A Panther Dance Team Member’s ultimate responsibility is to compete to her highest level of potential and promote school spirit by demonstrating a positive attitude at sporting events. To promote this, the following polices and guidelines shall be in effect.
Pantherettes Mission
Our mission as coaches, parents, and members of the Pantherettes is to create a positive and supportive team atmosphere. We will encourage our dancers to become great athletes, students, and young women. We will make decisions based on the best interest of the team. We will show mutual respect and have open communication among all dancers, parents and coaches. Coaches will complete the administrative aspects of the Pantherettes in a timely manner. Our primary focus will be on dancing and developing a program that will promote the Pantherettes’ successful reputation.
Fall Season vs. Winter Season
When dancers audition at spring tryouts they audition in front of both Fall and Winter coaches. At the beginning of tryout workshops, the dancers will fill out a form that indicates whether they would like to audition for fall or winter season, or both. 95% of our dancers stay with us for the entire year as an integral part of our program. Fall season is both an opportunity to showcase school spirit while performing at football games as well as a preparation to winter season. Drills and skill enhancement are focused on preparing dancers for the intensity and competitive level of winter season. Winter season is spent competing as a Minnesota State High School League sport.
FALL SEASON Fall performance season begins in mid August and finishes in October. In general, the dance team supports athletic activities through performances and pep fests during this non-competitive season. Fall season also serves as a preparation for the winter competitive season to get the athletes in technical and physical shape for the following season.
WINTER SEASON During the winter season the team competes regularly and competitions start soon after the beginning of the season. The team focuses on competition within the Northwest Suburban Conference and attends many Invitational Meets, similar to any SLPHS sport. The dance team competes in section 3AAA as part of the post-season competition, which will determine advancement to the State Tournament, held annually at the Target Center.
The season stretches from October to February. The team typically practices five to six times per week, in 2 ½ hour blocks. Extra practices may be required throughout the season. All practices are mandatory. A dancer and parent handbook will be distributed to the selected team and will outline all team policies. The decision to become a dance team member is a decision to make a 100% commitment. Your family shares in this commitment providing transportation and support throughout the season. There are also some expenses involved in participation on the dance team. We do not wish to discourage individuals from trying out due to financial reasons. The girls are given opportunities to fundraise to help buffer the individual expenses. Dancers will also be expected to participate in team fundraisers throughout the season. We ask both the dancer and her parents to carefully consider what is involved in being on the dance team.
Winter Season
Dancers will audition in October at the start of Winter Season. Dancers selected will be placed on the Winter Dance Team. Dancers can be placed on the following teams: Varsity Kick, JV Kick, Varsity Jazz, JV Jazz, or B-Squad Jazz.
All competition teams will compete within Conference Meets and Saturday competitions.
Dancers may be removed from routines, with advanced notice. Dancers may be removed for reasons including: missing practices, or difficulty with learning at a faster pace.
Tryouts
HOW TO REGISTER Please refer to the Tryouts portion of the website for registration information.
WHAT TO WEAR You may wear any type of dance or athletic apparel, just as long as you can move freely and can show all of your lines during auditions. During the season, dancers typically wear t-shirts or athletic tank tops with booty shorts or track shorts. Also bring both jazz shoes as well as tennis shoes. If you are new to dance, any type of shoe that you can turn in can be worn, no need to purchase new jazz shoes. You must be wearing shoes at all times during practice. Don’t forget a water bottle
SKILLS TO KNOW There are no “proficiency”-type skills that you need to know to make the team. While we will do isolated skills as well as skills in the routines that we learn, above all, the coaches are looking for athletes eager to learn, receptive to feedback, enthusiastic about their effort, and giving it their all. Skills that will be auditioned are high kicks, pirouettes, chaines, straight leaps, side leaps, calypsos, splits, and toe touches/Russians. If you are unsure of what any of these skills are, attend our pre-tryout clinic to learn what they are and how to do them.
RESULTS Dancers will receive a number during the winter season audition. Dancers who make the team will be posted to the Dance Team TeamApp and emailed to all participants. Chosen dancers will make one high kick team and one jazz team.
HOW MANY MAKE THE TEAM There is no set number of dancers that make the team, however will set limits based on any COVID-19 district restrictions. We encourage anyone to tryout, whether they have previous dance experience or not. We acknowledge that we can teach the dance skills but heart, passion, and determination often come naturally. Thus, we will take those who are ready to work and learn.
Conduct
Pantherettes are representatives of Spring Lake Park High School. Dance team members must abide by all policies and bylaws of Spring Lake Park School District and the MSHSL.
A dance team member will represent her school with dignity and pride. Dance team members will exhibit good conduct and set a good example at all times. Ex: on Facebook, Twitter, in the stands at games, in the community etc. Pantherettes may not act independently in making a decision involving or relating to practices, fund-raising, participation in events, or any activity as “official” team members without the consent of the head coach.
Any dancer displaying a negative attitude so as to affect the attitude and performance of other team members will be talked to by the coaching staff and disciplinary action will follow if deemed necessary.
Pantherettes should cooperate with supervising adults; should conduct themselves with dignity; be respectful to coaches, captains, other dancers, judges, etc. and refrain from using profanity or vulgarity at all times. Mood altering drugs are prohibited. Once named as a member of the team, whether in season or not, a student shall not have in her possession, buy, sell, consume, or distribute any controlled substance including tobacco, alcoholic beverage, or any other controlled substance. All district and MSHSL penalties shall be enforced and shall include the following consequences: First Violation: After confirmation of the violation, the dancer shall lose eligibility for the next two (2) consecutive performances or two (2) weeks of a season in which the dancer is a participant, whichever is greater.
Second Violation: After confirmation of the second violation, the dancer shall lose eligibility for the next six (6) consecutive performances or the next six (6) weeks of a season in which the dancer is a participant, whichever is greater, as well as any titles the dancer may hold.
Third Violation: After confirmation of the third violation, the dancer will no longer be part of the Pantherettes Dance Team.
Lettering
Members of the Winter Dance Team can receive a school letter, as that season is considered a team sport. Lettering criteria are as follows: JV members are not eligible to letter. All Varsity lettering is subject to the coach’s discretion at all times. We determine lettering based on the following factors: grades, effort, attitude, attendance, at least half the seasons' competitions competed, and overall contribution to the improvement of the team as a whole.
Hazing
Activities which are intended to cause physical or emotional harm, humiliate, intimidate, or embarrass individuals will not be allowed. Any new team member who permits herself to be initiated by veteran Pantherettes in such a way, or anyone that is asked to participate must report the names of anyone involved to the coaches. Anyone participating in unauthorized activities shall be disciplined by school administration and the coaches. Team and/or school suspension may result.