you earn 1 absence from 3 strikes, you are not allowed another absence. If you already have 1 absence and exceed 3 strikes, you will be removed from the team. REHEARSAL ATTIRE Dancers are required to wear Gotta Dance class attire to all rehearsals. COMPETITION SHOES AND TIGHTS All dancers will be required to wear a specific brand, style, and color of shoes and tights to ensure a uniform look on stage- no exceptions. The purchase of tights and/or shoes will be necessary if your dancer does not own the required item. WARM-UP SUITS All dancers are required to purchase a team warm-up suit to be worn to and from competitions, and for all award ceremonies. Warm up suits will be available to try on and order during Bootcamp in August. DRESS REHEARSAL Dress rehearsal (mandatory) will be held on Sunday, October 28. Please temporarily block 8:00am-3:00pm for this rehearsal; more specific times will be released for this rehearsal in the coming weeks. Dress rehearsal provides the opportunity for the dancers to practice in full costume, hair, and makeup, as well as a time to review competition details and etiquette. Page 2
COMPETITION ETIQUETTE 1. As a member of Immortal Dance Force, you are an ambassador of the Gotta Dance community. You will be representing Gotta Dance not only in your community, but also in the greater regional area. As an ambassador, we expect you to behave in a professional manner. Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Any profanity, disruptive actions, or ridiculing of other students, parents, or faculty will result in immediate expulsion from Immortal. 2. Dancers must check in with their teacher, dressed in costume, with hair and makeup complete at the time provided by the Immortal Directors. Mandatory check-in times will be two hours before your group is scheduled to perform. Competition schedules are fluid, and competitions require all entrants to be present and ready to perform two hours before their scheduled time; failure to follow this guideline can result in disqualification from the competition. 3. If there is an emergency and you cannot get to the competition, please contact an instructor or teammate who will relay the message to the Immortal Directors. 4. All dancers are required to stay for awards ceremonies (not to mention- awards ceremonies are fun!) 5. Warm-up suits must be worn to and from competitions, and for awards ceremonies. 6. Courtesy is expected! Please be courteous to all Immortal Dance Force members, choreographers, parents, judges, etc. Failure to do so may result in immediate removal from Immortal Dance Force. PHOTOGRAPHY/VIDEO RELEASE It is recommended that a release be obtained when photographing or videotaping a minor (under age 18). Parent or guardian permission is required; signatures of minors are not sufficient. When images are published, Gotta Dance, Inc. will take cautionary steps to provide minimal identifying information and will not use specific street or mailing addresses, email addresses, or phone numbers. Signed release forms are not needed when subjects are in public places, such as fairgrounds, parades, or parks. Photographing or videotaping in private or public classes must be done only with permission, with a signed release for each child. By electronically signing the Immortal Dance Force Agreement, I give Gotta Dance, Inc. permission to publish in print, electronic, or video format the likeness or image of my child to be used for marketing purposes. I release all claims against Gotta Dance, Inc. and associated photographers with respect to copyright ownership and publication including any claim for compensation related to use of the materials. One of the competitions, Beyond The Stars, requires their own release. We will provide a link to sign the required Beyond The Stars release after we have registered for the competition. Page 3 Contract 2018
August Bootcamp Schedule Branchburg Studio Aug 20, 21,22, 24(M/T/W/F) Time Studio A Studio B 3:40-5pm Unsquare Dance Mr. Sandman Ballet 5-6:20pm Let Me Think About It Jazz Sax Jazz 6:20-7:40pm Greenlight Ballet Let it Out Contemporary 7:40-9pm Gooey Modern So Broken Jazz Page 6
August 2018 Bootcamp Schedule Branchburg Studio Aug 23, 27, 28, 29(Th/M/T/W) Time Studio A 3:40-5pm I m in Love Contemporary 5-6:20pm Trolls Medley Tap 6:20-7:40pm Mr. Postman Jazz 7:40-9pm I Will Follow You Contemporary Page 7
Fall 2018 Sunday Schedules Basking Ridge Studio Sept 9, 16, 23, 30/ Oct 7, 14, 21, 28/ Nov 4, 11, 18, / Dec 16/ Jan 6, 13, 20 Time Studio A Studio B 9:45-10:30am Gooey Modern So Broken Jazz 10:30-11:15am Green Light Ballet Let it Out Contemporary 11:15-12pm Let Me Think About It Jazz Sax Jazz 12-12:45pm UnSquare Dance Tap Mr. Sandman Ballet 12:45-1:30pm Trolls Medley Tap I m in Love Contemporary 1:30-2:15pm Mr. Postman Jazz 2:15-3pm I Will Follow You Contemporary Page 8