June 26, 2025

 

“2026 APO” ~ Additional Performance Opportunity

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

 

RESPONSE REQUIRED BY:    June 30, 2025 ~ Noon

 

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.

 

New This Year

• APO classes will take place in July and August.

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

• The charge will be $30/dancer/month. 

• The $30.00 will be charged to your studio account on the 1st of each month October - March.

• 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:

• Remain members of the KCDS Competition Team; Company, and CREW.

• 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 reputation for quality reflects our attitude toward competition and our goal to develop in each dancer a genuine respect for dance as an art form. We consider participation in competitions not simply part of our dancers’ training; it’s also an important part of how our dancers grow as people. With the right focus, the experience gained in competition can be an excellent source of self-confidence. If the dancers feel good about a performance and understand that they become better each time they go onstage, they are truly growing through the competition experience. Hitting that stage and doing the best they can is what it’s all about; whether they win–or which award they win–is secondary.  We want dancers to know that it is not just the performance but the journey to get there that is equally important.

 

Through participation in competitions, we hope to instill in our dancers an appreciation for other dancers and studios. We are not out to beat anyone; instead, we hope to motivate our dancer by exposing them to the highest caliber of talent available. For us, competition is an education!

 

Learning Timeline 

Faculty will set the piece and the dancer is expected to practice and remember the chorography each week. There are dancers that learn their piece in 3 lessons, while others take longer.  There are dancers that can clean a number in 2 classes and others need 6+ classes of the cleaning process.  There for it is impossible to say every dancer will need exactly a certain number of lessons. 

 

Faculty is committed to making sure a dancer that is extended, and APO opportunity is well prepared to perform. We are working towards producing a competent dancer who is solid in their performance ability including strong technique.  When dancers are afforded an APO, it is established that the dancer can work well with in the timelines of learning that are available.  Providing rehearsals are well attended.  However, there are situations, when work starts, things can become over whelming for the dancer.  In these cases, Dancers and Parents need to communicate with their Faculty Member to work out a solution.  Consideration of all a Dancer’s activities is necessary when accepting this offer.

 

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, or 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 – March

$375.00/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.

$  30.00/dancer/month, October – March,  charaged to your studio account

Competition entry fees for 2 competition please see below

 

Duo

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

$320.00/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.

$  30.00/dancer/month, October – March,  charaged to your studio account

Competition entry fees for 2 competition please see below

 

Trio/Quad

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

$275.00/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.

$  30.00/dancer/month, October – March,  charaged to your studio account

Competition entry fees for 2 competition please see below

 

Small Group, 5 – 9 Dancers

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

$250.00/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.

$  30.00/dancer/month, October – March,  charaged to your studio account

Competition entry fees for 2 competition please see below

 

Performance Dates

• Stage Stars Run-through – Saturday, January 31.  

• Stage Stars Show – Friday, February 20. Shake Down Performance for all APO Dancers at the Charlie White Theatre in Sidney.  

• More information will follow in January 2026 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 19 and are non-refundable.

 

COMPETITION 1:  VERSASTYLE DANCE COMPETITION 

Mon-Wed, MARCH 9-11 – Charlie White Theatre, Sidney, BC

• APO Competition Entry Fees: Charged Friday, September 19

• Solo:       $105.00

• Duo/Trio: $  75.00/dancer    

• Quad/Select Small Groups: $65.00/dancer

 

 

COMPETITION 2:  PHOENIX DANCE COMPETITION

• APO Competition Entry Fees: Charged Friday, September 19

Thur-Sun, APRIL 16-19, Port Theatre, 125 Front Street, Nanaimo, BC

• Solo:            $130.00

• Duo/Trio:      $  85.00

• Quad/Select Small Groups: $75.00

 

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.

 

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

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