FRDT Frequently Asked Questions:

What is your practice schedule like during the school year?

• We practice 4-5 days per week, usually at Fossil, depending on the season. We typically practice right after school from 4:15-6:15pm, but have to do at least one morning practice per week from 6:15-8am. We are looking at other practice facilities for next year and also might have to do shift practices (for example, we could get shift A from 4:15-6:15pm or shift B from 6:30-8:30pm and this could change week to week).

**This is not set, as there are changes that need to be made to accommodate all athletics at Fossil. There will be a meeting soon with head coaches and the Athletic Director so please know these times are not definite!

What is your practice schedule like during the summer?

• Our summers are flexible. We start in June going 2-3 days per week. We have a summer break from June 26 through July 10th - we don’t meet at all during this time. We come back 2-3 days per week in July and then mandatory practices start in August (this is when we will have team pictures). During the summer, we will have camp, competition choreography and sideline/halftime choreography. We are currently working on those dates.

What is camp? Is it mandatory?

• Camp is not mandatory but is highly recommended! It's the first time the team really comes together to perform and this is where the beginning of team bonding really starts! It’s a 4 day/3 night camp where we go learn new material, improve technique, work on gameday situations and qualify for National’s. It’s really fun and very important that each dancer is there!

How long is the dance season?

• Tryouts in April. Practices start May (very minimal and not mandatory) - July. Mandatory practice starts in August. Football season is September-October. Competition season is late October/November-December. Basketball season is December-March. We also attend Nationals in February. Then we have a break once bball is over, until we start tryouts in April.

What sporting events do you perform at and what does that include?

• Varsity Football: sidelines and halftime performances

• Varsity Volleyball: we have never done anything, but would like to start

• Varsity Basketball: halftimes of some boys and girls games

• We also perform at assemblies and some other non-sporting events

What is the cost of being on the dance team?

• It’s typically about $2000-2500 per competition dancer, but that price is offset by fundraising. For our sideline team, the cost is about $1000 out of pocket. At our parent meeting we will have specific numbers to show what was paid out of pocket and what was covered with fundraising during the current season. Please keep in mind, prices continue to go up. Camp, clothing, and the cost to go to National's, had all gone up from the previous year.

What is the difference between Competition Team and Sideline/Gameday Team?

• Competition Team does all football sidelines and halftimes and all competitions. They will do some basketball halftimes as well when it doesn’t conflict with competitions or competition practices.

• Sideline Team does all football sidelines and most halftimes. They will also do the majority of the boys and girls basketball halftimes.

Do dancers letter?

• Dancers have the opportunity to receive a Varsity athletic letter for the year. Competition Dancers will earn a letter for Fall and Winter. Sideline Dancers will earn a letter for the Fall only.

How many dancers will you take on the competition team? On the sideline team?

• I do not have a set number of dancers that I will take on the competition team, but my plan is 12-15. Many considerations go into making this team.

• The maximum amount I can have on the sideline is 28 TOTAL - it doesn’t mean that I will take 28 and this includes dancers on the comp team.

What skills do I need to make the competition team? The sideline team?

• The skills are posted on our website: www.frhsdance.com

I have prior commitments through June, will that affect me making the team?

• Not at all! We fully expect you to follow through with your prior commitments and studio recital dates - you will not be penalized for this. Please just communicate as far in advance as possible so that we can make a plan.

Can I still take studio classes and be on the dance team?

• Yes! We encourage you to take classes. We are actually trying to find studios that want to work together to make this happen. It will take flexibility on both ends but we want all of our dancers taking studio technique classes.

Can I still compete with my studio and be on the dance team?

• Yes! We currently have one dancer doing this and she has made it work. She is not on the Fossil Competition Team, only our Sideline Team, so she got to do Football sidelines and games but also compete with her studio. This was the first year we’ve done this, so we have kinks to work out, but it’s a great option to do both high school dance and studio dance.

FRDT Year at a Glance

MAY:

after tryouts, we hold optional technique practices and team bonding opportunities. We will try to have a parent meeting and team/family bonding dinner.

JUNE:

summer practices begin, we start fundraising and team bonding. We push to learn HH tricks, pom technique, all sideline material. We typically do camp this month but it’s looking like it might get pushed to July.

JULY:

we will have a 2 week summer break over the 4th of July (6/25-7/9). We will learn competition choreo this month.

AUGUST:

mandatory practices start, photo shoot, back to school activities, carwash fundraiser, final prep for Football gamedays.

SEPTEMBER:

football, volleyball, homecoming, kids clinic fundraiser,

2 comp Saturdays - dates TBD.

OCTOBER:

football/ volleyball, heavy comp prep w/Saturdays - dates and times TBD.

NOVEMBER:

our comp season starts with League and Regionals. If we are solid, we won’t have comp practice over Thanksgiving break. Hopefully just one heavy practice the 18th or 19th.

DECEMBER:

State Spirit Dec 8-10 is our main priority. We take a break afterwards but will have a couple bball performances to do. The Sideline Team will be working on halftimes for games while Comp Team is focusing on State.

JANUARY:

we come back from Christmas getting ready for bball halftimes and another kids clinic. We also have final prep time for National’s in Orlando.

FEBRUARY:

UDA Nationals in Orlando for Comp Team. We plan to compete Hip Hop and Gameday (with Pom) again. We get a long break to recover

after Natty’s but may still have some bball halftimes. Sideline team can take the majority of them.

MARCH:

mostly a break with some possible events and clinics to keep the girls dancing.

APRIL:

Tryouts start in mid April again. We will have clinic prior but the dates are TBD.