Flyers . . . All the details you ever needed to know!

Season/Teams

Ø      The Flyers season will last for 6 months (September-February).

Ø      The first practice day for both teams will be held Sunday September 7^th.

Ø      A monthly schedule including practices, performances, competitions, $ due dates, etc… will be distributed to each dancer each month.  These will typically go out ½ way through the month.

Ø      The “Tiny” Flyers team is for girls ages 3-5 years of age.  All Tiny team members must be 3 years of age by September 1^st.  All dancers must also be fully potty trained.  A “helper” will be available at practices for restroom breaks.

Ø      The “Mini” Flyers team is for girls ages 6-8 years of age.  All Mini team members must be 6 years of age by September 1^st.  Dancers on the Mini team cannot turn 9 years old during our competition season which ends January 31, 2009.

Practices

Ø      All practices will be held in the Fit for the King gymnasium.

Ø      Practices will typically be “closed” to spectators.  Most young girls have a better focus at practices, when mom/dad are not watching.  Exceptions will be made during the first 2 weeks of the season for young, timid dancers to adjust.  “Dress rehearsals” held during practices right before a performance or competition will be open to spectators.

Ø      Each dancer will be asked to have an adult contact sign up to act as a helper at 1-2 practices during the duration of the season.  Adult helpers will assist with restroom and water breaks and will help as needed at practices.

Ø      For the months of September and October, each team will practice once a week. 

Tiny Flyers – Sundays starting 9/07/08   3:00-4:15pm

Mini Flyers – Sundays stating 9/07/08     4:30-5:45pm

Ø      For the remainder of the season (November-February), each team will practice once a week on Sunday’s AND every other Thursday.  This will give each team apx. 6 practices each month.  Thursday practices starting in November will be held;

Tiny Flyers – 6:15-7:15pm

Mini Flyers – 7:30-8:30pm

Ø      Holidays… The only expected cancelled holiday practices include;

Sunday October 26^th – Fall break

Thursday November 27^th – Thanksgiving

Thursday December 25^th – Christmas

Sunday December 28^th – Christmas break

Thursday January 1^st – New Year’s Day

Ø      Drop off and pick up for all Sunday practices will be at the back gymnasium door.

Ø      Practices WILL start and end ON TIME.  Please be ready to drop off/pick up ON TIME.

Performances/Competitions

Ø      The Tiny/Mini Flyer program goal for the 2008-09 season is to perform at 4 local performances and compete in 2 competitions.  Performances will be held at area high school and college basketball games.  Only two competitions will be chosen for the first year of the Tiny/Mini Flyers season.  These competition dates/details will be given to all parents as soon as plans are set.  Cost and close travel proximity will remain a factor.  I currently am looking at 2 Jamfest competitions that are held in Lexington, KY & Dayton, OH.

Ø      The Tiny Flyers will compete in an open division (any style).  The Mini Flyers will compete in a Pom division.

Expectations for dancers & parents

Ø      All dancers are expected to arrive on time for practices, performances and competitions.  Any missed practices should be for a sturdy reason such as an illness or an out of town family obligation.  Any missed practice can negatively affect the missing dancer and the entire team when we are working on choreography, formations, etc…  Any tardies or missed practices should be reported to Heather by email or calling her cell phone.

Ø      All dancers should eat a healthy meal and/or snack before arriving to each practice/event.  Please do not send your daughter to practice on an empty stomach.

Ø      All dancers should bring a labeled water bottle to practice.  Plain/flavored water is preferred, and sports drinks are expectable.  Please do not send juice or soda!

Ø      All dancers should be dressed in comfortable “play/exercise” clothes for all practices.  (No denim if at all possible).  For the beginning of the season, all dancers should come to practice in supportive tennis shoes AND socks.  Socks will often be worn as we practice turns.  Within our first month, our performance/competition shoe will be chosen.  These might be matching costume tennis shoes or matching jazz shoes.  Once these shoes have been purchased, all dancers will be expected to have these at every practice.

Ø      Families are asked to be supportive with any “take-home” assignments given to each dancer.  These can include practice for choreography or practice with flexibility or conditioning exercises.

Ø      Additional help in planning/organizing may be called upon from parents.  This could include help in shopping for costumes, alterations, hair/makeup at events, collecting paperwork, reminder phone calls, etc…

$$$ Costs $$$

Ø      Monthly dues for all Flyers dancers are $35/month.  A $35 check (payable to Fit for the King) or cash will be paid at the first practice each month.  Parents are welcome to pay for multiple months at a time, as detailed payment records will be kept.  Any monthly dues payment that is two practices late will be $40.  The $35 monthly dues amount will not vary based on the number of practices, performance, etc… This amount will also not be lessened for missed practices.  Monthly dues will be paid for the duration of our season, September 2008-February 2009 (6 months).  Due to the low monthly cost for this program, a sibling discount for monthly dues has not been granted.

Ø      Each Flyer will be expected to purchase one uniform/costume.  These will be used many times throughout the season for dress rehearsals, performances and competitions.  An example of a team uniform can include; Matching top, possible jacket or 2^nd layer, shorts, skirt or pants, matching socks, shoes and hair accessory.  I will do my VERY BEST to keep all expenses as reasonable as possible!  My goal is to keep the entire outfit to $100/dancer. 

Ø      Mini Flyers will also be expected to purchase team pom poms.  The average expense for a pair is $30-45.

Ø      Music… each team will have professional music prepared for our competition routine.  Unfortunately, this music can be expensive.  A typical 2-minute “competition ready” piece of music can run from $200-500.  This cost will divided evenly between all team members.  Luckily, for the last 3 years, each of my team members only paid $25 for music.  After music is produced, CD copies of the competition music can be purchased for $1.00.  These come in handy for in-home practice!

Ø      There will be NO choreography expenses for the ’08-09 season!  I will handle all choreography and will not charge separately for this service.  Separate choreography fees are often an additional expense for all-star dance competition teams.  Depending on divisions and the skill level of future teams, this could be a future expense starting in a few years. 

Ø      Competition entry fees can vary from $35 up to $100+ per dancer per competition!  Since we will not be attending an expensive 2-day national competition our first year, these costs should be reasonable.  The two competitions I am investigating now cost $56 for the first competition and $53 for the second competition.  These are typically paid a full month in advance.

Ø      Competition entry fees do not include travel costs.  An overnight stay is not an expectation!  Since both competitions our first year will be in close proximaty, you should be able to make both of these 1-day trips.  Host hotels are always given by cheer/dance companies for each competition.  This information will be made available to you if you choose to stay overnight. 

Ø      Jamfest (one of many cheer/dance companies) has NO ADMISSION fee for spectators at all of their events!!!  I am hopeful that both of our competitions this year will be with the Jamfest company.

Ø      Travel to/from all performances/competitions is the responsibility of each family.  If a parent is unable to attend and support a particular event, arrangements for transportation could be made with another Flyer family.

Each dancer will receive a take-home written notification with 2-weeks warning before any money is due.  All money sent with your child should arrive to practice in a sealed envelope with your child’s name on the front of the envelope!

There will be NO tryout process for the 2008-09 Tiny/Mini Flyer season.  Any young dancer and her family that feels they can meet the above expectations is encouraged to join the program.  We want every young girl, regardless of current dance ability to have the chance to learn, develop her skills and become an amazing Flyer!

*** IF YOU WANT YOUR CHILD TO BE A FLYER, HERE’S ALL YOU NEED TO DO . . .

1.               COMPLETE THE ATTACHED ALL ABOUT ME FORM.

2.               DROP OFF THE ALL ABOUT ME FORM TO THE FIT FOR THE KING FITNESS CENTER BY WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 3^RD. 

3.               BRING YOUR TINY/MINI FLYER TO THE FIRST PRACTICE OF THE SEASON ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 7^TH!  As a reminder, practice times are Tiny’s (3-5 yr olds) 3:00-4:15pm and Mini’s (6-8 year olds) 4:30-5:45pm.  SEND THE SEPTEMBER MONTHLY DUES OF $35 WITH YOUR CHILD TO THE FIRST PRACTICE.

4.               Direct any questions regarding Flyers to Heather Foy.  My contact information has been listed in the order of preferred contact . . .

Email     hnfoy@yahoo.com

Cell #     701-2579

Work #         265-0175

Home#     273-6346

Fit For The King #     273-1543