Being part of the DSD Competition Team is an exciting opportunity for dancers who are passionate about performing, developing their skills, and challenging themselves in a supportive team environment.

Our Competition Team provides dancers with additional performance opportunities throughout the year, helping them grow in confidence, strengthen their technique, and build lasting friendships. Competing teaches valuable life skills including resilience, teamwork, commitment, and the ability to perform under pressure, skills that benefit dancers both inside and outside the studio.

Above all, our Competition Team is designed to help dancers become well-rounded performers while having fun and creating unforgettable memories.

Competition Team places are awarded through an audition process. We are looking for dancers who consistently demonstrate:

• A strong work ethic and positive attitude
• Commitment and effort in every class, not just competition classes
• Performance quality through both movement and facial expression
• A willingness to learn and improve
• The ability to accept and apply corrections
• Kindness, respect, and teamwork
• Professionalism and pride in representing DSD
• Commitment to ballet and modern examinations
• Enthusiasm for training in a variety of dance styles

Competition Team members are expected to act as role models within the school and contribute positively to our studio culture.

At DSD, we are incredibly proud of the positive, supportive environment we have created within our Competition Team. We believe that every dancer deserves to feel valued, encouraged, and celebrated for their achievements.

While competition is naturally part of the dance world, we expect all dancers and parents to remember that we are one team. Whether a dancer is performing in a group routine, duet, trio, or solo, every success is a success for the entire DSD family.

We encourage dancers to celebrate one another's achievements, support their teammates, and take pride in the accomplishments of others. A win for one dancer should be viewed as a win for the team as a whole.

We are proud to offer a wide range of performance experiences, competition opportunities, and support to help every dancer reach their full potential. Decisions regarding casting, choreography, solos, duets, trios, and team placements are always made with the best interests of both the individual dancer and the team in mind.

We will not tolerate unhealthy competition, jealousy, gossip, negativity, or behaviour that creates division amongst dancers or parents. Any behaviour that undermines the positive culture of the team, whether in person, online, at competitions, or within parent groups, will be taken seriously.

Our expectation is that all dancers and families treat one another with kindness, respect, and professionalism at all times.

Any dancer or parent displaying behaviour that is deemed unsupportive, disrespectful, or damaging to the team environment may be asked to leave the Competition Team.

By accepting a place on the Competition Team, dancers and parents agree to uphold these values and contribute positively to the supportive community we work so hard to maintain.

Selection for the Competition Team is reviewed annually and a place one year does not automatically guarantee a place the following year.

Competition Team training is not suitable for every dancer, and there may be occasions where we feel a student would benefit from focusing on developing certain areas of their training before continuing with the team.

We are committed to maintaining a supportive, positive environment for all dancers. Healthy competition is encouraged; however, negativity, poor sportsmanship, or conflict between dancers or parents will not be tolerated.

From Summer 2026, dancers will be placed into style-specific competition teams:

• Ballet
• Commercial
• Jazz
• Lyrical/Contemporary

The number of teams in each style will vary each year and will depend on audition numbers, age groups, and the overall standard of dancers auditioning.

To ensure dancers are training safely and developing the technical skills required for competition, all team members must meet the minimum class requirements for their chosen style(s).

To be eligible for the Ballet Team, dancers must attend:

• A minimum of 2 Ballet classes per week (P4+)
• Vocational Ballet (P6+)

To be eligible for the Commercial Team, dancers must attend:

• A weekly Commercial class

To be eligible for the Jazz Team, dancers must attend:

• Jazz
• Ballet
• Contemporary
• Stretch, Turns & Leaps (P6+)

Please note: Dancers in P5 and below are not required to attend Contemporary in order to be part of the Jazz Team.

To be eligible for the Lyrical/Contemporary Team, dancers must attend:

• Contemporary
• Jazz
• Ballet
• Stretch, Turns & Leaps

At DSD, we believe that strong competition dancers are built through well-rounded training. While dancers may compete in a specific style, their technique is strengthened through a variety of classes.

Ballet provides the foundation for all dance styles, while Jazz, Contemporary, Commercial, and Stretch, Turns & Leaps help dancers develop performance quality, flexibility, strength, turns, jumps, and overall versatility.

These requirements ensure that all Competition Team members have the training needed to perform safely, confidently, and to the highest standard possible.

Competition Team membership requires a high level of commitment from both dancers and parents.

• Consistent attendance is essential.
• Students who miss more than two classes per term without a valid reason may be asked to leave the team.
• Absences can significantly impact rehearsals and the progress of the entire group.
• Illness, injury, and family emergencies are always understood; however, we ask that families communicate with us as soon as possible.

Each place on the team is valuable, and we ask all members to respect the commitment required from themselves and their fellow dancers.

Competition Team dancers will have opportunities to compete at various events throughout the year.

Dancers may perform:

• Group routines
• Solos
• Duets
• Trios

Selection for solos, duets, and trios is at the discretion of the teaching team.

On average, Competition Team members attend 5-7 competitions per year, although this may vary depending on age and team placement.

Some competition dates are already listed within the Competition Team section of the website. . Additional competitions may be added throughout the year as dates become available.

Most competitions require entries and deposits approximately six months in advance.

If we do not receive notification that your child is unavailable, we will assume they are attending.

Any absence from a competition requires routines to be restructured and can affect the entire team. Each change means other dancers must relearn positions and may perform under additional pressure. Your cooperation and communication are greatly appreciated.

Dancers must arrive at least 1 hour 30 minutes before their first scheduled performance.

This allows sufficient time for:

• Registration
• Warm-up
• Costume preparation
• Hair and make-up checks

Unless otherwise stated, parents remain responsible for their child throughout competition days.

Our staff are there to support dancers and ensure they are prepared to perform but are not responsible for supervising children throughout the event.

Dancers must arrive with their hair and make-up completed for their first dance. Specific styling instructions will be provided before each competition.

If parents choose to allow an older dancer to attend without supervision, this is entirely at their discretion. However, DSD cannot accept responsibility for dancers who attend without a parent or guardian.

Families are responsible for arranging their own transport to and from competitions.

We encourage families to car-share wherever possible.

All Competition Team members are required to wear DSD-branded clothing at competitions and team events.

• Any DSD branded clothing item

Further information regarding competition attire and team merchandise will be provided throughout the season.

• Hair must be neatly secured in a bun or appropriate upstyle.
• Hair should be slicked back off the face.
• No loose hair or ponytails.
• Hair accessories should match team uniform where applicable.
• Small stud earrings may be worn in class at the parent's discretion and risk.

• No jewellery permitted.
• No visible tattoos.
• No nail varnish.
• Hair and make-up must be completed before arrival.
• Specific styling instructions will be provided prior to each event.

Competition costumes are provided through our costume hire scheme.

Costumes will be issued before performances and competitions and must be looked after carefully throughout the season.

Please note:

• Costumes should not be machine washed.
• Hand wash only if absolutely necessary.
• All costumes must be returned at the end of the dance year.
• Costumes will be professionally cleaned and maintained before being reissued.

To help cover the cost of maintaining, repairing, cleaning, and replacing costumes, an annual costume hire fee is charged:

£5 + VAT per team

This fee is significantly lower than the cost of purchasing competition costumes outright.

Fundraising plays an important role in the success of our Competition Team and helps us provide the best possible opportunities for our dancers.

Competition costumes are a significant expense, and all new competition costumes must be funded through fundraising efforts. Costumes are an essential part of competition dance, helping to bring routines to life, enhance performance quality, and create a professional, polished look on stage. Carefully selected costumes also help judges distinguish between styles and themes, allowing dancers to present each routine in the best possible way.

As dancers progress and new routines are choreographed each season, new costumes are often required to suit the style, music, and vision of each piece. Fundraising allows us to continue providing high-quality costumes without passing the full cost directly onto families.

In addition to costumes, fundraising helps support competition-related expenses, team activities, and other opportunities throughout the year.

As a Competition Team family, we ask that both dancers and parents actively support fundraising events whenever possible. The success of these initiatives relies on the involvement of the whole team, and everyone plays an important part in helping us achieve our goals.

Throughout the year, we may organise a variety of fundraising activities, including raffles, events, sponsorship opportunities, and community initiatives. We encourage all team members to participate and help promote these activities.

Parent volunteers are vital to the success of our fundraising efforts, and we are always grateful for any time, ideas, or support that families can offer.

By working together, we can continue to invest in high-quality costumes, create exciting performance opportunities, and keep costs as manageable as possible for all Competition Team families.

The DSD Competition Team is about much more than trophies and results. It is about developing confident, hardworking, supportive young people who represent our school with pride.

We are incredibly proud of every dancer who auditions and look forward to welcoming the next generation of Competition Team members.