Hunter College Dance Company Guidelines 2011-2012

The Hunter College Dance Company, established in 1963, open to all interested students, is grounded in the performance of student works.  It continues a tradition of achievement that has been recognized by the larger New York City dance community and is a source of pride for the college as a whole. Our goal of maintaining a high caliber of artistic work in a humanistic and supportive environment demands a great deal of energy and commitment on the part of the dancers, choreographers, faculty and staff.

The following guidelines are designed to support the rigorous process of rehearsing, choreographing, performing, advising, and producing performances. They are intended to encourage each member of the Hunter College Dance Company—in all aspects of the process—to reach toward personal goals, experience artistic growth, and contribute to the community as a whole.

Company Participation:

●  All dancers, choreographers, advisers, and support staff are expected to demonstrate respectful, professional behavior throughout the process. This includes appropriate physical preparation for rehearsal and performance; promptness; silencing of cell phones during rehearsals and showings; and notifying dancers, choreographers, and advisers of changes of plan (lateness, absence, or cancellation).

○ Professionalism means taking responsibility for the quality of one's own work and doing one's part in creating a positive and effective work environment. 

Ø  In dance, it includes: punctuality, dependability, responsibility and communication - a professional dancer communicates when she/he may be five minutes late, and it rarely happens. 

Ø  A professional dancer completes the project, participates in classes, rehearsals, showings, meetings and performances with full effort, dresses in a manner respectful to and appropriate to the situation and asks questions if uncertain what appropriate garb might be, is fully prepared -beginning each rehearsal warmed up, ready to dance and with previously learned material reviewed, and takes care of one's personal problems outside of the dance/work environment.

Ø  Cordial, polite and respectful behavior goes in both directions between teacher/student, rehearsal director/dancer, classmates, etc.

Ø  Keeping the general goals of the process and/or institution in mind.

●  Choreographers, dancers, and choreographic advisers are required to attend the orientation session at the beginning of each semester.  Company members must inform a faculty member if they will be absent.

●  All Company Members and choreographic advisers are to stay and participate in the entire showing.

●  Showings and Works-In-Progress performances are performed in black attire without logos or colorful designs.

Choreographer Responsibilities:

●  Choreographers must select a faculty adviser by the first showing of the semester and establish a weekly working session with them. 

●  Choreographers are ultimately responsible for disseminating all information regarding schedules, expectations and procedures to their dancers.

●  Choreographers are responsible for the representation of their dance to the company as a whole in showings, rehearsals, and performances.

●  Choreographers must inform advisers of any changes to rehearsal schedules or other circumstances of the dance. 

NOTE: Returning Choreographers (2nd Gens) must participate in Fall showings if they wish for their work to be considered for adjudication in the spring. If they wish to choreograph for only the spring, their work will be included  in the May show. Choreographers may only adjudicate their work for a maximum of 3 years. 

Faculty Adviser Responsibilities:

●  The faculty adviser must be available to attend at least one rehearsal a week.

●  The faculty adviser serves as a support person for the entire dance. This includes the work of the choreographer (goals & process), dancers, and other collaborators in the creative process.

●  The adviser is responsible for representing the dance to the faculty when discussing production circumstances. This includes communicating logistical details that may affect program order (e.g., casting, costumes and props, music, etc.) as well as fairly representing what he or she has seen of the choreographic and rehearsal process.

●  The faculty adviser is responsible for ensuring that dancers are enrolled in technique classes or approving any exceptions.

Performer Responsibilities:

●  All dancers who are performing must be enrolled in a technique class (Cont., Ballet, W. African, Hip-Hop). Students who have a conflict must make an appointment with an adviser to discuss alternatives.]

●  Dancers CANNOT miss more than the allotted number of absence/late/observations (before grades fall) or they will be removed from their dances. This includes auditing students.

●  Fall graduating seniors may not perform in the spring semester. For Rep, they must have an understudy.

●  Dancers cannot drop out of a dance after the 2nd week of Oct in the fall or after the end of February in the Spring. Doing so makes a dancer ineligible to perform OR choreograph in any works for the current and following year.

●  Dancers are permitted to perform in 3 student works only. In addition, Dance Majors or Minors enrolled in Tech 3 or higher may audition for Repertory Projects with guest artists.

●  All students who audition for Repertory Projects must be available for all rehearsals scheduled for the semester (including (a) rehearsals outside normally scheduled time; and (b) rehearsals during spring semester for pieces choreographed in the fall). [Guest artists will clear rehearsal schedules with the Dance Program Director at the beginning of a project and as revisions occur throughout.]

●  Attendance and professional presentation of work at all scheduled showings are mandatory. [In case of an emergency, dancers must contact the choreographer who, prior to the showing, must notify faculty of the absence of a dancer. Advisers must notify the Dance Program Director if they will be absent.]

●  If there are any concerns on the part of performers for the welfare of the individuals involved in the creative process, or the creative process itself, she/he should bring them to the adviser promptly.

●  All performers are strongly encouraged to attend Company Class on performance nights.

General Company Notes

• All Cast Members are required to be at run-through on their performance nights.

[In case of an academic conflict or emergency, Company Members must speak with a faculty member before the day of run-through to discuss options.]

• All Company Members are required to strike after the final performance of a concert.

[Company Members who fail to fulfill this requirement will be responsible for extra crew hours to be arranged with the Technical Director.]

• The Dance Program staff will post dates for all showings, general tech-times, dress rehearsals, performances, strikes, and Company meetings both in hard copy and on the Dance Program website at least 2 weeks in advance. Schedule changes will be announced as they occur.

Review Board:

A Hunter College Dance Company Review Board, consisting of faculty members and student representatives, will convene to address issues of responsibility as stated in these guidelines. Dancers, choreographers, and faculty must contact a member of the Review Board (Student Advisory Board member or Director of Program) to request a meeting if policies listed above have not been followed. The Review Board will also address: communication problems (among dancers, choreographers, faculty advisers, technical advisers, or support staff); questions concerning the existing policies; suggestions for improvement of the program or process; other issues thought pertinent for review by any member of the Hunter College Dance Company.

General Dance Program Information:

• Office hours are Monday-Friday, 11 am to 6 pm.

• Students whose lockers are inside a studio vestibule may not be able to retrieve belongings after 6 pm if studios are locked for the evening.

• Each studio is equipped with ice packs. If there are none on the shelf, please notify the office.

• Emergency phones are located in each studio. If a situation needs immediate attention, pick up the phone and give security your location. Security will respond immediately. 

General Rules for Use of the Dance Studios:

• No shoes, food, drink (other than water), or people unrelated to the choreographic process permitted in the dance studios.

• Rehearsal space must be requested via email spacerequest@gmail.com. Space will be given in the following order: (1) student choreographers (7 am-10 pm, 7 days a week); (2) students currently enrolled in a dance course (during office hours only); (3) faculty (6 pm-10 pm, M-F or 7 am-10 pm, Sat/Sun); (4) alumni (6 pm-10 pm, M-F or 7 am-10 pm, Sat/Sun). (Please see “How to Request Space” form located on the door of TH614.)

• After 5 pm, studio gates must be locked (and windows closed) if another choreographer is not immediately entering.