My eighth grade daughter wants to try out for her high school drill team this spring. She has taken ballet from ages 3 to 9, took a break from dance to try sports, and is now enrolled in Jazz 1. Girls with dance team experience, what classes do you recommend to prepare her for doing her best in tryouts?
What does she need to focus on?
Finally - what was your experience like? I know the committment is huge, and it can be very costly ...please share your comments and tips.
Thanks!
2007-01-06 16:33:09 · 4 answers · asked by what's up? 6 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Dancing
Ok, let me give you a little history on me. I've danced pretty much my whole life, but I was in Drill Team for three years and was 1st Lt. my last year. I went on to dance for my university's dance company and recieved a minor in dance. I'm currently teaching dance at Church and judging Drill Team tryouts for local drill team. Oh, I've also given private lessons to just such girls as your daughter and they all made the team.
Ballet is great! It's the foundation of dance. The judges will immediatly notice that she has training. This is definately a plus. Although I'm not sure what this Drill Team's focus is... most focus on jazz and kick. I would reccomend that she focus on her kick technique... (no hunching, pointed toe, high, straight, toe to nose, etc...) Jazz style dancing is very important in most drill teams. This is what most are doing during their competition seasons. She's taking the Jazz 1 so I'm sure she's learned the stylized walks, turns, sinccapated beats, etc.. Honestly, I thinks she's going to do fine with her background. To ensure that she does, she must work on showmanship. It's all about the performance. Will she exicute all her movements, give over the top facial expressions, maintain technique, and be remembered as awesome? They're gonna look to see if she has high energy throughout the entire tryout period. Every point counts... make sure she has those splits (pointing the toes, back straight, head/chin up, and huge smile). Timing is important, but I'm sure with her training this is not a problem. Is there going to be teacher evaluation? Make sure she is aware of the relationships she creates with teachers.
Okay what was my experience like. I absolutely loved Drill Team. I learned so much about myself in those years of school. I was extremely shy and it brought that right out of me. Yes it is a committment physically, finianually, and mentally. Oh, but it is worth it. We did several fund raisers to obsorb most of the cost. We only had to pay half the cost of our competition outfit cost. My first year I bought a used Drill Team uniform to save money. Umm,.. We had Drill Team as a class and we pratice everyday after school for at leat 2 hours. Games were on Fridays. We went to both home and away games during football and only home in basketball. I was also in student government and peer helpers. I was able to maintain a 3.8 GPA. Ummm.. we competed in several locations...New Orleans, New Mexico, Texas...etc.. and won several awards, both as a team and by myself. This gave me great confidence! Drill Team truly was the best thing that happened in my High School years. The friends, the responsiblity... the disciplin... It was great!
2007-01-06 17:55:47 · answer #1 · answered by I_got_answers 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wow this is the BEST question for me to answer. haha
When I was in the eighth grade, i had been on a dance team (pom, to be exact) that competed, for 3 years. Wow, now that was one of the best experiences of my life.
I also tried out for high school poms. To get prepared for that, I asked my current then pom coach if she could help me with a mock tryout for high school poms.
For your daughter, I'm assuming shes not on a team where she can ask her coach to do that, but maybe if she's comfortable asking her Jazz1 teacher? There are also pom classes at certain dance studios.
Um, my experience, was AMAZING. I know it can be very expensive but you do not want your daughter to miss this opportunity in her life because it is so incredible.
Maybe this is just so amazing to me because dance is basically my life, it sounds like I'm over exaggerating about it. But the experience is truly amazing. You will not regret it.
PS. Just to warn you, she will come home from practice some days, and just be exhausted and cranky and have homework and all these things. Just, be there for her if she needs help with her homework, or something, and don't bother her too much because she might snap at you. Trust me, I know from experience. :)
2007-01-06 16:54:35 · answer #2 · answered by danceequalslove9 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
ohhh lifeee lol
2016-03-29 00:30:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would try to sign her up for modeling
2007-01-06 16:42:08 · answer #4 · answered by beach girl 2 · 0⤊ 4⤋