Mini Stars Performing Company Info

Learn about our Mini Stars Performing Company! 

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:04

Welcome to Rhythm Pod, the podcast from Rhythm Dance Center for Rhythm Dance Center. We're here to bring you studio updates, tips from our teachers, and fun chats about everything happening in our rhythm community.

SPEAKER_01 0:15

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SPEAKER_00 0:25

Hi everyone, and welcome to the Mini Stars Company Info Podcast. We are excited you're here today listening, and for your interest in our mini stars performing company, this age is so much fun. They are so energetic and we're so cute. They're so cute and we love working with them so much. So today we're gonna give you some info on what being a mini stars performing company dancer is all about, what the requirements and expectations are, what the financials are, and more. So once you listen to this, remember you can submit questions via our Google form and we're gonna answer those on our March 30th podcast. You can also email us at rhythm auditions. No, it's RDC Auditions at the time. Sorry, guys. It's rdcauditions at gmail.com. So we would, I will say we would prefer if it's a pretty general question, I think it's gonna be easiest for us to answer them via the podcast. But if there's something that feels a little more specific to maybe you or your situations and you want to send an email, please, please feel free to do that. Yes, absolutely. Okay, so I'm gonna read you the description of our mini stars. Mini Stars is our youngest performing company made up of talented, energetic dancers ages five to eight, who are selected through auditions. These young performers represent Rhythm Dance Center at talent competitions, conventions, and community events, bringing big personality and boundless enthusiasm to every stage they step on. While fun is always at the forefront, Ministars are also expected to bring focus, eagerness to learn, and a strong sense of commitment to their team. During their time in Ministars, dancers build a strong technical foundation, an essential step in their dance journey that sets them up for future success. Being part of Ministars means showing up, ready to work hard, supporting their fellow dancers, and taking pride in every performance. This shining group of dancers lights up the stage with their unstoppable energy and infectious excitement, making every performance so much fun to watch. I'll just say Danny and I just had the Ministars today in class. And all of that is all of that is so true. And they really are, they're so eager. They apply their corrections, they cheer for each other. Like it's just a special lullick. It's a really, really, really awesome age to work with and to get started in this super fun, crazy world of dancing.

SPEAKER_01 2:51

Yes. All right. So we're gonna jump right into MiniStars Financial Commitments because I know that is something that everybody's gonna want to know about and need to know about prior to auditions and making any commitments. The overall approximate annual company cost, and this has nothing to do with tuition, I'll talk about that in a minute, for the company, which me includes their costumes, their entry fees for competitions, their convention fees, their choreography fees, is anywhere from about$3,000 to$3,500 for the year. And that is paid through monthly installments. It isn't every month throughout the year, but there's several months for the mini stars that usually start in September, I believe, and then run through early spring where they uh the final payment is due. So just to break that down for you a little bit, like I said, it's anywhere from three to three thousand to thirty, five hundred. For example, the company costumes are not um like the recital costumes that you that you usually have bring home in a bag. They're custom costumes, specifically their jazz costume. It is a custom-made costume that we design. We pick out the fabrics and the trims, and it's really, really special, and they look awesome, and they will no one else will ever have a costume like it. So the cost for that costume is significantly more than your Amazon options. Uh the competition entry fees. There is a fee for every competition that they go to and for every routine that they do. We'll talk more about how many things they do, but just keep in mind that every competition has an entry fee and they do multiple routines at each competition. There are convention fees. A convention is where they go and take dance classes during the day of your competition weekend. Um there are fees for that. It's gonna be anywhere from 200 to 300 or 400, depending on their exact age in Mini Stars. Um, so that's where a lot of that's going. And then there's choreography fees to pay for their teachers and choreographers that are creating all of their fun routines that you'll they'll do on stage. So that is where that chunk of money is coming from. And like I said, it's paying through monthly installments, which makes it a lot easier, with the final payment usually being due being due in the spring.

SPEAKER_00 4:47

So, all of that being said, I think you know, the main reason we do it this way, where you're paying us a monthly installment to cover all of this, is because we literally start using that money in the summer. We are required to make deposits in the summer to these competitions and conventions that we attend. Our spot. So, literally, like as soon as you, if you are invited to many stars, you will have a company deposit that's due right away. And honestly, that is going right out.

SPEAKER_01 5:15

So we immediately start designing costumes. Beth comes in and measures everybody. She makes all of their jazz costumes. We really start rolling immediately. Once we cast these companies, we really do start the ball rolling on the new season uh pretty quickly. So that is why we spread out and it's easier for everybody to spread the phone.

SPEAKER_00 5:31

I mean, I think there's no way, there would be no way for us to say, hey, on Tuesday, you need to pay$167.50 for your competition entry fees. This way you pay it into your company account, you will have a company account that is different than your tuition account. And that way it all goes in, and then we can take it out and you will see all of the amounts. But that's the the$3,000 to$3,500 is the approximate annual company for all of that costs, for all of that part of it.

SPEAKER_01 5:59

On top of that is your month is your monthly tuition for your classes, just like they're always taking. So currently it's anywhere from 387 to 460, depending if they take that extra little contemporary class, which we can talk about in a minute. Okay, so by now you should have listened to the podcast that we uh created that's all about the actual audition process, the basics and how to get through um the full process. So, to give you a little more context as to how the mini-star callback will work, we're just gonna go through a few things. Number one to remember, and please make sure you're sharing this with your dancers since they're little and likely not listening, is that this is a no-stress environment for them. It feels very much like a dance class. It is positive, it's energetic. We're guiding you through the help.

SPEAKER_00 6:39

We're helping them if they need help, if they need to run out of the bathroom. We're helping them if they need a band-aid, we're getting it for them. Like we are we are doing all the things that they need. And it's it's just it's really positive. It's not, we're not putting anyone on the spot to do something by themselves or anything like that.

SPEAKER_01 6:55

Um, they will need to practice the jazz combo that they'll learn in the part audition part one. So it's important that when they leave that audition for their callback, they don't have much time. They only have two days to practice it. So make sure that you're um encouraging them. If they don't come home and start practicing right away, encourage them to watch the drop box link and really practice that jazz combo. Um, they will also need to watch the drop box and learn the hip-hop combo from the video and make sure that they've practiced that the best that they can.

SPEAKER_00 7:23

And I think we said this in our audition podcast, but a lot of times at this age, they honestly practice the steps wrong. They, it's their version of what they learned. They might go the wrong direction. That's okay. Of course, as accurate as it can be, we'll we're also very excited about that. But but a lot of times, really what we're looking for is that that they absolutely practiced and they're doing, you know, they are doing steps.

SPEAKER_01 7:50

They're receiving something, even if it wasn't right, we can fix the wrong.

SPEAKER_00 7:53

Yes. Yes. And uh I think that, you know, that's a big part of many stars is practicing. Honestly, that's something that a lot of new many stars struggle with when they first start because I can't tell you how many times that we teach them something and then we'll be like, okay, you have to practice. And they, you know, they raise their hand. I get I don't have time to practice. I have to go to a baseball game or I'm going to my grandma's or whatever. And we're always like, okay, you know, that's not okay. Like as a mini star, you have to find time to practice. So I think that that just, you know, encouraging, like Danny said, the practicing for the audition combo is kind of that step one to make sure that they're ready to jump into this whole thing.

SPEAKER_01 8:34

Um, when they come to that callback, they will also learn a little short ballet combination and also a tap um combination that they'll do in addition to that jazz and hip hop that they've learned via Dropbox. They'll do everything in small groups. They're never gonna do anything by themselves except for introducing themselves. So one of the very first things we do when we bring them in there, they grab their number, they pin their number on, they come in, and we're gonna line them up and we're gonna have them introduce themselves one at a time and just tell us their name and usually their age, maybe what grade they're in or what school they go to, and then just a fun fact about themselves. Something super short. Um, it's very low-key, but it's the one time that we get to see them, you know, eye to eye and just get to get to know their personality.

SPEAKER_00 9:12

I also um wanted to just say that we will have assistance in every single for every combo. So there will have, there will have somebody kind of standing on the side doing that with them to help them if they need a little guidance. We're guiding them through the so it's uh overall a very positive, you know, life, easy. They think it's class. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 9:34

Again, biggest thing to remember, we're not looking for perfection, we're looking for potential, and that they have practiced something.

SPEAKER_00 9:40

Yeah, and I think that that I know we said this, but that is just a big thing. Like we've been doing this, we're going into our 34th year of dance studio ownership and teaching little kids, and our whole faculty is on the same page. But I think specifically myself and Danny, like we are really good at seeing potential in kids, and that's what we're always looking for. We're looking for kids that we can teach and are teachable and uh follow directions well, and that's you know, we then we can, you know, we could take it from there and and mold them. Okay. All right, so let's get into the requirements of mini stars. So if you, if your dancer is uh invited to be a member of many stars and they choose to be a member of many stars, this means that they're choosing dance as a prior priority over other extracurricular activities. That being said, as a mini star, most of the time they're gonna have time if they play soccer on Saturday mornings or Girl Scouts, Girl Scouts, or even, you know, we have had a few kids that have done gymnastics over the years. I think with mini stars, as long as we have a mutual understanding of what those other requirements are, and they could never choose something else over a competition. And if they're missing every weekend or a class every week, that's not going to be okay. But they usually have some extra time to do other things, but dance has to be the priority. If there was a conflict, dance would be what they would choose. So that's how that would work. The mini stars are required to be at the studio two days per week. They take classes in jazz, ballet, tap, hip-hop. They also are required to do an acro stretch technique class this year. And then also they have the option of taking contemporary. It is not required, but it is an option. And I feel like every year in mini stars, we may have like a few that don't participate in the contemporary. That is completely fine. A lot of them want to do it, and it we think it's great. Obviously, the more dance classes they're taking, the better it's gonna be. But they're connected to the rest of their classes. Yes, connected, and it's just a class for many stars. So we do encourage that. Um, also, they attend three conventions, three dance conventions that have a competition part. So a convention is an all-weekend event of taking dance classes from all kinds of amazing teachers, choreographers that are, you know, kind of setting the industry standards. We always choose conventions that we feel are really great. Raising the bar, consistently. Raising the bar, um, hopefully gonna, you know, give them some inspiration and challenge. And then they'll take class on Saturday and Sunday during the day, and they usually compete either on Friday night or on Saturday evening. That's usually the way it works. They will have three competition numbers. They will have a jazz number, a tap number, and a hip hop number. And they are going to compete this at three, all three events and attend the convention for all three events. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 13:00

Um, we also will do a few weekend rehearsals when scheduled. And if we do, those will be mandatory for each of them. They will have weekend rehearsals for their jazz routine, their tap routine, and their hip hop routine. We try our best to get a lot of stuff done during class, but there will be times there will be weekend rehearsals or a Friday afternoon after school, early Saturday morning. That is usually when they're at their best at that age. Um, but those will be required rehearsals, and we try to get that info out as soon as we possibly can so that you can plan accordingly.

SPEAKER_00 13:27

Oh, I wanted to add one more thing. I forgot to say this earlier. The ministars days are Monday and Wednesday. We know that for a fact. So if you look at what the current schedule is now, it's going to be very, very, very similar. We usually start those classes 3:30, 345, and they go to like five between five and six, just depending on the day. But if you look at that schedule that we have now, it's going to be very similar to that. And their required classes Monday, Wednesday. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 13:56

Um, every now and then throughout the season, we will have a guest teacher or guest choreographers and teachers that come into the studio to work with the older dancers or the edge dancers. And we try to open a class up for the mini stars as well. It's usually hip-hop, it's usually just one throughout the season. Um, but that is something that they would do if if we do, if we are able to do that for them, that class would be required. Um, Tap the Map workshop is an in-house workshop. We've had it for going for 20 years now, I believe, um, at rhythm. Miss Katie organizes the entire thing. An awesome crew comes in and they teach TAP all weekend long. It's super, super fun. Um, that will be sometime in the fall. That would be required for them. Um, attendance to the mini stars summer intensive is absolutely a requirement. Absolutely requirement. It's the first time that this new group that we've casted will come together and start meshing and building their team. So super important. That should be on your calendar. And we honestly try really hard to get summer dates out for the following summer, at least nine or 10 months prior. So you might not be thinking about it, but the soon as you can, check our website for always always to look at what the summer intensive dates might be moving forward. And then also the participation in our holiday show and our year-end shows. The mini stars will be in the holiday show. They don't always do all three routines, just depending on which routines are ready by that point. And then our year-end shows, they'll be in one show. All of their routines are.

SPEAKER_00 15:18

I also just want to go back really quick and say you should have this in your packet, but the mini stars intensive is July 27th through the 30th this summer. And it is going to be Monday through Thursday. And I would say it's usually around in the morning. It's yeah, it's usually it's like four to five hours a day. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:36

I would say like 9:30, 10 till 2-ish.

SPEAKER_00 15:39

Yeah. So make sure, and there'll be a place on your audition um uh form that you fill out if you audition that you will have to check that you are available. I understand. And that's like if you're not available, they won't be able to be in many stars. Like that is a hard, a hard requirement. Okay. Is that everything? That's okay. That's everything. All right. So just just in closing, um, I mean, that that is everything. It it I think because we did the other podcast with all the audition info, it feels like we got through this pretty quick. But just in closing, a few things. Um, we don't have a set number of dancers that we take for mini stars. Uh, we it's different every year. It depends. This year we have 14.

SPEAKER_01 16:24

We've had 17, we've had 19, we've had 11.

SPEAKER_00 16:27

Yeah. So it just depends. It just depends. It it depends on who's auditioning, it depends on how many kids are moving into different companies or whatever. But also, we hear all kinds of things. Like we hear all kinds of people that are like, oh, well, they're required to do it for two years, or they can only do it for this, or they have to be this age, or whatever. Um, none of that is true. We don't have, we don't have a rule. They are dancers age five to eight. We have had, we have kindergarteners in mini stars. We have one or two this year, and we have one or two third graders. So it's really for year or four this year. Yeah, it's really kindergarten first, second, and third graders. I would say a textbook thing would be they start mini stars at first grade, they do it first grade, second grade, and then they move on to mini connection or mini edge after that. But it every year is different. Every charity is different. Every dancer is completely different. We have some dancers that may do mini stars for three years. We have some dancers that maybe only do mini stars for one year or two years. Just it just it's very different, and it it depends on how they learn and their age and charity. Every, like I said, every year is different. It's just it's not a black and white formula. We base it on the individual dancers. So that's you know, kind of how we do it. And we works every year. Yeah, it works out great every year. Um, but like I said, we love our mini stars performing company. Honestly, I always joke around and say that the reason Danny and I started Rhythm Dance Center ultimately was to have a mini stars company. We were because at the studio we were at, um, we weren't we weren't doing that. Like we that wasn't a thing that existed. And Danny and I were like, oh my gosh, but there's so many little kids that are so good. Yeah, imagine if we started them young. So I feel like that first year we opened Rhythm, I think we had like seven or eight little dancers, and they were amazing. And almost every one of them continued till they graduated. They did, they really did. So I think that you know, it it's a great, um, it's a great program. We really see a ton of growth in our dancers, and they're just like I said, they're so fun. Their energy is contagious and awesome. So we are excited to see who's gonna audition this year. We're excited for um to start another year with dancers that are ready and eager to excel at dance and a higher level. And that's it. You can reach out to us with any further questions you have. Fill out the fill out the fill out that audition form.

SPEAKER_01 19:04

Fill out your form.

SPEAKER_00 19:05

And we look forward to meeting you. Yes, thanks so much for listening. All right, have a great day. Bye.