LA DANCE
COMPETITION TEAM
Joining the Competition Team
How Do I Join The Competition Team?
Placement on the LA Dance Competition Team is by audition only. Auditioning does not guarantee that a child will be placed on the Competition Team. Auditions are held every year during the spring. Lacey will issue invitations to those students who she feels might be a good fit for the team.
During the audition, students will be required to demonstrate their technique abilities in various dance styles (primarily in ballet, jazz, and tap). Students will also be assessed on their ability to rapidly learn and execute new choreography and will be expected to show their understanding of commonly-used dance terminology. Other factors - such as the student's attendance and payment history during the prior year - will also be taken into consideration during the selection process
What Are The Audition Requirements?
Please see the next section for an overview of specific audition requirements for the different division of the the Competition Team.
How Much Will This Cost?
Being a member of the Competition Team does require a much higher financial commitment than a regular recreational dancer. Monthly tuition costs will be higher because members are required to take multiple weekly classes. They will need to purchase more costumes because of the number of routines they perform as well as team apparel/gear. The bulk of the expense, though, is related to event fees and travel expenses. These may total $2,500 or more each year. Fundraising opportunities will be available to assist families in covering these costs, but Competition Team families should be prepared for the possible costs prior to auditioning.
Audition Requirements
Diva Dolls
Jazz: single pirouette, 1 or more leaps
Tap: shuffle variations, flap variations, suzie q, cramproll
Ballet: 5 foot/arm positions, plie, releve, tendu, glisse, passe
Acro: toes to head, forward roll, straddle roll
Glamour Girls
Jazz: single pirouette, 1 extension and/or split, 1 or more leaps, 1 or more turning jumps
Tap: buffalo, maxi ford, single timestep
Ballet: 1st por de bras, tour jete, saute, arabesque, pas de chat
Acro: bridge and recover, 1 or more cartwheel, headstand/handstand, crabwalks, spider turns
Sassy Squad
Jazz: double pirouette, 1 or more extension, 1 or more split, 3 or more leaps, 2 or more turning jumps, 1 or more turning leap
Tap: graboff, drawbacks, pullbacks
Ballet: tombe pas de bouree, soutinu, degage, ronverse, ronde jamb en l'air, developpe, grand jete, petit/grand battement, first 3 body positions
Acro: front limber, 6 cartwheels, inside outs, bunny hops, 2nd por de bras
Showstoppers
Jazz: double pirouette, 2 or more extensions, 2 or more splits, 3 or more leaps, 3 or more turning jumps, 2 or more turning leaps
Tap: double timestep, double pullback, back to the woods, cincinnatis, flap buffaloes, turn variations
Ballet: sau de chat, waltz turns, pas de shuvall, en dehors, en dedan, sissone, assemble, promenade, first 6 body positions, 3rd por de bras
Acro: Front/back arabian, tick tocks, front limber inside outs,
Jr Company
Jazz: triple pirouette, turns in second, 3 or more extensions, 2 or more splits, 4 or more leaps, 3 or more turning jumps and leaps., 1 or more switch leap, kick layout
Tap: double pullback no heels, tips, triple timestep, shim sham, single pulls, wings
Ballet: enveloppe, first 9 body positions, 4th por de bras, dessous, dessus, cou de pied, coupe
Acro: front/back walkovers, switches, 1 arm front or back
Company
Jazz: triple+ pirouette, turns in second, 4 or more extensions, 3 splits, 5 or more leaps, 3 or more turning jumps and leaps, 2 or more switch leaps, toe touch to split, jump split
Tap: travelling timestep, double pull forward, 1 legged wings, gregory
Ballet: brise, entrechat, 11 positions of the body, 5th and 6th por de bras
Acro: aerial cartwheel and/or aerial front walkover, back handspring, 6 front walkovers, 6 back walkovers
Competition Team Policies
Competition Team members and their parents are required to sign a contract at the beginning of every season. This agreement covers the main rules that all members must follow. Dancers should not audition for the Competition Team unless their families are certain that they will be able to meet all of the demands outlined here.
Classes
All Competition Team members will be required to take multiple classes per week as assigned by Lacey.
Events
Competition Team members are required to participate in numerous competitions and conventions throughout the year. These are 1-3 day weekend events which may involve out-of--town, overnight travel. They are also required to participate in all LA Dance performances throughout the year.
Homework
It is absolutely essential for all Competition Team members to practice their choreography as well as working on their conditioning/stretching outside of class. They should always be working on the goals set for them as individuals and as a team. Without this extra effort, progress cannot be made. Dancers who fall too far behind in these areas or who aren't making appropriate effort in class may be removed from dances or from the Competition Team altogether.
Attendance Is Priority Number One
Unexcused absences are unacceptable for Competition Team members. Even a single unexcused absence may result in dismissal from the Competition Team. Excused absences are limited to one every ten weeks. More than one may result in immediate dismissal. In most cases, you can schedule a make-up private before the next class that was missed. Your account will be charged for the private at the current rate. Any extra Competition Team rehearsals scheduled by Lacey are also mandatory.
Maintain An Optimistic Attitude
All Competition Team members must come to class with positive attitudes. They will respect their teachers and teammates. There is a zero tolerance policy for negativity and bullying. When the Competition Team travels to competitions, conventions, or any other performances as representatives of LA Dance, all students and their families must maintain these positive attitudes toward each other and all other dancers, their studios, and families. Failure to comply with this rule will result in immediate dismissal from the Competition Team and possible dismissal from the studio.
Account Balances
It is crucial that every Competition Team member meet all payment deadlines throughout the season. The studio receives early registration discounts for events they will be attending. If these registration deadlines aren't met, the fees go up significantly. Failure to make all payments on time might result in the member having to sit out an event or be held responsible for all extra charges incurred by the delay.
Competition Team members will receive their event fee totals for the year during the first meeting following auditions.
Summer Class
Competition Team members must attend at least one summer intensive each year as assigned by Lacey.
Zero Tolerance For Drugs & Alcohol
Competition Team members are expected to serve as role models for their studio and community at all times. Any evidence otherwise will result in immediate dismissal from the team.
2026-2027 Competitions & Conventions
DATES: January 29-31, 2027
WHERE: Lake Terrace Convention Center (Hattiesburg, MS)
DATES: February 12-14, 2027
WHERE: Petal Performing Arts Center (Petal, MS)
PLATINUM NATIONAL DANCE COMPETITION
DATES: April 16-18, 2027
WHERE: Jackson Convention Complex (Jackson, MS)