JV and Varsity Company
Course Description/Overview/Welcome Statement
These classes are for students that have auditioned for the Ballroom Companies. The audition process takes place in April of each school year.
Learning Expectations
Participation – students are expected to be on time, participating, displaying a positive attitude, displaying proper conduct, co-operating with the teacher and other students, following directions, following rules, being appropriately dressed and being prepared. If there are behavior problems students will be reprimanded and parents called.
Practical tests – Students will be expected to show that they have practiced outside of class to dance the routines being taught. Each Friday of a “full run through”, they will be graded on the knowledge and betterment of routines.
Competition – As a company, students will be going to competitions, conventions and performances. Being on time, dressed appropriately, having hair and make up done; ready to perform will be part of this grade. Each performance/competition is a summative evaluation.
Students are expected to perform in the end of semester concerts (December and May). There will be a dress rehearsal and the actual performance. Students will receive points for attending the rehearsal and performances. The Ballroom Dance program will supply costumes for the students. They are NOT expected to purchase any costumes.
Assessment of Progress
Ballroom is a Standards Based Grading classroom. 4 = proficient; 3= approaching proficiency; 2 = below proficient; 1 = well below proficient.
Formative assessing is a continuous process. Each day students will do practice, peer evaluations and teacher feedback to improve their dancing.
“Full Run Through” each Friday of class is also a formative assessment.
As a company, students will be going to competitions, conventions and performances. Being on time, dressed appropriately, having hair and make up done; ready to perform will be part of this grade. Each performance/competition is a summative evaluation.
Course Materials
Show Kit
Ladies Gentleman
Make-up: Make-up:
Concealer Dark base/bronzer (Liquid or powder)
Dark base/bronzer (Liquid or powder) Blush
Blush Mascara
Eye Shadow Eyebrow pencil
Eyebrow pencil Chapstick
Mascara
Eye liner
RED lipstick
Lip liner
False Eyelashes
Eyelash glue
Hair Gel Hair gel/spray
Hair Spray Brush or comb
Bobby/Hair pins
Fine toothed comb
Bristley Brush
Hair net/piece
Hair elastic
Hose (suntan, sheer to waist) Black pants
Fishnets (caramel) Black socks
Undergarments (make sure straps cannot be seen) Undergarments
Leotard (skin color) Black Bikershorts
Shoes Shoes
Classroom Procedures
Ballroom Dance Rules of Etiquette
Communication
· Communicate with your coaches. If something is wrong, if something is happening on team, if you will miss an event, if there is anything inhibiting you or the team that you cannot resolve or need help resolving, talk to the coach. Always give coaches at least one week’s notice if there will be conflicts. If you will not be able to attend a performance, you will be removed from the routine.
· Communicate with your parents. If something is happening on team, make sure they know. If they need to or may like to attend something, tell them when and where it’s happening. We will reach out to your parents on important matters, but we should not be the only way they hear about things dealing with the company that concern them.
· Communicate with your partners. Don’t talk down to them, don’t correct them, and don’t blame them. Use “I” and “we” statements. You’re working with them, not despite them. You should always be a source of support for the whole company.
· Under no circumstance should you gossip about your team. Backbiting, mocking, joking at the expense of someone else—these are all destructive to team unity and act as poisons, doing nothing to edify yourself, your group of friends, or anyone around you. At all times, you should speak so if the person you’re discussing overhears you, neither you nor they will feel insulted or embarrassed. If you have a problem with a company member, talk to them, the company president, or the coach.
· Be fair to yourself. Getting down on yourself or joking at your own expense does nothing to edify you or the team. Don’t blame others, and don’t blame yourself. Accept faults and move on. We’re all here to improve; that means recognizing faults, not being defined by them. Support yourself as you would a friend.
Personal Hygiene
· Shower/bathe and wash your hair daily.
· Brush your teeth each morning and after meals/before practices if necessary.
· Use deodorant/antiperspirant every day and be ready to re-apply as necessary.
· Be careful with aerosols or anything with a powerful smell—hairspray, perfume, cologne, lotions, etc.
· Bring a hand towel to wipe away sweat if you tend to sweat a lot.
· We recommend you bring mints and/or water bottles to class.
Dress Code
· Make sure your hair is clean and out of the way.
· Shirts must cover the body from shoulders to hips. Don’t wear tank tops, spaghetti straps, halter tops, or midriff tops.
· Never wear jeans – dance pants, leggings, dance skirts, and nice, not too baggy sweats are allowed.
· Shorts must be at least mid-thigh! Booty shorts and short shorts are not allowed.
· Men, make sure your pants are presentable and fit securely around your waste. Avoid anything baggy, grungy, or too casual (like pajamas).
· Ladies, wear shorts or dance trunks if wearing a skirt. Make sure you can move in the skirt.
· Ballroom shoes are required at this level—not gore boots, flats, street shoes, or socks. If you must choose between a pair, men wear standards, and ladies wear Latin sandals.
Clothing
· Anytime you represent the team in a public setting (performance, competition, etc.), dress presentably. Keep in mind the following:
§ Formal: Gown for girls, tuxedo for boys
§ Semi-formal: Nice dress for girls, shirt and tie and slacks for boys, jacket optional
§ Nice casual: Dress or pantsuit for girls, nice shirt (sometimes a tie) and slacks for boys
§ Casual: Nice jeans and a shirt for girls and boys
§ Grubby: Anything you don’t mind ruining
· For all shows, competitions, and tryouts, dress semi-formally.
· For all rehearsals, wear your team shirts, dance pants/skirts, and the team jacket.
· For any lessons or training sessions, wear nice casual or appropriate dance attire.
Public Displays of Affection
· DON’T
· Be respectful of physical and visual boundaries. If you’re comfortable but your physicality is making another person uncomfortable, it is wrong! This includes company members, audience, chaperones, coaches, other bystanders/observers, etc.
· No hand holding, snuggling, excessive hugging, kissing, massaging, laying on each other, sharing blankets, slapping butts, making out, fondling, or sexual activity, etc. during class time, rehearsals, concerts, or anywhere where you represent or can be identified as a member of the company.
· No means no, the first time. Any continued attempts at physical contact or verbal suggestions/innuendo is considered sexual harassment/assault and will be grounds for administrative discipline and/or removal from team.
· Be careful about relationships with company members. Your relationships or lack thereof should never have any impact on your words, actions, or preferences while you are participating in any company event. No accommodations will be made if you would like to dance with or be separated from a company member. No one should ever be able to tell or suspect there is a relationship by looking at how you practice or relax while at any company, private or public event.
Bullying
· Bullying involves repeated, harmful behavior. It can be emotional, social, racial, physical, or verbal. It can attack one’s family, religion, or sexuality, or gender. It can be in person, through gossip, on social media, or in group texts. A lot of bullying isn’t intentional. Joking/sarcasm at someone’s expense may feel harmless, but your pitiful attempts at humor do more to divide the team than unify it.
· A few general principles: (1) Talk to each other. If you’re not sure if you’re being offensive, or if you feel you have been offended, talk to each other. (2) If someone asks you to stop, stop. And don’t take offense. (3) The team should be better because you were a part of it. Make sure your words and actions edify.
Coaching/Teaching Etiquette
· The “coach” is Mrs. Williams, Coach Williams, Coach Edwards, Coach Cox and any guest choreographer, any private coach, or any student we have assigned to a task.
· When a coach is speaking, make it clear that you are listening—don’t continue in your own conversation, don’t comment to a friend, and don’t look like you’re not paying attention.
· Please do not give suggestions unless you are asked to by the coach.
· When communicating with coaches you will answer “Yes, Coach!”, “Thank you, Coach!”, “Please Clarify.” Anything beyond that is wasting time. You do not need to explain why you did something. You are being asked to change or fix what was seen. Never answer with, “No, I didn’t.”
· Let your first reactions be full-out attempts. Give it an honest effort before you voice concerns or decide the request is impossible.
· While at a rehearsal, performance, or any company event, be constantly present. Do not leave, wander off alone, meet up with anyone, or do anything that leaves the coach wondering where you are or whether you’re committed to the company.
Calendar of Due Dates for Major Assignments
Summative assessments:
Assemblies
PG Invitational
December Concert
PHS DanceSport Festival
UVU DanceSport
UBEA State Festival
National Formation Team Championships at BYU
May Concert
Progress Reports and Report Cards
Students and parents should access PowerSchool to see a weekly update on student’s grades earned.
Connecting Home to School
Teacher can be reached by email:
angelaw@provo.edu
Or by the “Remind” app on mobile devices.
Personal Statement and other items (optional)
Students on the company are assigned Mentors to help them with navigating the Ballroom Company and High School. These students are there to help with any problems that might arise.
There are also Presidents of the Varsity and JV Company. These Presidents are usually Seniors or at least upper class men that can help when dancers are struggling.
Practice to make yourself and the team better. Communicate with coaches and parents to keep frustrations low. Have fun and laugh at yourself every once in a while as you are on this new journey!