Welcome to the Carnage Dance Department! We'll try to address a few of the common questions new students and families have.
Yes. You will have a few minutes at the start of each class to change into dance gear like leotards and tank top or shorts or clothing you can move in. You can wear yoga pants, leggings or exercise pants, capri pants, leotard and tights, or T-shirts. YOU CANNOT WEAR sweatpants, pajama pants, jeans, jean shorts, jeggings, tank top, shorts, or sports bra without a shirt on top. Dance shoes are permitted but most students dance barefoot or wearing socks for class. If you're going to be purchasing new items for wearing for class, consider purchasing black leggings or dance pants, dance shorts, leotards, or tank tops. These items are commonly used as base items for costumes for concerts.
Students are to change in the restrooms located in hallway. Students do not change in the dance room.
Students are encouraged to keep an extra bag for dance items, and that bag can be placed in the dance room floor during class. Students will have to take their items with them after class...there is no storage in the dance room. Consider having a locker with the school.
Carnage currently has only one Dance Company. Students are invited to audition in the Spring for the yearlong elective. There will hopefully be a Dance Honor Society soon.
Winter and Spring Concerts include all dance classes performing pieces choreographed by the dance teacher as well as select student-choreographed pieces. These are usually in January (Winter) and May (Spring). Donations are HIGHLY ENCOURAGED through our Arts Boosters, as this is the main way in which the department raises funds to cover concert costs.
IMPORTANT: Families will receive access to special webpage that details the concert from top to bottom (what to buy, how to donate, schedules, etc.).
For concerts, there is usually one day of full dress rehearsal.
For example, if the concert is Thursday night:
dancers should expect to be in rehearsal on stage Monday and Tuesday for at least some portion of their class.
Wednesday will be a full dress rehearsal.
On Thursday, students arrive an hour and a half prior to start time and run through the concert.
The Dance Department has a number of costumes that are reused from one performance to the next. Students are also asked to provide an item from home, typically something simple that they might already have in their closet like black leggings or a black leotard. Occasionally, dancers are asked for something specific to purchase, like a shirt of a particular style or color. Plain black leotards, dance pants or leggings, and tank tops are common base items that are embellished by CMMS Dance Dept accessories and costumes. Dance shoes are highly encouraged. Donations are the main way in which the department funds the purchase of new costumes.
Not yet...but we are working towards more outside performances.
Dance concerts require a ton of extra help. Carnage has only one dance teacher and they have their hands FULL! We need volunteers for all sorts of jobs. If you are interested in helping, attend booster meeting or look out for announcements (via Talking Points) closer to the show. Outside of the concert, there is much work to be done helping organize the annual Dance Department t-shirts, fundraising, etc. Check out the calendar for Carnage Arts Booster meetings to find out more about these opportunities.