Competition Companies

Competition Company Auditions Coming in May

Footworks Dance Company has a national award winning competition program. Our goal is to promote team spirit, learn life virtues and to improve dance and performance skills. We celebrate each dancers strengths and talents and strive to help each dancer become the best they can be. We aim to train dancers far beyond athleticism, to dancers filled with creativity, intelligence, artistic freedom, leadership skills, mindfulness, strength, team spirit and self-confidence.

WE HAVE A TEAMS FOR ALL INTERESTS AND COMMITMENT LEVELS

* Twinklers Troupe - Age 5 - 9

* Starz Competition Troupe - Age 7/8 to 18

* FDC Elite Company - Age 8/9 to 19

WHY CHOOSE A COMPETITION COMPANY? The benefits of competitive dance, go far beyond learning dance skills and winning trophies. Lifelong friendships are created through competition dance, along with valuable and positive socializing with dance friends. The values of teamwork, hard work, being a reliant team member and self respect are created. Dancers learn to trust and depend on one another. The FDC company instructors have many years of successful dance education experience along with a proven competition dance track record. Our highly trained instructors have degrees in fields such as dance, business/accounting, psychology and teaching, along with being part of the the prestigious "Chicago National Association of Dance Masters" and "Dance Masters of Wisconsin".

We incorporate ballet into every competitors training. Ballet is at the core of achieving great technique. Ballet trains the body in proper placements, correct landings of jumps/leaps, correct skills for turn and correct preparations of skills. It incorporates proper flexibility exercises at a healthy pace and provides amazing technique training. Dancers with ballet training, experience the safest training progression for their bodies (short and long term) and have less injuries overall.

FDC offers technique class(es) for jazz skills, jumps, leaps, turns, tricks, improvisational dancing, dance strength training, control skills and flexibility exercises. The training offered in technique classes is recommended and available for all dancers age 8 & up. Technique class is required of FDC Elite Company Dancers.

We have received numerous regional and national recognitions, including being honored for best choreography, teacher of the year, FDC people’s choice, Industry Dance Awards, Video of the Year, Most Entertaining Act, Best Costume, Top Elite Studio, Top Starz of Tomorrow Studio, Groove Passion Award, Highest Score, Several National Championships and the Studio Excellence Award, among many more. We are National Champions for the years of 2015, 2020, 2022 and 2023 along with being National Champion Runner Ups for 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Company dancers compete at regional competitions in Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota, with most regional competitions being held in Wisconsin. We also compete in a national competition in June or July (location to be determined). We attend well-respected competitions that travel across the USA each year. Industry dance leaders will judge them and offer helpful and positive critiques to help them improve to become the best dancer they can be.

WE HAVE TEAMS for many interests and commitment levels. You can expect most your competition classes to be held on Monday, Tuesday and/or Thursday evenings. We welcome dancers from school dance teams into our enrichment and competition team programs. For busy families, we try to keep most of our classes on the weekdays. leaving you more family time on the weekends. An occasional weekend practice may be scheduled.

WE WELCOME YOU TO BE PART OF OUR FOOTWORKS DANCE COMPETITION FAMILY!

Auditions

Our Company Auditions are in May of 2024. Feel free to call or message us for more information. To register for auditions, simply click on the registration link for Competition Company Audition Registration. There is no fee to audition. Auditions will run on the designated date from 4 - 9:30 pm, with each age bracket being assigned a time frame.

Twinklers - Age 5-9
Our "Twinklers Program" is a terrific program for the young dancer wishing to get their feet wet in dance competitions (age 5 - 9). These teams are for young dancers with a love for dance, who want to grow and progress. We will teach the value of teamwork, promote self-confidence and work to train dancers in stage performance and dance skills. We will provide fun, "age appropriate" routines. We aim to train well-rounded dancers. Dancers on the Twinkler's Team will take Ballet, lyrical and tap during our school-year program. In addition, a fun summer dance class of your choice is required for Twinklers. Watch your dancer shine on stage and see their confidence grow in our Twinklers Competition Dance program. Minimal previous training is required to be on a Twinklers Team.

TWINKLER company -

- Ages 5 - 9

- Dancers take 1 Lyrical class and 1 Tap Class each week and learn a dance for competitions and recital

- Dancers take 1 non-competitive Ballet Class (this dance performs in the recital)

- Upon audition, select dancers may be invited to participate in an optional competition jazz class, solo dance or duet/trio

- Dancers attend 2 - 3 regional competitions and a national competition in Wisconsin

- 1 summer class or camp required

- Optional enrichment academy classes are available in tap, jazzy hip hop, jazz funk, ballet, lyrical and acrobatics

Starz Comp Troupe

STARZ is a great introductory team for dancers wishing to get started in competition dance or for dancers loving the competition world, but who would like a little less time commitment. This is an amazing team that provides the best of both worlds. Competition dance takes your dancing to the next level and offers a fun dance experience in a team environment. All Starz dancers will perform in 1 competition lyrical dance. In addition, upon audition, we may offer you the opportunity to compete in other dance genres. This troupe allows you the opportunity to custom fit your competition dance experience to your commitment level and interests. This is an amazing opportunity for dancers age 7 or 8 to age 18.

STARZ COMPETITION TROUPE

- Ages 7 or 8 to age 18

- Dancers will take 1 Lyrical class each week and learn a dance for competitions and recital

- Dancers will take 1 non-competitive Ballet Class (performs in the recital)

- Select dancers (upon audition) may be invited to participate in optional competition companies (such as tap, hip hop or jazz)

- Select dancers (upon audition) may be approved to participate in either a solo or a duet (optional)

- Dancers Attend 3 - 4 regional competitions and a national competition in Wisconsin

- 1 summer class or camp required

- Optional enrichment academy classes classes are available in tap, jazz funk, ballet, lyrical, acrobatics, technique and pointe

FDC Elite Companies

FDC ELITE - is designed for dancers with a high level of dance commitment. These dancers take their training and team seriously and wish to grow their talent and performance skills in a positive and hard-working environment. They will work to their fullest potential each week. These dancers will be committed to a higher level of dance training and compete with several group routines. These teams will be given convention opportunities, summer boot camps and technique classes to keep each dancer's training at a high level. These teams are for dancers who love dance, are committed and are ready to expand their training and skills even more. If you are a serious competitor with a drive for dance excellence, these teams are for you.

Gold and Platinum

Elite Gold Company

- Ages 8 - 9 & up

- ALL Elite Gold Dancers will take 1 Lyrical competition group class and 1 Jazz group competition class for competitions and recital

- ALL Elite Gold Dancers will take 1 Performance Gold Competition Class

- Upon audition, select Elite Gold Co dancers may be invited to participate in hip hop co, tap co, modern co or enrichment pointe classes (dancers must select 1 - 4 options - see audition information)

- All Elite Gold Company Dancers are approved for a solo (optional) and some may be approved for duet (optional)

- Dancers will take at least 1 non-competitive Enrichment Ballet class (performs in the recital)

- Elite Gold dancers will attend 3 - 4 regional competitions and 1 national competition

- A technique class is required of gold dancers

- Elite dancers age 12 & up will take 1 SUMMER CAMP

- Elite dancers age 8 - 11 will take either a summer class or a summer camp (see teacher for recommendations)

- Elite gold dancers are recommended to attend a convention (see teacher for more info)

- Dancers may begin choreography in select classes in August or be required to attend an occasional weekend rehearsal.

Elite platinum Company

- Ages 12 - 19

- ALL FDC Elite Platinum dancers take 1 Performance Platinum competition class, 1 Lyrical competition class and 1 Jazz competition class for competitions and recital

- Upon audition, select FDC Elite dancers may be invited to participate in competition dances in these possible genres: modern co, hip hop co, tap co or our enrichment academy pointe class. FDC Platinum Dancers will be required to choose at least 2 - 4 additional genres of choice from this list.

- Dancers in the FDC Elite Platinum Company are automatically approved for a solo. Dancers in FDC Elite may be approved for a duet based on partner availability.

- Dancers will take at least 1 non-competitive Enrichment Ballet class (performs in the recital)

- These dancers will attend 4 to 5 regional competitions and 1 national competition (select groups, solos and duets on our FDC Elite Company may be given opportunities to attend additional competitions as desired)

- dancers should expect a few additional practices in August or an occasional weekend rehearsal during the school year

- 1 - 3 technique classes will be taken each week (at least 1 is required)

- FDC Elite Platinum dancers will take at least 1 SUMMER CAMP

- FDC Elite Platinum dancers age 12 & up are required to attend at least 1 convention each season (cost TBD)