SENIOR ELITE EXTENSION PROGRAM

AGE

Senior EEP students will be aged -

• 13+ on January 1st in the dancing year and ideally in Year 8 onwards

When a student finishes Year 12, they “officially” graduate from our EEP program, however dancers are welcome to stay in the program beyond their schooling years.

We do not promote students leaving their educational schools to attend full time dance courses until they have finished Year 12, even those courses that combine high school and dance. Our EEP program can successfully prepare your dancer for acceptance into prestigious tertiary facilities in performing arts, without compromising your academic studies at school. There are many pathways of study - please see our VET and SACE course options below.

SACE & VET DANCE

We are proud to offer SACE Stage 1 and Stage 2 Dance for dancers in Year 10, Year 11 or Year 12 at school. This subject is offered in conjunction with Thebarton Senior College, however is offered at our Generation Dance studio. Generation Dance has received exceptional results in the SACE Dance subject over the years it has been offered at the studio, with 3 merits received from Generation Dance students and all others receiving results in the A band.

Click here to find out more about SACE DANCE

We also offer Cert II and Cert III in Dance or Assistant Dance Teaching, which are VET courses. These can also contribute towards your SACE and assist in achieving a high ATAR, plus helping with employment opportunities. These courses are offered in conjunction with Empowerdance and students attend their practical lessons at Generation Dance but attend an online theory lesson with the Empowerdance facilitators once a week.

Click here to find out more about VET DANCE

STUDENT TEACHING

At Generation Dance, we offer both volunteer and paid student teaching positions, providing valuable hands-on experience for dancers interested in pursuing a career in dance instruction. This opportunity can be incredibly rewarding and enjoyable for those passionate about teaching.

Students who take on a teaching position are required to attend a dedicated student teaching class, which costs $20.90 per lesson. In this class, they will cover both theoretical and practical aspects of teaching. Additionally, they must commit to their assigned teaching shift each week. Attendance and commitment are essential, as student teachers are held to the same standards as the senior teaching staff.

We also recommend that student teachers in Year 10 and above begin working toward their Cert III in Assistant Dance Teaching.

While many positions are for work experience, paid roles may be offered to student teachers who have completed at least 100 hours of work experience, are enrolled in or have completed Cert III in Assistant Dance Teaching, and have shown outstanding teaching qualities and a genuine interest in becoming a dance teacher.

TIMETABLES

Click here for current Timetable

*Senior Competition Troupe extra workshops and rehearsals will be scheduled on Friday evenings or Sunday afternoons, unless out of our control and we are working around interstate choreographers or other events

UNIFORM

Click here for current Uniform Policy

EEP PROGRAM DATES

Click here for current Program Schedule/Important Dates

Click here for current Competition Troupe Workshop Schedule

COST

Click here for current Fee Schedule

EEP ACCOUNTS (for other charges relating to Competition Troupe and Exams)

Each student will have a google sheet emailed to them at the commencement of the year, this is a personalised account of extra EEP charges. Please save this link so you can view at any time.

This sheet includes your EEP account details, where you can transfer funds, similar to a bank account. We will debit any charges from this account, and you can deposit funds at your convenience. You have the flexibility to set up deposits based on your needs and estimated yearly costs. Some parents prefer to make smaller weekly deposits to avoid larger payments when charges are due.

The costs below are all charged to EEP accounts and are separate to weekly class fees which are paid monthly via direct debit.

Click here for current EEP costs

• COMPETITION TROUPE EXTRA CHARGES

  Competition choreographic and rehearsal workshops

  Competition troupe entry fees

  Competition competitiors registration/passes

  Costume hire fees

  Staff wages at competitions

  Troupe competition photo and video costs

  Showcase costs

• EXAM FEES

Current Exam Fee Schedule

Exam fees will be charged to students EEP accounts in Term 3.

EXAMINATIONS

Please see link above for Exam Entry Fees (in COSTS)

Examinations are a key part of a dancer’s journey, providing an official record of their training. While enrolment in exam classes is not mandatory, all EEP students are encouraged to participate. Dancers in these classes benefit from a technical focus and extra training time, allowing them to progress further and develop their technique to a higher level. Note that exam classes do not include performance work.

We follow the Borovansky method of Classical Ballet as taught by the Australian Institute of Classical Dance (AICD). Most exams require a full year of preparation, and higher levels (Intermediate, Advanced 1 & 2) may take 2 to 3 years. The Advanced 2 exam is by invitation only, requiring a Highly Commended or Honours result for Advanced 1 and exceptional en pointe skills. All dancers in Grade 5 ballet and above must attend Open Ballet and Pointe classes on Saturday mornings.

For Tap and Jazz, we teach the Australian Teachers of Dancing syllabus (ATOD), with most exams taking a year to prepare.

The class teacher and EEP Director may hold a student back if they are not technically ready for their exam due to a lack of preparation or missed lessons. This decision is made in the best interest of the student to ensure they have a solid foundation before advancing to higher levels.

Exam classes are generally organised by school year, with students typically completing their final dance exams in Year 11 or 12. Older beginner level dancers must start at a beginner level (up to Grade 2 ballet and Bronze Medal Tap and Jazz) and progress by passing exams each year. New students will be assessed and placed in an appropriate exam level.

Exams are extremely important for any dancer wanting to pursue a career in dance teaching.

Exams are held in October and November at our studio, with schedules determined by the relevant dance associations. Exams can occur any day of the week, often during school hours, with entry fees ranging from $70 to $150. Most of this fee goes to the dance association, with a small additional amount covering studio hire, examiner transport, food, and teacher wages. For an accurate cost of exams for your child, please contact the office.

Exam classes finish after the exam session in Term 4 and exam classes do not perform.

PERFORMANCES / COMPETITIONS / END OF YEAR SHOWCASE

Please see link above for Performance expenses (in COSTS)

Competition Troupe Routines

Dancers will be selected based on the choreography and technical needs of each routine. To be considered, dancers should demonstrate commitment, consistent attendance, technique, skills, and performance quality. It’s important for dancers to attend the compulsory technique and/or exam classes to be eligible for a competition troupe routine. We strive to create the best performance team from each age group to represent Generation Dance at competitions.

Some students may receive understudy roles, which means they’re still developing the necessary skills for that routine but can continue to work on the choreography with the group. They may be called to perform at any time! We aim to choreograph inclusively and fairly, while placing stronger dancers at the front to help guide the group. We also bring in talented choreographers from all over Australia to work with our competition troupes for the 12 & Under and Senior age groups.

End of Year Showcase

All students in Senior Competition Troupe will perform in the EEP End of Year Showcase.

Costumes

With performing comes costuming. We have a great hire service available, and parents hire all troupe costumes for the year. Absolutely everything is done for you and the cost is minimal compared to purchasing outright.

COSTUME HIRE AGREEMENT

Behaviour

All persons (dancers, parents and others) representing Generation Dance at any event must always follow our Code of Conduct.

COMMITMENT / ATTENDANCE

Commitment to your competition troupe lasts a full year. When you accept a spot on the team, it’s important for students and parents to understand that this means being available for all performances, workshops, and rehearsals according to the schedule.

Consistency and commitment are vital for success. Attending classes regularly leads to better results and we expect full attendance.

Missing technique classes can hinder individual growth as a dancer however missing a competition class or rehearsal affects the entire team, as your dancer may fall behind and impact the group’s progress. Dancers need to be in class to learn essential theory, technique, choreography and detail. While watching videos from missed classes can help, it can't replace the foundational learning that occurs in class.

We encourage a growth mindset in our dancers, helping them understand accountability and responsibility to achieve their goals. Whether it’s mastering a skill, earning a good exam mark, being selected for a competition troupe routine, or preparing for future training. The life skills learned in dance will benefit them long after their lessons.

Family holidays, events, and other commitments should be scheduled around the dance schedule. We only accept absences for mandatory school events or camps.

If your child is injured, they are expected to attend classes to observe and receive treatment for the injury. If they have a contagious illness, such as gastro, they should stay home for the recommended time.

If your child must miss a lesson, it’s their responsibility to catch up on what they missed before the next class, as teachers will not re-teach choreography.

Please notify us of your child's absence in advance, including the reason, so teachers are aware.

We use an app called BAND for rehearsal and competition schedules and to upload choreography videos, helping students practice at home. It is a requirement that students practice at home in between lessons.

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS BAND

The program schedule clearly outlines all mandatory dates, however some of these are out of our control and may change. If a student is unavailable for any of those dates, they will become an “understudy” for that routine. The 4 weekly classes, plus blocking and dress rehearsals before a competition are compulsory, however students may miss 1 of these 4 classes for an acceptable reason (compulsory school events or contagious illness). Understudies will still attend all classes but will not perform unless required to do so. If a child is injured and not cleared by a doctor to dance by the first mandatory rehearsal, will also become an understudy.

Students wishing to withdraw from the program must follow the Withdrawal Policy outlined in our Terms and Conditions.

PRIVATE LESSONS

Private Coaching Information

THINKSMART CUSTOMER PORTAL

Once enrolled for a trial you will be set up in our software enrolment system. Please register in the customer portal where you can view enrolments, invoices and payments, change payment details, updated personal details etc. If signing up for the first time the studio code is NZKB7SD8

Click here to access your customer portal

TERMS & CONDITIONS

EEP Terms and Conditions