PDT Repertory Ensemble Reqirements

Please Note: The following requirements are actual “requirements” and not mere suggestions. Please read them carefully so we do not need to pull dancers from productions for violating policies! WE REALLY DO HOPE THAT YOU PARTICIPATE BUT NEED YOUR FULL SUPPORT. Thanks!!!

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Class Requirements:

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As in any pursuit of physical excellence, consistency and frequency are necessary to maintain proper

conditioning. All dancers must maintain class training with 90% attendance throughout the

rehearsal processes and BE ON TIME. Please call the studio and let us know if you will not be

attending class prior to the start of lessons. Injured dancers are encouraged to observe lessons to

allow for a certain amount of learning. During the school year, dancers cast in corps roles must take

a minimum of two ballet classes weekly and one other technique class. Support role dancers must

take a minimum of one class weekly and for “The Nutcracker”, if the dancer is doing a child role and

takes only one, it MUST be ballet. Adult dancers are handled on a case-by-case basis considering

acting skills needed. Those cast in solo/lead roles must take a minimum of three ballet classes

weekly (preferably four for principal roles such as Sugar Plum or Clara) and one other technique.

During the summer months, ALL Repertory dancers must take a minimum of twelve technique

classes and those planning on auditioning for solo/lead roles for “The Nutcracker” must also take

an appropriate camp offered at Pottstown Dance Theatre. There is no guarantee that a dancer will

get a solo role; however, every dancer advances more with more training. It will only help your

work as a student regardless. All classes must be taken at Pottstown Dance Theatre or with a

member of the Repertory Ensemble staff (Michelle Jones Wurtz, Kelsey Noble, and Marissa

Anuzelli). Speak with the director if you go out of town for lengthy periods or need adjustments for

another reason. She can advise you on lessons she MAY approve.

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Rehearsal Requirements:

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Most rehearsals in the school year will take place on Saturday afternoons from 12noon-3:00pm. We

will start rehearsals for the Haunted Dance Theatre at the end of August for a few different dates.

Generally, in the school year, more technical dance roles have rehearsals on Wed. evenings from 7:15-9:00pm with younger dancers rarely needed since it is a school night. Some days we ask dancers to come in at 10am on Saturdays and/or stay until 4pm. Some rehearsals take place during Rep class time (10-11:30am) as we will do for “Haunted Dance Theatre” once the 2026-2027 School Year begins. Also, sometimes younger dancers have an extra rehearsal on Saturday mornings (around 9am) for our larger productions such as “The Nutcracker”. We normally do NOT have rehearsal on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend; so, we sometimes have an extra rehearsal on Sunday evening depending on when “The Nutcracker” is scheduled. Please try to comply. Always keep an eye on the Rep Bulletin Board for rehearsal postings such as these and changes which are often inevitable. Technical/dress rehearsals in the studio and on-stage venues are mandatory. Stage rehearsals are the week of the performance.

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Attendance Requirements at Rehearsals:

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It is not possible to do collaborative art without the collaborators present. One absence is allowed

for something other than illness such as a school organized event. If other instances arise,

determination as to whether dancers will need replacements will be on a case-by-case basis

considering roles and circumstances. A doctor’s note may be required in cases of illness and/or

injury and students may need a doctor’s note to return to Rep Ensemble activity. Zoom is an option

in a pinch but please do not rely on this as we cannot run formation patterns in this format. If we

are given notice, we can also try and assist with conflicting schedules.

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Fundraising and Volunteering:

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We do NOT require people to volunteer as then it really is NOT VOLUNTEERING. We DO ask that

you help if you can when possible and place you where we think your talents will be utilized. If you

cannot volunteer in these areas (or at all) speak with Ms. Michelle as soon as you know. Finding

venues is getting harder and harder; that said, the venues we can get are often over utilized and

cannot give us much time to bring in our flooring, sets, etc. Because that is the case, “load -in/out”

is often during normal work hours. Ms. Michelle is NOT a spring chicken anymore and carrying the

sets, costumes, props with little help is getting harder and harder. So, anyone that can PLEASE set

aside some personal time to assist with things like this if possible as we do not want to raise our

fees to be able to afford to hire an outside company to assist with moving. Also, even venues as

small as Theatre Horizon in Norristown cost around $2,000 to rent. The backdrops alone for “The

Nutcracker” were $9,000. We need people to help with our fundraising efforts and if that’s NOT

feasible, please know donations are welcome as we are under the HPL 501 (c)3 Institute. Ticket

sales and part fees barely cover things and sometimes actually do NOT. Please do your part to help

us financially.