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Frequently Asked
Questions
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| How many dancers are on the team? |
- Over the past few seasons, the team has ranged in size from 8 to 14 dancers.
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| What styles of dance are performed? |
- Dance style varies by performance. The competition routine is typically jazz with high difficulty skills. Halftime performances are often more fun and funky to keep the crowd involved.
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| What is the Dance Teams’ Constitution? |
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| How much does it cost to be on the team? |
- The team is supported both financially and administratively by the University’s Athletic Department, which makes participation on the team very affordable. The University pays for a number of expenses, such as costumes and travel. If the team is selected to attend a national competition, the University pays for the travel expenses, hotel fees, and costumes. Dancers sponsor a large fundraiser each year to assist the University in financing the team, as well as earn money by working at the concession booth during sporting events. Dancers are responsible to pay for their own warm-ups, which usually run from $100-$150. They must also pay for their own shoes and tights.
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| What is the time commitment expected of team members? |
- We practice 4 times a week, for 2 hours at a time. To prepare for competitions, the coach may decide to add a few more practices. Dancers are also required to take the Dance Production class.
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| Do you attend any competitions? |
- We are a competitive team that competes at 3 local competitions each year. We also attend the UDA Spirit of America Competition and the UPA Americup National Competition.
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| What are practices like? |
- Practices are like any typical dance class. We begin with warm-ups, and then work on skills: turns, leaps, jumps, etc. Then we either learn or go over our routines. At the end of practice we work on strengthening our muscles and work on building our stamina. Practices are often videotaped for self-evaluation.
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| Who helps the team make decisions and function effectively? |
- The MSUM Dragon Dance Team head coach leads practices and represents us at competitions. We also have a faculty advisor who assists the coach with administrative details. The team has 2 captains who assist the coach with tasks and help out their teammates with any problems they may have.
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| When are practices scheduled? |
- For the 2006-2007 season (end of Aug – end of Feb), the practice times are:
Sunday 6-8:15 pm
Tuesday 6-8:15 pm
Thursday 6-8:15 pm
Friday 5-7:15 pm (in addition to Dance Production from 3-5pm)
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| What competitions are scheduled for the team? |
- The team will tentatively compete at:
- 12/2 Fargo North Invitational
- 12/9 St. Thomas Invitational
- 1/5 - Spirit of America @ Minneapolis, MN.
- 1/11 – 1/15 UDA Nationals @ Orlando, FL.
- 1/26 – 1/27 NDADD State @ Grand Forks, ND
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| When are auditions, and what are they like? |
- Fall auditions are held Saturday, August 25th at 12pm in Nemzek Hall, room #208 (the dance studio). Please come dressed ready to dance – a leotard and tights with shorts or a skirt is preferred. There is no pre-registration; you may simply show up to audition. At the audition, the captains will lead you in a warm up, and then you will be evaluated by a panel of judges on the following skills: triple pirouette, jeté, side jeté, fouettés, kicks, back leap, extensions, splits and piqué turns, as well as general dance technique. You will also learn a short routine that you will perform in small groups. After the judges have time to confer, a list of those dancers who made the team will be posted.
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Any Question about Dragon Dance Team please contact:
Carrie Hubbard
MSUM Dance Team Captain
hubbarca@mnstate.edu
507.402.2980 |
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