Competitive Dance

APA Company is more than adding a few extra dance classes to your schedule. It is a commitment to training, teamwork, performance, and growth.

Company dancers audition and are placed into groups based on age and skill level. Throughout the season, dancers train together, learn choreography, rehearse, perform, and compete throughout the Southeast.

Depending on their Company placement, dancers typically train 2–5 days per week and participate in 3 competitions throughout the season.

But the goal isn’t simply to collect trophies.

The goal is to develop well-rounded dancers who are technically strong, confident performers, disciplined teammates, and prepared for whatever comes next.

That last sentence is important because it gives you a philosophy rather than making Company sound like a competition machine.

Commitment Level:

TRAINING
Dancers participate in consistent weekly training designed to build technique, strength, flexibility, performance quality, and versatility.

REHEARSAL
Dancers learn choreography, develop performance pieces, work as an ensemble, and learn how to show up prepared.

COMPETITION
Dancers have opportunities to perform their choreography on a competitive stage and receive feedback from judges throughout the season.

TEAM
Dancers become part of a team where reliability, respect, accountability, and supporting one another matter.

What makes us different?

More than a Competition

At APA, competitive dance is about more than what happens on competition day.

Our Company program is built around:

• Strong technical foundations
• Consistent, high-quality training
• Intentional dancer development
• Professional rehearsal environments
• Performance and competition preparation
• Accountability and responsibility
• Teamwork and collaboration
• Confidence, discipline, and independence
• Positive representation of APA

One Program. One Standard. One Team.

Every Company instructor brings their own strengths, experience, and teaching style. But our dancers aren’t learning in isolated classrooms.

Our instructors work together toward shared standards and expectations so that Company dancers experience a consistent training environment across the program.

What Does a Company Dancer Do?

A COMPANY SEASON MAY INCLUDE:

Weekly Training:
Consistent classes throughout the season to develop technique, strength, flexibility, artistry, and versatility.

Choreography & Rehearsal
Dancers learn and rehearse competition pieces while developing performance quality and working as an ensemble.

Competitions
Company dancers travel to competitions throughout the Southeast and perform their pieces for judges and audiences.

Performance Opportunities
Dancers have opportunities to perform beyond the competition stage and represent APA throughout the year.

Additional Training
Depending on their level and teacher recommendations, dancers are required to participate in intensives, workshops, skill classes, conventions, or specialty training. APA’s current summer programming, for example, includes technique-focused intensives, ballet, choreography labs, skills workshops, and other specialty opportunities.

COMPANY + ELITE

APA’s competitive program includes multiple training pathways designed to meet dancers where they are and challenge them as they grow.

All Company dancers are part of the same larger competitive program, but dancers may train at different levels based on age, experience, skill, training history, and readiness.

COMPANY

Company provides dancers with a structured competitive dance experience focused on developing strong technique, performance skills, teamwork, and confidence.

ELITE

Elite represents an advanced level of competitive training for dancers who are aiming to pursue a career in the dance industry in some capacity. Our goal with Elite is to help these dancers figure out which industry path would be the most auccessful, and prepare dancers accordingly.

Dancer Expectations:

What it means to be a Company or Elite Dancer:

Being on Company means being part of a team and that comes with responsibility.

We expect our dancers to:

COME PREPARED
Arrive ready to learn, participate, and make the most of their training.

BE COACHABLE
Listen to instructors, receive corrections, and apply feedback.

BE ACCOUNTABLE
Take responsibility for attendance, preparation, costumes, choreography, and commitments.

SUPPORT THEIR TEAM
Celebrate one another, contribute positively, and understand that every dancer plays an important role.

WORK THROUGH CHALLENGES
Growth doesn’t always happen easily. Company teaches dancers how to stay committed, work through frustration, and keep improving.

REPRESENT APA WELL
Dancers are representing themselves, their team, their families, and APA wherever they go.

Training Philosophy:

We train dancers, not just competition pieces.

At APA, competition choreography is only one part of the experience. Our dancers spend the season developing the skills behind the performance:

TECHNIQUE
Building strong fundamentals that support long-term growth.

ARTISTRY
Learning how movement, music, intention, and performance work together.

STRENGTH & CONTROL
Developing the physical skills needed to dance safely and effectively.

VERSATILITY
Training across styles and learning to adapt as dancers.

CONFIDENCE
Becoming comfortable performing, receiving feedback, and taking on challenges.

DISCIPLINE
Learning that meaningful growth comes from consistency and effort.

Is Company right for my dancer?

Company may be a great fit for a dancer who:

• Wants to train more consistently
• Enjoys performing
• Is ready for a greater commitment
• Responds well to feedback and coaching
• Wants to challenge themselves technically
• Enjoys working as part of a team
• Is interested in competition and performance opportunities
• Is ready to take more ownership of their dance training

Your dancer doesn’t have to be perfect to be ready for Company.

What matters is their interest, commitment, willingness to learn, and readiness for the expectations of the program.