BOOK A TRIAL

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In 2023 we have just over 30 solo students and whilst we love offering

this opportunity to so many dancers it does mean we are unable to

fit them into our cabaret concert  (definitely don't want a 5 hour

concert!).  

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This year we are introducing our very first solo concert which will give all our solo students the opportunity to perform any of their new solos. 

When: Friday 23rd June

Where: Mahon Theatre at Aquinas Secondary College

Tickets:  Tickets cost $25 and go on sale this Friday from 9am.

All seating is allocated.  

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What solos? Please email Tamara with the name and dance style of

any of your dancers new solos that have not yet been performed at

competitions

 

SOLO COSTUMES: If your solo student does not yet have costumes

please let Miss Tamara know asap by email academyofdance@bigpond.com

 

SOLO NIGHT DETAILS

•  6pm all solo students to arrive at the Theatre.  

• Please arrive with full Stage Make Up (make up details will be emailed out closer to the date)

• Solo students need to bring their costumes and head pieces and dance shoes with them and be wearing their dance underwear and tights already with their ADV Uniform overtop (ADV Jacket and t-shirt and leggings)

• Please arrive with Hair already be done in their set competition hairstyle. 

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Dear Solo students and Parents

Welcome to 2023 Solo lessons.  I am sure it will be a wonderful year with the opportunity for all our students to compete! Please see below LOTS of important information for solo students.  This will also be put onto the solo students page in our website members portal (www.academyofdance.biz with password 2023 Excellence)

 

INFORMATION SESSION FOR PARENTS OF STUDENTS & SOLO STUDENTS

Miss Kylie who is our studio manager and competition manager will be running an information session for parents of solo students at 2:15pm - 3:15pm on Saturday 18 March, this is especially helpful for those who are new to solo competitions.

 

GENERAL SOLO STUDENT REMINDERS

MISSING SOLO LESSONS: 24 hours notice via registering the absence on your customer portal in iclass pro s required to cancel a private lesson.  Please note that ADV can see the date and time the absence is registered. If 24 hours notice is not given the lesson price will still be charged (please don’t just tell your solo lesson teacher as they are not responsible for organising make up lessons). Please remember that the teacher and studio hire and ancillary costs still have to be paid for the time even if your child does not show up for a lesson. Giving appropriate notice allows other arrangements to be made for that teacher and the studio space and a makeup lesson can then be organised for your dancer. 

MAKE UP LESSONS: When a student is owed a private make up lesson ADV administration staff will offer 2 options of day/time for make up lessons. If students are not able to attend either of those 2 options then the make up lesson will be forfeited. Make up lessons must occur within the same term that it was missed and can not be carried over. 

HOME PRACTISE: Just like learning an instrument practising is very important for dance solos. Solo students (or their parents) are expected to bring an ipad or phone or some type of recording device to their lesson so routines can be filmed to practise with. Parents are welcome to come in for the last 5 minutes of the lesson to film the routine. Parents are also asked to encourage their student to practise routines and corrections and skills at home at least twice a week. 

SOLO TEACHERS COMMUNICATION: We encourage parents of solo students to speak with solo teachers directly to convey what solos dancer wishes to work on and work in conjunction with the teacher on updating solos or creating new solos. Good communication between parent and solo teacher results in a positive outcome for the dancer. Solo teachers are not expected to attend every competition with their students as this is time that they volunteer and are not paid for, however teachers will often try and attend at least one competition during the year when possible. ADV teaching staff always attempt to be with new solo students and their parents at their very first solo competition.  Please note that parents are not permitted to have solo teachers emails or phone numbers. Please email academyofdance@bigpond.com if you need communication passed to your solo teacher via email.  Solo teachers wage only covers there time creating your routines and teaching them in class. 

 

HOME PRACTISE - HOW TO ACCESS SOLO MUSIC AND/OR VIDEOS

This year we have a new ADV Server called “Next Cloud” which will hold all student solo music and practise videos (where relevant).   Solo teachers have been accessed to upload all music this week to the new server.  Once your music/videos have been uploaded you can access them by the following link and password 

ADV SERVER LINK FOR SOLO STUDENTS https://cloud.academyofdancevic.au/s/FFKiHzC36XMx7ga

PASSWORD:  The password is dgzj4eFSo3
 

 

TIME TO ENTER COMPETITIONS! 

It is time for parents of solo students to start entering their solo dancer into competitions for 2023.    A reminder that new routines must not be performed in competitions until JULY onwards.  Routines that are in their 2nd year of performance may be entered into competitions from now onwards even if they are being upskilled still. 

• Check with your solo teacher which routines will be ready to compete

• Choose dates from July onwards to enter (unless using an old routine those can be entered now).

• Check the attached lists of solo competitions available that Ronnie has prepared.

•  Check which competitions are open for solo entries via the below websites or on the competitions business website as some do their own entries directly through their own websites (ie KAR, Evolution, Dance Life Unite, StarPower, Get the Beat, Follow Your Dreams all do entries via their own websites and you will need to google their websites for entry details)

            www.stardom.com.au 

            www.compsonline.com.au 

 

 Once you have done your competition entries please email Kylie at advstudiomanager@bigpond.com and let her know 

    1. which competitions you have entered Name and approx dates.

    2. What age group you are entered in

    3. What solo type you are doing    

    4.  Your solo teachers name

Kylie then adds all this information to our 2023 competitors spreadsheet  to help us keep track of who is competing.    

* Parents need to make sure they read the rules for each competition you are entering.  Rules vary with every competition including age groups, how you need to submit your music and even the length of the music requirements can vary between competitions.  Solo teachers are not expected to do this for students and it remains the parents responsibility 

 

COMPETITIONS FOR SOLO STUDENTS TO ENTER

It’s time for parents to be looking at which competitions your dancer will be entering (all soloists required to do a minimum of 3 competitions a year to hold their spots)   The following competitions are ones that our troupe students will be doing.  These are often great ones for solo students to also enter as it means they may have other ADV students and sometimes teachers there and they won’t clash with the actual troupe routines.   I highly recommend these competitions for our solo students.    Please remember to email Kylie at advstudiomanger@bigpond.com wiith details of any competitions you have entered.

Competitions ADV recommends because troupes are doing them this year

* Energy Dance - August

* Time to Shine - August

* Evolution September

* Jump Dance Challenge November

* KAR Dance Competitions: November

 

General Competitions we recommend

* Get the Beat

* Dance Life Unite

* KAR - November

* Evolution -

* Commonwealth Born to Perform: June

* Southern Dance: September

* Southern Festival of Dance: July

For experienced solo students in classical ballet competitions (those that have previously placed 1st in a classical solo). We reccomend

• Phoenix Dance Festival -July

• Commonwealth Dance Born to Perform Festival July

• Royal South Street Ballarat.  October (very high level)

• Ballet Teachers workshop - By invitation of ADV only

• Australian Classical Challenge February 2023 

 

• Australian Institute of Classical Dance Awards

• RAD Audrey Nicholls Awards - September - by invite from ADV

 

SOLO CONCERT - SUNDAY 25 JUNE  at the Drum Theatre

All our solo students will be performing their new solos at our mid year Cabaret Performance at the end of Term 2.   This solo performance is basically their full dress rehearsal before they begin competitions so no new solos are to be competed on stage at competitions before our Cabaret Performance.  Students costumes and head pieces and hairstyles must be finalised before the Cabaret Performance on 25th June.   Our performance is also a wonderful opportunity for your family and friends to see your dancer perform their solo. 

 

COMPETITION COSTUMES

Parents are required to organise competition costumes, however there is a firm process to follow

1. Speak with your solo teacher regarding their vision for the costume

2. Research costume companies and costume makers for something that matches the solo costume vision

3. Clear costume or design choice with Miss Tamara 

4. Once permission is given organise for the costume to be purchased - sometimes this will need to be done via ADV buying the costume and invoicing the parent as many costume companies will only deal with dance studios and not with individual parents.  ADV is always happy to assist in organising the purchase for the parent. 

* Parents please remember that all Solo costumes must be okayed by Principal Tamara Davidson before they are purchased or made.  Please do not purchase a costume without Miss Tamara’s approval first.  

 

ASSISTANCE FINDING COSTUMES

ADV is always happy to help where possible in finding costumes.   We have access to a large range of companies who stock costumes that can only be accessed by dance studio owners.  We also have access to a number of hire tutu’s and costumes or second hand sale tutus and costumes which we will try to utilise where possible 

If you would like assistance finding costumes please speak with Miss Kylie or Miss Tamara.

 

COMPETITION SHOE GUIDE

• Ballet solos: Ballet shoes with ribbons on them and theatrical pink ballet tights

• Neo classical solo: Ballet shoes and theatrical pink ballet tights

• Jazz solo: Tan jazz shoes with tan tights

• Lyrical Solo: Turning shoe or foot thongs with Footless tan tights

• Contemporary solo: Turning shoe or foot thongs with footless tan tights

• Tap Solo: Tan Tap shoes, tan tights

• Acrobatic solo:  Bare feet with tan footless tights

• Hip Hop Solo: Runners to match costume - speak with Miss Tamara D

• Song & Dance Solo:  Tan Jazz shoes or Chorus shoes with Tan Tights

 

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COMPETITION ETTIQUETE

ARRIVING AT COMPETITIONS

• Always arrive at the competition 1 hour before you are due to go onstage. Many competitions will run early and parking can be very busy

• You must wear your ADV uniform.  ADV Jacket, ADV T-Shirt and black leggings.  

• Your hair and make up should be complete before you leave home. 

• Please take spare dance tights with you in case you get a hole before going on (it happens a lot!)

• If the competition requires you to bring your music make sure you have 2 copies with you.  

• When you arrive ask someone what section they are up to so you can estimate how much time you have

BEFORE PERFORMING

• Make sure you warm up, this means doing some jumps and skipping or jogging first followed by some stretching

• They will not call you for your spot, so once it is close to your group head to the backstage area at least 1 or 2 sections before your section (depending on how many people are in each section

• Once backstage they will usually call you through - if possible line up in order of appearance with other competitions. 

• Make sure you know if your dance starts “on stage” or “off stage” as they will ask you when side stage

• Once it is your turn wait to hear the adjudicators bell ring.  Once the bell rings you can run on stage straight away if you start on stage.  Or if you start offstage then make sure you are in the correct “ wing” and wait for your music to start.  

• Don’t forget to smile and have your eyes up the examiner. 

ON STAGE

You are marked on

• Your grooming  

• Your costume

• Your dance technique

• Your performance face 

• Your musicality and dance quality, energy and attack.

Please ensure you have practised your stage entrance and exit (ie curtsey or bow) 

AFTER YOU PERFORM

After you finish your routine make sure you

• Wait to go back onstage for awards (or side stage if that is how they do it).  When standing on stage for awards please stand in first position or 5th position, or preparatory for classical solos

• Collect your crit sheet (the judges feedback) 

• Send a photo of your crit sheet to academyofdance@bigpond.com so this can be forwarded to your solo teacher

• Send a photo of you in your costume to Miss Tamara Davidson on 0425 353 600 or email to academyofdance@bigpond.com

• If you do receive an award or place, please take a photo with your award in front of the banner (usually found in the foyer) and send to Miss Tamara Davidson on 0425 353 600

 

COSTUMING AND HAIRSTYLES AND MAKE UP

SOLO COSTUMES PROCEDURE

Listed below are links to costume companies.   The process for choosing and purchasing a solo costume is as follows

1. Check with your solo teacher what their “vision” is. (this is important as they have choreographed your dance to look a certain way)

2. Look at the links below for costumes available on the costume company websites.   

3. After talking with your solo teaching send your suggested photos of solo costumes to Miss Tamara Davidson (Principal) via email at academyofdance@bigpond.com.  Tamara will then check the costumes and either suggest a different costume or will confirm your choice and the price of the costume for you (make sure you let Tamara know which costume company the picture is from).  This is an essential part of the process as you will be representing ADV and the costume is judged as well.

• In most cases ADV will then purchase the costume for you as most costume companies only deal with Dance Studios and do not deal with individual customers.   ADV then sends you an invoice for the costume purchase and the parent pays ADV.   Costumes can take 6 to 8 weeks to arrive.

• The one exception to the payment process is when the parent is using a custom designer to make the costume.  In this case the payment is made by the parent directly to the costume maker only AFTER the design has been approved by principal Tamara Davidson

   

COSTUME COMPANY LINKS

https://www.weissmans.com

http://kineticcreations.com.au

https://catalogue.curtaincallcostumes.com.au

https://www.pwdancewear.com.au/pages/catalogues

https://www.stagegear.com.au

https://stageboutique.com.au

https://www.airyfairydancewear.com.au/modern-and-lyrical

https://www.dancedirect.com.au/dance-costumes/

CLASSICAL SOLOS - Tutu Makers

https://www.facebook.com/ballerinabling1

https://www.facebook.com/KozILoveTutus

CUSTOM MADE COSTUME Contacts

https://www.facebook.com/firebirdscostumes

https://www.facebook.com/Dance-Design-Australia-102894728156949

 

Costuming Reminders

• All students must wear dance undies - skin coloured high cut. 

• Students performing a neo classical solo MUST wear theatrical pink ballet tights and ballet shoes.  Ballet shoes must be cleaned and re-painted with no marks or scuffs. 

• Students performing a ballet solo or Demi Character Solo MUST wear theatrical pink ballet tights and ballet shoes. Ballet shoes must be cleaned and re-painted with no marks or scuffs. 

• Students performing a Jazz solo must wear tan footed tights and tan jazz shoes

• Students performing a contemporary or lyrical need to wear tan footless tights and foot thongs or turning shoes. 

• Students performing musical theatre solos should wear tan footed tights and tan jazz shoes

 

Solo Hairstyles

You are marked on your grooming/appearance so solo hairstyles must be extremely neat and GELLED. There should be no whips or escaped hair that can be seen on stage.  Please add more hairspray before you go on stage. 

• Ballet solos.  Extremely neat ballet bun on crown of head with headpiece.  Or ADV Exam and concert hairstyles -  Twists into a bun or Plaits into a bun

• Neo Classical Solos: Extremely neat ballet bun on crown of head with headpiece.  Or ADV Exam and concert hairstyles -  Twists into a bun or Plaits into a bun

• Jazz & Musical theatre Solos: These depend on the costume and need to be set by Tamara Davidson.  Please speak with Tamara if you have a Jazz solo and need to know the hairstyle

• Lyrical and Contemporary Solos:  Please speak to Miss Tamara regarding your hairstyle for this

• Demi Character: This also depends on the Costume.  Please speak with Miss Tamara Davidson regarding this. 

 

Solo Makeup

Students need full stage make up for competitions.  Attached are a few YouTube make up demonstrations

Young Dancers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdUX3H5UfUQ

Make up needed includes

• Foundation - 1 shade darker than skin tone

• Concealer

• Powder - Setting Powder

• Rouge

• White eyeshadow

• Dark Brown Eye shadow

• Light Brown Eye Shadow

• Ivory Eye Shadow

• Black eyeliner

• Brown eyeliner (for eyebrows)

• Black Mascara

• Pink or Red lipstick (depending on your costume colour)

• Note dancers aged 12 and over should use fake eyelashes to open up the eyes.

   

  WHAT TO REMEMBER FOR SOLO COMPETITION DAYS

  We love to hear how students go at competitions and ask that on Competition days parents send a photo of students in costume to Miss Tamara Davidson by text to 0425 353 600 or email to  academyofdance@bigpond.com  so that we can share and also keep for our end of year compilations. Please also let us know how they go in their section, we are always proud of our soloists no matter what the results and love to have a photo of them in costume at the competition - often there are photo boards in the foyer you can use to pose in front of .

  • Please remember not to take photo’s in dressing rooms at competitions as we can not legally use those.  It’s always best  to find the competition media wall or banner to pose in front of instead.

  • Always take TWO copies of your music to every competition and make sure you have checked whether they are to be on usb or CD or device such as a phone or iPod or a prior upload to the competitions dropbox or email.   Make sure you have labelled the music in the specific way the competition has set out (every competition has different requirements). 

  • Take spare hair pins, bobby pins, scissors, costume accessories, hair accessories, dance shoes, and any props 

  • Use a costume bag to take your costume safely to competitions 

  • Pack spare make up and lipstick! 

  • You MUST wear your ADV uniform to and from competitions - ADV Jacket, ADV T-shirt, ADV Leggings. 

  • Parents and Students please make sure you are friendly and encouraging to all other competitors. 

  • When in the audience applaud all performers and keep all comments positive (the car is the best place for voicing critism or disappointment) remember you never know who may be sitting near you in the audience. 

  • On stage during adjudication students need to remember to clap for the other competitors

  • After your section is complete and adjudication is finished collect your CRIT from the adjudicator (usually found at competition front desk) and bring to show your solo teacher at your next lesson (or email a copy to Miss Tamara to forward on to your solo teacher).

  • At the end of the competition send a photo and update to Miss Tamara at academyofdance@bigpond.com or text 0425353600