FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
…About the Company
What is the Coastal Youth Ballet Theatre?
CYBT is a non-profit 501 (C)(3) organization and is the performing arm of Coastal Dance Centre. It is comprised of the Senior Company, Junior Company and Mini
Company. The purpose of CYBT is to provide young dancers in the Grand Strand an intensive training program that will prepare them eventually for the professional
world or should they decide to choose another career path, be able to use the life, skills learned in dance: the value of discipline, hard work, patience, perseverance,
determination, persistence, resilience, respect, cooperation and good behavior -all necessary ingredients for success in life.
It is the performing company of Coastal Dance Centre. Students, age 9 and over, or who may be at the RAD Grade 2 level may be invited/or audition to join CYBT.
What does membership in Coastal Youth Ballet Theatre offer?
CYBT Membership offers professionally-staged performance opportunities year-round. It involves a lot of dedication, hard work, discipline and talent.
CYBT membership involves learning a wide repertoire of popular classical ballets and contemporary pieces within the confines of the studio. Parents are able to save
on travel and accommodation expenses as compared to that of competing outside the home base.
Students have the opportunity to work with notable and distinguished guest artists – master teachers, choreographers and dancers during the Year-round and
Summer Sessions.
With a line-up of reputable master teachers coming to the CDC Summer Intensives, families are able to stay home and enjoy the summer fun and frolic at the Beach.
What are the requirements to become a Coastal Youth Ballet Theatre Mini / Junior / Senior: Member?
Regular attendance in RAD and Open Ballet Classes and the other optional courses such as Jazz, Tap and Hip Hop
Take the RAD Examination
Attend company classes and rehearsals of “The Nutcracker,” “Spring Festival of Dance”
Attend Master Classes
Pay a Membership Fee
Parents must sign up with the CYBT Parents Guild
How old do you have to be to join the company?
Mini Company members are ages 7 & up. Advancement to Junior Company and Senior Company is based upon class level and ability.
What are the benefits of being a Company member?
The benefits include many performing opportunities, priority casting in all productions, master class opportunities with guest teachers, scholarship opportunities for
deserving students, and the distinction of being affiliated with the Grand Strand's vibrant youth ballet company.
Who should join?
Those dancers who love to perform, willing to work hard and make the commitment - Mini Company members attend weekday technique classes twice a week and the
Saturday rehearsals; Junior and Senior Company members attend technique classes 4 times a week and as well as week-day / Saturday rehearsals. Additional
rehearsals are scheduled when necessary.
Are there any fees in order to become a company member?
Yes, apart from the CDC dance tuition, Company members pay a fee based on their company levels.
Are you going to do Open Auditions again this year?
There will be NO Auditions open to students who attend other area dance schools this year.
The Younger Dancers performance opportunity in the 2010 Nutcracker is exclusive only for students of CDC.
Do you do competitions?
We do join competitions - we remind our students to keep the focus on the training, emphasize good sportsmanship, enjoy and learn from the competition experience.
What competitions do you go to?
On the competition side of the dance training at Coastal Dance Centre, we have attended the locally held competition, State Dance Championship and the Regional
and Final round of competitions of the Youth America Grand Prix.
The local competition presents an opportunity to a bigger number of Coastal Dance Centre students to join a competition and there is less expense involved on the part
of the parents, what with no hotel accommodation and travel expenses to pay for.
What is the Youth America Grand Prix?
The Youth America Grand Prix is an international ballet and contemporary competition open to students from ages 9 to 19 and features three divisions: Pre-Competitive
(9-11 years), Junior for men and women (12 – 14 years) and Senior for Men and Women (15 – 19 years).The Pre-Competitive division gives students a taste of the
process of preparation for the competition. Some students at this age may not be doing pointe work yet but it gets their feet wet. YAGP offers the youngest age
category among international competitions. YAGP provides exposure to international schools and company directors and builds awareness of international dance
education opportunities. They provide scholarships to some of the world’s best training schools.
Can a student join a group/ensemble entry to the YAGP competition?
A CDC student may join YAGP not necessarily as a solo competitor but as an ensemble participant.
How do you know if a student is ready for competition?
At Coastal Dance Centre, we do not just look at the technical proficiency of a student who may wish to do a competition like the Youth America Grand Prix. Just
because someone is a good ballet dancer does not necessarily mean that he or she is ready for the pressures of competition. We also look at the student’s
temperament - one must be mentally ready as the process of preparing for it is demanding and rigorous. It builds character in a student and opens the opportunity of
seeing what one wants to potentially develop into in the future. As we always emphasize, not everyone will become professional dancers – they may have other
careers, but they will become the future audiences for dance and will make sure that the passion for this art form goes on to the next generation of dancers.
How do you prepare a student for the competition?
A student’s participation at YAGP is at the discretion of the Artistic Director.
We start with a private coaching sessions that start in the summer and / fall beginning with once a week sessions which becomes daily rehearsals as the competition
draws near and the strength and stamina increase. We make it clear that to embark on this journey requires 100 percent of dedication and focus and there is no better
way to get it across than for the CDC Artistic Director and faculty to show the example of the work we do with a student who goes to the competition. We give of what
is in our power and capacity as we can and we fully expect the same in return from the student.
As a parent of a YAGP participant, parents are asked to take note of the following:
For parents, a good understanding of the process involved in the training of a serious dancer, giving of one’s time, patience, and financial capability to cover for all the
expenses involved are essential.
Ballet training being undeniably expensive, solo costumes for the variations cost a lot, particularly the professional classical tutus.
Parents of competing students at the regional level and / Finals are obliged to pay for the Teacher’s/Coach’s travel, accommodation, and miscellaneous expenses.
An itinerary based on the director’s consideration of the YAGP schedule is the focus and priority over any other activity outside of the competition proceedings.
Ultimately, the most promising students around the globe get the awesome opportunity to avail of scholarships at the most prestigious dance schools in the world.
However, it takes a lot of hard work, discipline, and of course, amazing talent to get to the top. We should always remember that each individual is unique (i.e., the
individual’s physical attribute, emotional well-being and giftedness) and as such, not every one is suited for individual competition.
Not every competitor at YAGP gets to bring home a trophy. Parents should be aware that in this type of competition there are only the Top Four winners, chosen from
the Top Twelve dancers in each division (Pre-Competitive, Junior and Senior). Winning or losing is a test of one’s character – being able to practice good sportsmanship
and moving on.
Participation in the YAGP is a big undertaking and to newcomers, it can be overwhelming and daunting as well. Parents and students new to this type of competition
are encouraged to direct their inquiries to the Artistic Director /Staff.
…About "The Spring Festival of Dance"
"The Spring Festival of Dance" is a co-production initiative of CYBT with Coastal Dance Centre. It gives the company members an opportunity to learn and perform
classical ballet masterpieces and work on contemporary pieces with choreographers and dancers who have received critical acclaim for their work.. "The Spring Festival
of Dance" performance is designed to be an educational tool for the students as well as a performanceopportunity.
…About the Company
What is the Coastal Youth Ballet Theatre?
CYBT is a non-profit 501 (C)(3) organization and is the performing arm of Coastal Dance Centre. It is comprised of the Senior Company, Junior Company and Mini
Company. The purpose of CYBT is to provide young dancers in the Grand Strand an intensive training program that will prepare them eventually for the professional
world or should they decide to choose another career path, be able to use the life, skills learned in dance: the value of discipline, hard work, patience, perseverance,
determination, persistence, resilience, respect, cooperation and good behavior -all necessary ingredients for success in life.
It is the performing company of Coastal Dance Centre. Students, age 9 and over, or who may be at the RAD Grade 2 level may be invited/or audition to join CYBT.
What does membership in Coastal Youth Ballet Theatre offer?
CYBT Membership offers professionally-staged performance opportunities year-round. It involves a lot of dedication, hard work, discipline and talent.
CYBT membership involves learning a wide repertoire of popular classical ballets and contemporary pieces within the confines of the studio. Parents are able to save
on travel and accommodation expenses as compared to that of competing outside the home base.
Students have the opportunity to work with notable and distinguished guest artists – master teachers, choreographers and dancers during the Year-round and
Summer Sessions.
With a line-up of reputable master teachers coming to the CDC Summer Intensives, families are able to stay home and enjoy the summer fun and frolic at the Beach.
What are the requirements to become a Coastal Youth Ballet Theatre Mini / Junior / Senior: Member?
Regular attendance in RAD and Open Ballet Classes and the other optional courses such as Jazz, Tap and Hip Hop
Take the RAD Examination
Attend company classes and rehearsals of “The Nutcracker,” “Spring Festival of Dance”
Attend Master Classes
Pay a Membership Fee
Parents must sign up with the CYBT Parents Guild
How old do you have to be to join the company?
Mini Company members are ages 7 & up. Advancement to Junior Company and Senior Company is based upon class level and ability.
What are the benefits of being a Company member?
The benefits include many performing opportunities, priority casting in all productions, master class opportunities with guest teachers, scholarship opportunities for
deserving students, and the distinction of being affiliated with the Grand Strand's vibrant youth ballet company.
Who should join?
Those dancers who love to perform, willing to work hard and make the commitment - Mini Company members attend weekday technique classes twice a week and the
Saturday rehearsals; Junior and Senior Company members attend technique classes 4 times a week and as well as week-day / Saturday rehearsals. Additional
rehearsals are scheduled when necessary.
Are there any fees in order to become a company member?
Yes, apart from the CDC dance tuition, Company members pay a fee based on their company levels.
Are you going to do Open Auditions again this year?
There will be NO Auditions open to students who attend other area dance schools this year.
The Younger Dancers performance opportunity in the 2010 Nutcracker is exclusive only for students of CDC.
Do you do competitions?
We do join competitions - we remind our students to keep the focus on the training, emphasize good sportsmanship, enjoy and learn from the competition experience.
What competitions do you go to?
On the competition side of the dance training at Coastal Dance Centre, we have attended the locally held competition, State Dance Championship and the Regional
and Final round of competitions of the Youth America Grand Prix.
The local competition presents an opportunity to a bigger number of Coastal Dance Centre students to join a competition and there is less expense involved on the part
of the parents, what with no hotel accommodation and travel expenses to pay for.
What is the Youth America Grand Prix?
The Youth America Grand Prix is an international ballet and contemporary competition open to students from ages 9 to 19 and features three divisions: Pre-Competitive
(9-11 years), Junior for men and women (12 – 14 years) and Senior for Men and Women (15 – 19 years).The Pre-Competitive division gives students a taste of the
process of preparation for the competition. Some students at this age may not be doing pointe work yet but it gets their feet wet. YAGP offers the youngest age
category among international competitions. YAGP provides exposure to international schools and company directors and builds awareness of international dance
education opportunities. They provide scholarships to some of the world’s best training schools.
Can a student join a group/ensemble entry to the YAGP competition?
A CDC student may join YAGP not necessarily as a solo competitor but as an ensemble participant.
How do you know if a student is ready for competition?
At Coastal Dance Centre, we do not just look at the technical proficiency of a student who may wish to do a competition like the Youth America Grand Prix. Just
because someone is a good ballet dancer does not necessarily mean that he or she is ready for the pressures of competition. We also look at the student’s
temperament - one must be mentally ready as the process of preparing for it is demanding and rigorous. It builds character in a student and opens the opportunity of
seeing what one wants to potentially develop into in the future. As we always emphasize, not everyone will become professional dancers – they may have other
careers, but they will become the future audiences for dance and will make sure that the passion for this art form goes on to the next generation of dancers.
How do you prepare a student for the competition?
A student’s participation at YAGP is at the discretion of the Artistic Director.
We start with a private coaching sessions that start in the summer and / fall beginning with once a week sessions which becomes daily rehearsals as the competition
draws near and the strength and stamina increase. We make it clear that to embark on this journey requires 100 percent of dedication and focus and there is no better
way to get it across than for the CDC Artistic Director and faculty to show the example of the work we do with a student who goes to the competition. We give of what
is in our power and capacity as we can and we fully expect the same in return from the student.
As a parent of a YAGP participant, parents are asked to take note of the following:
For parents, a good understanding of the process involved in the training of a serious dancer, giving of one’s time, patience, and financial capability to cover for all the
expenses involved are essential.
Ballet training being undeniably expensive, solo costumes for the variations cost a lot, particularly the professional classical tutus.
Parents of competing students at the regional level and / Finals are obliged to pay for the Teacher’s/Coach’s travel, accommodation, and miscellaneous expenses.
An itinerary based on the director’s consideration of the YAGP schedule is the focus and priority over any other activity outside of the competition proceedings.
Ultimately, the most promising students around the globe get the awesome opportunity to avail of scholarships at the most prestigious dance schools in the world.
However, it takes a lot of hard work, discipline, and of course, amazing talent to get to the top. We should always remember that each individual is unique (i.e., the
individual’s physical attribute, emotional well-being and giftedness) and as such, not every one is suited for individual competition.
Not every competitor at YAGP gets to bring home a trophy. Parents should be aware that in this type of competition there are only the Top Four winners, chosen from
the Top Twelve dancers in each division (Pre-Competitive, Junior and Senior). Winning or losing is a test of one’s character – being able to practice good sportsmanship
and moving on.
Participation in the YAGP is a big undertaking and to newcomers, it can be overwhelming and daunting as well. Parents and students new to this type of competition
are encouraged to direct their inquiries to the Artistic Director /Staff.
…About "The Spring Festival of Dance"
"The Spring Festival of Dance" is a co-production initiative of CYBT with Coastal Dance Centre. It gives the company members an opportunity to learn and perform
classical ballet masterpieces and work on contemporary pieces with choreographers and dancers who have received critical acclaim for their work.. "The Spring Festival
of Dance" performance is designed to be an educational tool for the students as well as a performanceopportunity.
LIZA MATA, Artistic Director