Team Audition Meeting

YOUR DIRECTORS Mrs. Courtney Nelson, Director 8 th year as the Gold Duster Director 15 th year in dance education Mrs. Marilyn Simmons Assistant Director 3 rd year as the Gold Duster Assistant Director and in dance education

Audition Eligibility Current 9, 10 or 11 Meet CFISD residency Requirements*** No ALC or Suspensions during the current school year. Must have a cleared physical on file prior to November 20 th. Must agree to district handbook and campus addendum. Must attend all 3 days of audition clinic unless prior arrangements have been made. All current team members must re-audition each year and are not guaranteed a spot on the team for the upcoming year. AUDITION PROCEDURES WORSKSHOP Mandatory Attendance on Monday-Wednesday. November 16-18; 3-4:15 Students will be able to ride the late bus home. Closed to spectators OPTIONAL fourth day of practice: Thursday, November 19 th : 3:30-4:30; NO LATE BUS AVAILABLE Please wear what you wear for your dance class.

3:00pm-?? Please wear all black fitted clothing. Baggy shirts and shorts will hinder a judges ability to accurately judge the technique of candidates. Hair should be in a bun or pony tail with NO “whispies” or bangs. Make-up is HIGHLY suggested. Auditions are closed to spectators. The only people in the actual audition are the candidates, judges, administrators, the Gold Duster Directors and the Senior Officers. 100 points are possible: 75 points come from the judges, 20 points from Handbook/Addendum Test, 5 points from 1 st & 2 nd six weeks grades. Students must stay until they are dismissed by the Directors. This is to ensure that the judges do not need to see anyone dance again (call backs). Mrs. Nelson will be one of the three judges. AUDITION DAY: NOVEMBER 20 TH

Why would you be called back??? If a judge feels they did not see your performance adequately in order to render an honest score. If there is a major discrepancy in your scores among the judges. You had a wonderful performance and they need a “leader” to be grouped with other candidates that may have struggled. It is a GOOD thing to be called back! This means the judges want to see you again!!! Think positively about being called back and show why you should be placed on the team!!! CALL BACKS???!!!???

DETERMINING IF YOU ARE VARSITY AND JUNIOR VARSITY During the audition clinic, all students will be taught the same dance. Varsity members will be up to 45% of the total number of team members. This will be the top scoring individuals based on dance score alone. Varsity and Junior Varsity Gold Dusters will dance together during football season. Juniors will need to decide, prior to auditions, if they are placed in a junior varsity spot, do you want to remain on junior varsity or not be on a Gold Duster! Each November, you MAY have the opportunity to move up to Varsity for the remainder of the year.

No matter if you are varsity or junior varsity, you are expected to follow the same rules. Auditions happen for all dances. Unless otherwise noted, all Gold Dusters will participate in all Parent Club functions, events and activities. This includes fundraisers, team parties, holiday party, end of year banquet. If a candidate has other school activities that may not allow them to be on the Gold Duster Dance Team due to time requirements or may require them to choose between to organizations on campus, this candidate should meet with the Directors PRIOR to auditions to discuss options! MORE ABOUT VARSITY AND JV!!!

Results will be posted online by number by 10:00pm. Please go to Hoover over Members and then click on the Dustette link. All decisions are final and scores will be discarded the Monday following auditions. CONGRATULATIONS DUSTETTES!! RESULTS

It is very important that both, candidate AND parent are well aware of the guidelines and procedures set forth in the Gold Duster Addendum as well as the CyFair ISD Dance/Drill Team Handbook. We operate under the UIL, “No Pass, No Play” rule. Students must maintain a 70 or above in all of their classes to remain eligible. If grades are below this on a report card, they become ineligible and they must attend all rehearsals and scheduled activities, however or not allowed to perform. Guidelines and ProceduresAcademics EXPECTATIONS OF GOLD DUSTERS

Dance Team is a YEAR-ROUND sport! Being a Dustette or a Gold Duster is a privilege, not a right. You are agreeing to be part of an organization with high standards and will be expected to maintain those standards! Dance Team is a HUGE commitment! Daughter AND the parent need to understand all that is expected of them! This is not an activity for your daughter….it is an activity for your entire family!! REMEMBER….

Spring Requirements! Mrs. Simmons teaches the Dustette class period. Requirements are listed in the audition packet. Put these dates on your calendar! Observations & Rehearsals FrostBike – Parent and Student required CyFair ShowOffs – student observations GD Dress Rehearsal & Fine Arts Festival – both are performances GD Competition observation Spring Dance Clinic Spring Show performances I’M A DUSTETTE…NOW WHAT?

Summer/Camp – rehearsals begin late July; team camp is mandatory for all Football Season – daily, morning rehearsals & varsity game performances Auditions – All GDs must re-audition each year Competition Season – varsity/junior varsity split; morning &/or afternoon rehearsals Spring Show/Banquet – daily, morning rehearsals YEARLY SCHEDULE

A member’s first year on the team is the most expensive! Master Invoice is made up of Supplies, Team Camp and Activity Fee Supplies – approximately $800 (we have a clothing resale day, in which you can purchase clothing from graduating seniors at a reduced cost) Team Camp – approximately $475 Activity Fee – approximately $250 (includes holiday banquet, end of year banquet tickets for member and two parents, football and homecoming items and certain contest expenses) Contest Trip (not included on Master Invoice) – approximately $500 (Varsity Members ONLY) FINANCES

Our Treasurer takes care of making sure all payments are posted to you daughter’s name no matter when you pay. Please do NOT let finances be the reason your daughter does not audition for the team. We do have means of assistance whether we create a payment plan that will work for you, you may ask me to provide you with a letter to get personal sponsorships or you request assistance from the Parent Club itself. I do not know your finances. Once your daughter has been named to the team, if you need financial assistance, you will need to contact me so we can assist you with financial options. PAYMENT OPTIONS

Re-zoning – If you make the Gold Duster dance team and are zoned to a different school, you will automatically be transferred to that campus’ dance team and will be under their governing documentation. Monies for – payment schedule will be different for FRESHMAN ONLY that what is stated in this packet. This is so that if a student is zoned to a different campus, there will not be money exchange issues. Please expect larger and less frequent payments (April, May and June) ISSUES CONCERNING FRESHMAN