Dance Team

Team Descriptions

The Ensworth After-School Dance Teams are year-round performance groups for students who not only have a passion for dance but who seek to train in a more advanced environment and also pursue dance at a higher level. Both teams require a high level of commitment throughout the course of the school year and perform at various community events, such as football and basketball halftimes, assemblies, regional competitions, and our annual spring dance concert. Dance styles include jazz, hip-hop, pom, and lyrical.

Junior Dance Team (Paws & Stripes) - For rising 4th and 5th grade students

Middle School Team (Claws & Fangs) - For rising 6th, 7th and 8th grade students

Teams are leveled out into two sub-groups as determined at the time of their audition according to their current skill level. These groups perform within their team separately as well as together throughout the season (August-May). See each team's description page for more information.

If the higher commitment level is too much for your schedule, don’t worry! We offer recital dance classes in all styles for 4th-8th grade dancers that are also fun and engaging. In other words, it depends on the child's interest level. Dancers who want a more intense experience can participate on the team and take recital classes. Dancers who want a less intense experience can take only recital classes instead of the team.

*Auditions are open to currently enrolled Ensworth students who have had previous experience in dance performance/competition or at least 2 years of prior training. 

*Students who are new to dance and/or who are unable to make the team time commitment are encouraged to sign up for recreational dance classes instead. Recreational classes meet once per week and perform in our annual dance concert.

Students must pre-register to secure their intent to audition. The audition process will include demonstrating movement across the floor (skills) and learning a short jazz/hip hop combo that will be performed in small groups at the end. Students do not need to prepare anything in advance. However, it is important that students plan to attend the clinic date in order to learn the material they will be performing at the try-out. You may review the list of frequently used team skills in the section below for reference. All try-outs and clinics will take place at the RED GABLES CAMPUS - Inman Gym.

Attire: Please wear all black fitted dance attire. (Top: leotard, tank, shirt. Bottom: dance shorts or leggings). Jazz shoes are preferred. Hair should be styled neatly and pulled away from the face. 

Junior Team Clinic - Wednesday, May 15th (3:00pm-5:00pm)  

Junior Team Try-Outs - Friday, May 17th (3:00pm-5:00pm)  

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Middle School Team Clinic - Tuesday, May 14th (5:30pm-7:30pm)

Middle School Team Try-Outs - Tuesday, May 21st (5:30pm-7:30pm)

*All clinics and try-outs are closed to the public. No videotaping or photography is permitted due to the safety of the students. Parents may drop off and pick up their child for these events.

Below is a list of skills frequently used in dance team choreography for your reference, though not all skills are required. Students will be able to showcase any other additional dance skills during their audition window.

• Technical Skills:  grand jetés, leap in second, toe touch, sissone, firebird, single/double/triple turns, calypso, leg holds, kicks, splits, a la seconde turns, tilt leaps or jumps

• Hip Hop Tricks:  Kip Up, Headspring

• Tumbling (standing skills or passes): aerials, back handsprings, front handsprings, acrobatics / power tumbling

• A la seconde combination:  A series of 2 to 4 a la seconde turns into a pirouette

• Pre-Registration Form - Due May 13th - Click Here