What are Dance Competitions?

Beginning with the Appleton Competition, the studio is taking a more robust approach to competition participation. This is similar to the way other dance studios handle competitions both small and large. Instead of dancing only a small number of entries per person, my goal is to have everyone dance as much as possible.

I know that entering competitions looks expensive - the numbers add up quickly. In fact, these prices are quite competitive. Where other studios and dance teachers add a sizable surcharge per dance for each pro/am event, I do not. I want you out there dancing! I want to dance with you. I know money is a consideration for most people, and I would like your dollars to get you as much time on the dance floor as possible.

In addition to the per-dance surcharge I just described, other instructors often charge “lost time” for attending (and traveling to) competitions - four to eight hours of private lesson time per day the teacher is at the comp dancing with students. At first glance, that may seem unreasonable, but economic pressures play a role - the teacher could have stayed home and booked private lessons instead of participating in the comp with the amateur. (Teachers have bills to pay and businesses to operate, of course.)

The teacher also has hotel, meal, transportation, and admissions costs to cover related to attending the comp. Those costs are split between all competitors entering the comp with the teacher. (So if the teacher enters with 10 students, those costs are divided by 10 or somehow prorated between those students. Having more students means each student is responsible for a smaller share of that cost.)

When determining your total cost for Appleton, factor in your transportation, hotel, admissions package, and any meals not covered by the Competitor Pass.

If you are dancing with Darrell or Amanda, also expect to pay a portion of the hotel, meal, transportation, and admission costs for Darrell or Amanda. Having more competitors means less teacher cost per competitor.

In the past, I have absorbed the cost of hotel snafus, my admission charges, fuel, etc. It is not practical for me to do that into the future. I am still dedicated to introducing you to as much delight in your dancing as I possibly can, but I need to watch the bottom line.

Since Appleton is a smaller comp, the package prices are priced accordingly. For WI State - a much larger competition with much higher entry fees, the packages will also be priced accordingly.