Lassiter High School Varsity Dance Team’s mission is to promote school spirit within the school and community, provide entertainment at athletic games, pep rallies, parades, competitions, etc. and to represent Lassiter High School and the community in a respectable way.
As an extension of Lassiter High School, this program strives to provide its team members with a successful and meaningful experience. Team members have personal goals of increasing their dance ability, high academic achievement, learning and practicing effective time management and creating strong relationships. Since this is a rebuilding process, it will take effort from everyone involved.
LHS Dance Team runs from August 2024-February 2025. Dance Team rehearsals are once a week for an hour. We may schedule extra rehearsals, clinics, workshops, fundraisers, etc. and we will have several performances throughout the year including, but not limited to, athletic games, competitions, appearances, and parades. We will give notice well in advance.
Requirements
1. Team members must attend all required activities, games, practices, performances and competitions unless the team member is ill, has a family emergency or has given us timely notice.
a. If a team member needs to miss a rehearsal for any reason, they must inform Coach Shauna, Coach Katie and Ms. Keilman one week prior to the next scheduled rehearsal (i.e. Tuesday before midnight). For illness, please let us know as soon as possible. Acceptable reasons, other than illness, include but are not limited to: 1. Doctors appointment 2. Family event 3. Job interview 4. AP Testing 5. SAT/ACT Prep 6. Lassiter School Function 7. Another Lassiter Club Commitment 8. Other (approved by Coaches and Teacher Sponsor) - If the team member has to miss rehearsal due to any of the above, they must fill out a “Time off Request Form” (attached to the agreement). If more copies are needed, please let us know. - Team members will be allotted two “Time off Request Forms”. After the fifth form, we will need to reevaluate the team member’s status on the team.
b. Team members will also be given “Homework/Test Passes” that they can use periodically throughout the year. Please note that the same one-week notice rule applies for this, as well. - We also understand that everyone needs a mental health day every once in a while. Team members may use this pass if they need a mental health day. While we would prefer you abide by the one-week rule, we understand that life does happen, and we just ask that you give us a heads up and not send us a text an hour before rehearsal starts.
c. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE PASSES ABOVE ARE ONLY FOR MISSING REHEARSALS NOT COMPETITIONS, GAMES, PEP RALLIES, APPEARANCES, ETC.
d. If a team member needs to miss a performance or event of any kind, we ask that you notify us one month in advance. The coaches hand out (and email) a monthly calendar the last Tuesday of every month that includes an outline of the month events. We ask for one month, out of respect for our coaches, because reblocking a dance takes a lot of time and we only practice one hour per week.
e. We do not recommend missing any events or performances. The team member’s status will be discussed after the first miss. 2. Team members must arrive 10 MINUTES BEFORE REHEARSAL BEGINS (3:50 PM) a. If tardiness becomes an issue, we will need to reevaluate the team member’s status on the team. b. We will begin each rehearsal at 4 p.m. sharp, so be sure to use the restroom, change and eat a quick snack before rehearsal. c. Use the ten minutes before rehearsal to begin to review choreography or meet a new friend!
3. For each semester, members must maintain appropriate grades and credits: a. Maintain and overall grade point average of 2.0. b. A semester GPA less than 2.0 will be grounds for probation the following semester.
4. Team members must show the upmost respect to their teachers, coaches and team members. You are a role model for the program, school and community.
5. There will be a new audition system implemented for the 2020 season. All members must go through the same audition process each year. Third year members may earn a guaranteed spot on the team their senior year. Any third-year members not in good standing must re-tryout their senior year. In addition to ability, each team member’s cooperation, effort and attitude will be considered by coaches’ evaluations.
6. Any team member that decides to terminate their status as a dance team member after October 28th, 2019 without approval from coaches and sponsor teacher will need to pay a $100 fee.
7. Any team member who resigns from the team during the school year must request a meeting with the coaches and teacher sponsor to discuss eligibility to re-audition.
8. Team members or parents/guardians agree to pay a $300 fee for joining the team (includes uniforms, pom poms, team shirt, homecoming fee-any left over goes towards competition). We understand money situations, so if you have any issues please talk with your coaches and sponsor teacher.
9. Team members are responsible for checking GroupMe. Parents/guardians please check email for important updates and reminders.
Appearance
1. Dancers must come to practice in proper dance/workout attire: leggings, tank tops, jazz shorts, leotard, Lassiter shirt, biker shorts, sports bra.
2. Dancers must come to rehearsal with their hair pulled away from their face unless choreographer says otherwise.
3. Remember if you look good, you feel good and you dance even BETTER!
Uniform/Apparel
1. Uniform costs are included in the tuition. If a uniform is damaged and cannot be worn it is up to the team member to buy another uniform. We will be using these uniforms for at least three years.
2. Pom Poms are also included in tuition. If a pom is damaged and unusable it is the team member’s responsibility to pay for a new set.
3. Team members must have a pair of black tennis shoes of any brand. This is not included in tuition and, the shoes must be approved by coaches and sponsor teachers.
4. Team members must have a pair of slip on jazz shoes in the color tan. Dance Max on Canton Road has a great selection. We recommend the Pulse Jazz Shoe.
5. Team members must have a pair of solid black leggings, approved by coaches and sponsor teacher.
Conduct
1. By accepting the privilege of being a member of Lassiter High School’s Varsity Dance Team, a dance team member accepts that his/her actions are more prominent than those of persons not associated with such an activity.
2. Because of this prominence and because members represent LHS, exemplary behavior is mandatory at all times, anywhere in the community and at all functions where dance team members are recognized as representative of LHS.
3. Smoking, vaping, juuls, drugs and alcohol is not allowed at any time.
4. All rules and regulations imposed on any LHS student will be imposed on dance team members. Members are responsible for knowing all school rules.
5. Members must display proper behavior in class, including no skipping, cheating or tardiness. Punishment will vary from infractions depending on the severity of the offense.
6. A demerit/infraction system will be used throughout the school year to deal with minor violations. The system occurs as follows: a. One demerit for offenses such as tardiness, failing to follow instructions, in school disciplinary problems, etc. b. Benching will occur when a dance team member receives 5 demerits during a season or for more serious offenses like missing practice without notification. c. A dismissal will result from a member receiving 3 benches.
7. Because all situations may not be foreseen and thus outlined here, each will be dealt with in a manner decided upon the coaches, sponsors, with assistance from the administration, if deemed necessary.
8. Poor conduct/behavior under any of the above circumstance could result in warning, infractions, and/or suspension/removal from the team. Inappropriate behaviors not only reflect on the individual but can also affect the image of the entire team.
Learning/Teaching Routines
1. Members are expected to be attentive and cooperative when learning routines. Repeated disruptions, especially during practice, will result in warnings, infractions and possible removal from that performance. Continued problems will result in calls to parents, additional game suspension, and possible removal from the team.
2. Constructive criticism/suggestions given in a polite manner are welcomed. Complaining or rudeness to teacher of the routine or sponsor(s) are a disruption and will result in an infraction.
3. Everyone must practice the steps learned in class or rehearsal. Steps missed when absent should be learned as soon as possible. a. There is a dropbox that has been sent out containing all choreography. b. New videos are posted within 24 hours in GroupMe and dropbox.
Practices
1. All practices are mandatory.
2. Additional practices may be scheduled as needed. This will be done with as much notice as possible.
3. If a member needs to leave practice early, please speak with your coaches at least one week in advance.
4. A team member who misses more than three hours of school (except for field trips) the day of an event may not perform at that event. 5. If at all possible, members should try not to schedule routine dental, doctor or other appointments during practice time.
6. Cell phones and other technology devices should not be used during practice unless it is an emergency, we are on break, or you obtain permission for a coach/sponsor.
Games, Competitions, Performances, and Events
1. You are representing something bigger than yourself so please represent the program and school to the highest degree.
2. Always be respectful and SMILE!
3. Be sure to arrive and be ready to perform (with uniform on and hair and makeup done) 30 minutes to 1 hour before the start of the event or performance. 4. Other time rules will be put into effect if an issue arises.
5. Hair and makeup will be discussed by coaches and sponsors.
Team Fundraising
The dance team must take on our own financial responsibilities; therefore, we may do occasional fundraising. We are responsible for all costs. Through fundraising efforts, the team will be able to purchase items without placing a significant additional financial expense on the individual team member and family. Each team member is required to participate in fundraising.