Company 1 Information

Please note: This is not the two hour pre-competitive program, but rather the title we are giving company members who compete in the 8 and Under division. This is a change from the 2006-2007 program

Petite company is generally for competitive dancers between the ages of 7-9, if a 6 year old can complete the requirements made for age 7 dancers, they could possibly be considered as a member of Starstruck company. Petite company dancers generally compete with 4-5 dances. Due to the age of the dancers, practice at home is a must. Parents should take an active role in communicating with instructors as well, as video tape rehearsals to ensure students can practice at home. Petite company dancers are required to take Petite Company Jazz and Pettie Company Ballet (9 year olds will also be required to take an additional ballet class). Beginning leaps and Turns,Beginning Lyrical, and Beginning Tap are recommended. Please direct Petite Company questions to Jessica Brown at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Age 7:

• Clean Battements/Tilts

• Knees Straight
• Toes Pointed
• Chin and Back lifted and correctly aligned

• Clean Sat de Chats (leaps)

• Chasse with pointed feet
• Legs straight
• Chest Lifted

• Knowledge of/Working towards Side Leaps/Attitude Leaps

• Understands mechanics

• Double Pirouettes

• Correct Passe position
• Straight supporting leg
• Arms in first position

• Knowledge of/working Towards Turns in Second

• Must understand the mechanics of turning en de hors
• Must be able to plie and releve with leg held at 90 degrees

• Must have one split

• Stage presence, including eyes up and a smile at all times

Age 8-9:

• Must be able to complete all age 7 requirements

• Side leaps

• Knees to ceiling
• Toes Pointed
• Chest Lifted

• Working towards Triple Pirouette

• 2-3 Turns in second followed by a single pirouette

Company 2 Information

Junior company dancers are generally between the ages of 9-12. Junior Company dancers are required to take Junior Company Jazz, Junior Company Ballet, and another ballet class at level recommended by instructors (generally Ballet 3). Intermediate/Advanced Leaps and Turns, Beginning or Intermediate (instructors discretion) Lyrical, and Beginning or Intermediate Tap are recommended. Junior Company members generally compete in anywhere from 4-8 group dances. A junior company member who cannot yet complete, but shows potential to master the skills required for their age level, may or may not be accepted into company. Dancers who have not yet mastered the requirements will be expected to attend two rehearsals per week for their small group dances in order to master technical skills as well as learning choreography.

Age 9-10:

• Mastered all Petite Company Requirements

• Triple Piroette

• Straight Supporting Knee
• High passé/releve
• Arms held from back in first position

• Must be able to complete three turns in second followed by a clean double pirouette

• Clean execution of Side leaps/Attitude Leaps/Backwards Leaps

• Appropriate Stage Presence for style of dance

• Must have one split

Age 11-12:

• Mastered age 9-10 requirements

• Must be able to complete 2 8 counts of second turns followed by a clean double piroette

• Mastered Triple pirouette

• Strength to use flexibility

• must be able to developpe right and left leg to at least 90 degrees in second w/straight supporting leg

• Must be able to focus through entire class w/o constant reminding from instructors

Company 3 and 4 Information

Teen Company members are generally between the ages of 13-15. Teen Company members are required to take a Jazz Class (generally level 4 or 5, at instructor’s discretion), and 2 ballet classes each week. Teen Company members are expected to also take Leaps and Turns, Modern, and Lyrical. Although these classes are not required, a teen company member who wants to excel to senior company would highly benefit from these classes. Teen Company members generally compete with anywhere from 4-10 dances. A teen company member who cannot yet complete, but shows potential to master the skills required for their age level, may or may not be accepted into company. Dancers who have not yet mastered the requirements will be expected to attend two rehearsals per week for their small group dances in order to master technical skills as well as learning choreography.

Ages 13-14:

• Mastered all skills required of petite and junior company

• 4 Pirouettes

• High releve/passé

• arms held from back in first position

• Turns in second

• Leg held at 90 degress

• Full Releve

• Arms controlled from back in first and second position

• Variety of Combinations (front and back attitude, pirouettes, etc.)

• Leaps Technically correct and able to use flexibility to increase height and extension

• Able to apply detail to choreography and able to distinguish movement quality and emotion between jazz and lyrical

Age 15:

• Same technical skills expected as 13-14 year olds

• Abel to apply detail to choreography and able to distinguish movement quality and emotion between jazz, lyrical, ballet, and modern

The senior age category is what Starstruck has always been known for. More than the technical side of the requirement is the artistry of the dance. In this age category, you will be pushed to your limit and be expected to be open and ready for anything. The choreography, along with the emotional content will only exceed what we have done in the past and will undoubtedly be the hardest you have ever had to work. Detailed choreography by Starstruck staff as well as outside choreographers, difficult partnering techniques, stylistically separating your movement, not just from ballet to jazz, but from specific types of jazz and modern (including Horton and Graham) to specific techniques in ballet (French, Russian, Balanchine, Cecchetti).

Teamwork is vital in this stage of dancing, because you need full trust in your peers as well as hold your own weight. There will be no tolerance for unexcused absences or excessive excused absences. The movement of the dance depends on every individual dancer, so the team suffers when you are not there. This will be the level where you will learn ultimately how to be responsible for you work, learn time management skills, support your fellow company members and where the level of success will solely depend on the commitment of the team. Notebooks will be expected at every class as well as rehearsals. There will also be no tolerance for not knowing your dances from week to week while learning choreography and no tolerance for not knowing your corrections when we start cleaning. Overall, by this company level, there should be a self-motivation to work hard, listen to your teachers and make the best of every second you have.

Senior company members are generally 16-18, although a 15 year old can be considered for senior company depending on maturity of their dancing, level of commitment and technical ability. They usually take 1-2 jazz classes (level 5 or 6) and 2-3 ballet classes (levels 4-6). It is expected that a senior company member take modern, as well as leaps and turns with optional classes being lyrical and hip hop. Senior members normally compete in 5-10 competition dances. Please keep in mind that you will be placed in large groups BEFORE you are placed in small groups. A senior company member who cannot yet complete, but shows potential to master the skills required for their age level, may or may not be accepted into company. Dancers who have not yet mastered the requirements will be expected to attend two rehearsals per week for their small group dances in order to master technical skills as well as learning choreography.