MSUM Dragon Dance Team Constitution

The MSUM Dragon Dance Team is a student organization that performs at halftime for athletic events, community occasions and competitions. The MSUM Dragon Dance team provides a stepping stone for enhancing personal development. As a member if the dance team, each dancer learns the value of teamwork, responsibility, leadership and social skills, essential concepts that assist in personal, academic and career development.

Officers

The MSUM Dance Team will have one captain chosen by team members and coaches based on past experience, responsibility and interest. Captain must maintain a GPA of 2.5 or better. If the coaches feel that a captain is failing to be a positive and active leader, they can discuss the position with the captain, who, as a result, may be asked to resign.

Practices

1. At least 6 hours of practice are required each week.
2. Additional practices will be requested by the coaches when necessary. They will be required. Dancers will be given notice prior to any additional practices.
3. Practices must be taken seriously, with each dancer giving 110% of their effort all the time. Good attitudes, honestly, dedication and positive feedback are key. If a serious problem occurs, a dancer may be talked to by a coach or captain and asked to leave practice until they can return with a satisfactory attitude.
4. Jewelry, like hoop earrings and necklaces, should be left at home. Hair must be pulled back out of the face at all times. All dancers are expected to wear proper dance attire and acquire proper dance shoes.
5. Dancers must come to practice ready to go. We will not wait for you if you come unprepared.
6. If a dancer misses a practice, it is their responsibility to learn the new material before the next practice.

Absence/Tardies

1. Dancers must notify the captain or coaches if they cannot attend a practice, whether it is excused or unexcused.
2. Everyone must be on time. Attendance will be taken every day. 3 times late equals 1 unexcused absence.
3. No more than 2 unexcused absences allowed. On the third occasion, a dancer must meet with the coaches or captain to discuss their commitment to the team. They may be removed at this time.
4. Even when you are sick, you are expected to come to practice and watch. You miss a lot when you’re absent.
5. An excused absence is a sudden illness, family emergency or a doctor’s note.
6. Dancers late the week of a performance or competition may not perform at that week’s event. It is hard to function as a team if even one dancer is missing.

Performance Cuts/Performances

1. Hair should be in agreed upon style.
2. You will be required to stay and support the athletic event for the remainder of the game.
3. Dancers that don’t make cuts must still come to practice and work just as hard as everyone else. You never know when we’ll need you!
4. If a dancer does not show up for a performance or competition they will be suspended from the next performance/competition and can be removed from the team.
5. If a dancer is late for a meeting time, it is counted as one late.

Fundraising

1. The team must organize and help each other complete the work for a fundraiser. EVERYONE MUST HELP!

Health

1. Anorexia/Bulimia is a very serious disease. Anyone thought to suffer from this will be asked to make a counseling appointment with MSUM’s Counseling Services. They will then have one week to contact a captain who must attend the first session with them. Dedication and a dancer’s ability to be on the team will be reviewed from then on. We will not allow someone to suffer without trying to help.
2. Make responsible decisions regarding diet, alcohol and drug use. If any dancer is caught with an illegal substance by either a coach, captain or fellow team member, the following consequences are enforced:

            1^st time:             suspension for 30 days from performance and competition   

            2^nd time:             dismissal from the dance team.