June 16, 2026

 

“2027 APO” ~ Additional Performance Opportunity

Information on Solos, Duos, Trios, Select Groups for Competition

 

RESPONSE REQUIRED BY:    June 18, 2026 ~ Midnight

 

Thank you for considering having your dancer takes part in doing an additional performance opportunity (APO.)  Dancers offered an APO performance option are all chosen with careful consideration by Karen Clark Dance Studio Faculty.  Following is important information to help you make your decision on taking part in an APO.

 

This Year

• APO classes will take place in June - August.

• APO rehearsals will take place once a month from October – April.

• The charge will be $35/dancer/month. 

• The $35.00 will be charged to your studio account on the 1st of each month October - April.

• Rehearsals are one, ½ hour session monthly and will remain on the same schedule every month.

• Rehearsals are run by the APO teacher or another KCDS faculty member.

• Rehearsals will be scheduled starting October 1st and will be scheduled by your teacher.  

• Rehearsals may be combined with other APOs for groups as we move through our dance year.

 

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APO Participation

Dancers participating in APOs are expected to:​

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• Maintain enrolment in the prerequisite classes: Ballet, Company Class, Tap, and Crew Class. Additional classes required for crew dancers.

• Dancers remain enrolled in all classes corresponding to their dance style. For example, if a dancer is registered in a lyrical APO, they are also registered in a lyrical class.

• Monthly charges will be discontinued upon dropping; however, APO fees already paid are non-refundable

• Performance Readiness: KCDS reserves the right to remove any piece from the Stage Stars Showcase and/or competitions if it is deemed not stage-ready. Refunds will not be issued for choreography or competition fees.

 

The Journey to Dance Education

Our studio's reputation for excellence reflects our philosophy toward competition and our commitment to developing in each dancer a genuine respect for dance as an art form. We believe that participation in competitions is not simply part of a dancer's training. It is an important opportunity for personal growth. When approached with the right mindset, competition can build confidence, resilience, and character. If dancers feel proud of their performance and understand that every time they step on stage they are learning and improving, then they are benefiting from the experience. Performing to the best of their ability is what matters most; awards and placements are secondary. We want our dancers to understand that the journey, the hard work, dedication, and growth that happen along the way—is just as important as the performance itself.  Through participation in competitions, we also hope to foster an appreciation and respect for other dancers and studios. We are not focused on beating others. Rather, we strive to inspire and motivate our dancers by exposing them to talented performers and high-quality dance experiences. Competition provides valuable opportunities to learn, grow, and be inspired. For KCDS, competition is education.

 

Learning Timeline 

Faculty will set the piece, and the dancer is expected to practice and remember the choreography each week. Some dancers learn their piece in as few as three lessons, while others require more time. Likewise, some dancers can clean and refine a number in two classes, while others may need six or more. For this reason, it is impossible to determine in advance the exact number of lessons any individual dancer will require.

Our faculty is committed to ensuring that every dancer who is offered an APO opportunity is well prepared to perform. Our goal is to develop confident, competent dancers with strong performance skills and solid technical foundations. When a dancer is offered an APO, it is with the expectation that they can work successfully within the available learning timelines, provided rehearsals are attended consistently and the dancer is practicing independently.

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There may be situations where the process becomes overwhelming for a dancer once rehearsals begin. In these cases, dancers and parents are expected to communicate with the faculty member promptly so that solutions can be explored together. Careful consideration of a dancer’s overall commitments and activities should be made before accepting an APO opportunity.

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PRACTICE

What you do AT HOME, on your OWN TIME, to work out what YOU

need to know to be prepared for REHEARSAL.

REHEARSAL

What happens when everybody has practiced and knows their

stuff - if you haven't PRACTICED you're not ready for REHEARSAL.

 

 

Two or More Dancers

All rehearsals are dedicated to “cleaning” the choreography.  Dancers should plan to get together outside of their rehearsal times to practice their routines. If your Dancer has no time to practice with their APO Group outside of Dance Studio time, then an APO is not a good fit for your Dancer.  A dancer who misses a rehearsal holds back the progress of the entire group and may expect to be removed for the part of the choreograph they miss.

 

Dancers are expected to attend their rehearsals.  If you are planning a holiday, if your dancer has other extra circular activities, if your dancer has an upcoming school function, all these things will have an impact on your decision to have a dancer take on an APO.  Please consider all dates and look them over carefully.  If you would like our input, we are here to assist you.  Please contact us with any questions.

 

There is a possibility the grouping could change if one or more dancer(s) decline the APO offer. Examples: a trio becoming a duo, a quad becomes a select small group when a Dancer needs to be re-assigned. In that case the fee structure would also change. 

 

Cost for Solos, Duos, Trios and Small Groups

Faculty fee(s) are due on the first lesson, paid to your teacher in the form of cash or e-transfer to their email.

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Solo

3 hours of classes to teach the APO. Rehearsals from October – April

$395.00/dancer - Faculty Fee, paid directly to your teacher via e-transfer

$  60.00/dancer - Studio Rental Fee will be charged to your KCDS account at time of registration.

$  35.00/dancer/month, October – April, charged to your studio account

Competition entry fees for 2 competition please see below

 

Duo

3.5 hours of classes to teach the APO.

Rehearsals from October – April $35.00/month

$330.00/dancer - Faculty Fee paid directly to your teacher via e-transfer.

$  60.00/dancer - Studio Rental Fee will be charged to your KCDS account at time of registration.

$  35.00/dancer/month, October – April, charged to your studio account

Competition entry fees for 2 competition please see below

 

Trio/Quad

3.5 hours of classes to teach the APO. Rehearsals from October – April

$285.00/dancer - Faculty Fee paid directly to your teacher via e-transfer.

$  60.00/dancer - Studio Rental Fee will be charged to your KCDS account at time of registration.

$  35.00/dancer/month, October – April, charged to your studio account

Competition entry fees for 2 competition please see below

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Select Small Group, 5 – 9 Dancers

3.5 hours of classes to teach the APO. Rehearsals from October – April

$260.00/dancer - Faculty Fee paid directly to your teacher via e-transfer.

$  60.00/dancer - Studio Rental Fee will be charged to your KCDS account at time of registration.

$  35.00/dancer/month, October – April, charged to your studio account

Competition entry fees for 2 competition please see below

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Performance Dates

• Stage Stars Run-through – Saturday, February 06.  

• Stage Stars Show – Friday, February 19. Shake Down Performance for all APO Dancers at the Charlie White Theatre in Sidney.  

• More information will follow in January 2027 please watch the web site for the ‘StageStar’ button.

 

Competition Dates for APO Dancers are listed below. 

All APOs will enter both competitions listed below. Additional fees apply with each competition entered.  Please see entry fees below. Please also remember your dancer will be involved in studio classes that will be entered in competitions where entry fees also apply.  Information about group classes is listed on our website www.karenclarkdancestudio.com under the ‘CompTeam’ button.  PASSWORD: compteam

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APO Competition Entry Fees

• APO Competition Entry Fees: Charged Friday, September 18 and are non-refundable.

 

COMPETITION 1:  STAR TALENT DANCE COMPETITION 

• APO Competition Entry Fees: Charged Friday, September 18

Tue-Wed, MARCH 9-11 – Port Theatre, 125 Front Street, Nanaimo, BC

• $115.00/dancer |  Solo

• $  89.00/dancer | Duo/Trio

• $  70.00/dancer | Quad/Select Small Groups

 

 

COMPETITION 2:  SUMMIT DANCE COMPETITION

• APO Competition Entry Fees: Charged Friday, September 18

Thur-Sun, APRIL 15-18, Coquitlam, BC

• $145.00/dancer | Solo

• $  92.00/dancer |Duo/Trio

• $  75.00/dancer |Quad/Select Small Groups

 

Please note of the following:

1. Once Faculty starts working with Dancers, the discipline style may change.

2. There will be an additional charge for costumes. There is no costume deposit taken. 

3. No refunds for Dancers missing rehearsals.

4. No refunds for Dancers dropping their APO.

5. No refunds if dancer/group does not perform (example: illness, injury)

6. In duet or group extra rehearsals, fee will be charged for every student attending or not.

7. No dancer may perform their number in any other competition, school performance, related performance, or recital without the permission of Karen Clark Dance Studio Inc and Faculty Involved.

8. Rehearsal time’s blocks are selected with Faculty/Studio availability in mind.  If you have a holiday, your dancer has extra circular activities, school functions etc.  It is not possible to change the Faculty/Studio rehearsal time that has been assigned in your email. 

9. Once the APO offer is accepted, your teacher will contact you to schedule your dancer into their exact rehearsal time.   

10. Our Dance Studio culture is to be grateful for all opportunities on stage.  The vision of KCDS Faculty is to reflect each dancer in their best light.  Creating pieces that showcase a Dancer’s strength, with solid technique training while creating a successful, positive experience for each performer.

11. Putting the APOs together is a process. Once Teachers know the Dancers accepting APOs they will be able to schedule Dancers into their rehearsal times.  Each Teacher is dealing with several APOs.  Accepting the APO is the first step. 

12. Don’t be worried about saying “No Thank You.” If your dancer is not going to accept the APO offer, please don’t feel bad.  Taking on an additional performance opportunity doesn’t always work out for many different reasons.   We understand ~ perhaps another time.

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A gentle reminder that setting up the APOs is a step by step process. Once dancers are registered then they work with their teachers for rehearsal times. If rehearsal times are not doable the dancer does not take part in the APO this year and a credit for the studio rehearsal fee will be issued. 

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Thank you for taking the time to read over our handbook and for choosing Karen Clark Dance Studio!

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