Joining the Team:

• There are no team tryouts. Anyone who wants to join the team is welcome as long as you commit to the expectations outlined below.
• There are team dues and the amount is dependent on the classes you take. All dancers with no experience will take Newcomer Level 1, which are FREE.

Expectations:

• All team members are expected to attend classes they are entered in regularly. Should a coach decide you have fallen too far behind the rest of the class due to absences, you may be asked to attend a lower level class. Additionally, if your attendance falls below 75% you will be required to meet with the board to re-evaluate your commitment to the team
• If you miss a lesson, you are responsible for learning the material covered on your own time. Talk to a coach or higher level team member to schedule review time
• Cameras and journals are strongly recommended for keeping record of material learned during lessons
• All team members will be expected to arrive to lessons early such that they are ready to dance at the time listed. Being late disrupts the lesson as coaches may need to go over material again.
• If you are late: Come in, put on your shoes, and you must be proactive and ask permission from the instructor to join class
• If you are unable to attend a lesson, please notify the coach or a board member as early as possible
• All team members are expected to practice the material from the previous lessons
• All team members will be expected to compete at least once per semester (Partners permitting)
• Team members and coaches are expected to communicate about goals and plans well in advance of any competitions
• The team generally attends 3 competitions per semester, and the cost is usually around $45-$60 per person plus food
• All outstanding fees must be paid at least one week before each competition or you will not be allowed to compete
• Think about your partner: if one member of a couple has not paid, the partnership will not be allowed to compete
• All team members will be expected to obtain an acceptable pair of shoes by October 15
• Ballroom shoes can run between $60-$150, Jazz shoes are a practice alternative for both leaders and followers. They are around $30-40. Followers will need some form of small heel for competitions (Character shoes are most likely acceptable, but ask before buying)
• All team members will be expected to wear appropriate practice clothing, i.e. nonrestrictive free-moving practice pants (or skirts for followers). No jeans, shorts, or other restrictive or abrasive clothing (You will be dancing in contact with partners!)
• All team members are expected to dance with non-team members during social classes on Thursdays
• If you are Newcomer Level 1, you may dance with any of the upper level dancers during social as you are new to the team and social is a good time for those dancers to get to know you
• All team members are expected to act as representatives of their teams and display good sportsmanship practices
• Any concerns or extenuating circumstances can be addressed by a board member. Please notify Zach Silberman, the Vice President of Ballroom, as soon as an issue presents itself

Practice Schedule (Spring 2013):

• Tuesdays
• 8:00-9:00PM Social Open Studio in the East Basketball Courts
• Thursdays
• 8:00-9:00PM West Coast Swing Social lesson (starting April 2013) in the East Basketball Courts
• 9:00-10:00PM Intermediate Social in the East Basketball Courts
• 10:00-11:30PM - Beginner Social - Dance Studio (required for Newcomers)
• Fridays
• 8:00-9:00PM Latin Drills, Dance Studio
• 9:00-10:00PM Newcomer and Bronze Latin (Required), Dance Studio
• Saturdays
• 10:00AM-12:00PM Advanced Standard (Bronze and Silver, Required), Kids and Fitness
• 5:00-6:00PM Silver Latin (Required), Dance Studio
• 6:00-7:00M Runthroughs, Dance Studio
• 7:00-8:00PM Open Studio, Dance Studio
• Sundays
• 10:00AM-12:00PM Newcomer, Bronze, and Silver Standard, Dance Studio
• 3:00-4:00PM Standard Drills, East Court
• 4:00-5:00PM Open Studio, East Court

Attendance in lessons is required unless otherwise noted. Latin drills are strongly recommended for all levels. Beginner social is required for new team members (newcomers).

Competition Info

The UVM Competitive Ballroom Team attends, on average, three ballroom competitions a semester including the National Collegiate DanceSport Challenge and the Manhattan Amateur Classic. Our team has a "quality over quantity" approach to ballroom dance that has served us well over the years, helping us win more ribbons at more competitions and giving the University of Vermont a good name as a dance team that can sweep the competition off their feet. While we're still a small team, we've doubled in size since the founding. We're coached by a leading team of ballroom experts and have occasional visits to former world champions from Quebec. We continue to do well, even at our most recent comps, and we're always looking for new dancers to join our ballroom family.

Dues

UVM Competitive Ballroom team members are expected to pay dues each semester to help cover the cost of instruction, competitions, transportation etc.

Newcomer Level 1: Free
Newcomer Level 2: $10
Bronze: $10
Silver: $10
Gold: $10