We want you to spend an evening with us in team classes so you can see what it’s like at our studio and we can help you decide if SET is right for you. Please contact us for an appointment.

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I dont know what skill or experience level I would be with SET.  What group would I be in?

Since competitions are set up by age categories, we group our Team to align with competition age groups. There is not a standard among all the dance competitions, but most take the average age of all dancers in a dance number at either the time of competition or the beginning of the calendar year, and use this to determine competition placement.

SET is made up of 5 Groups:

Occasionally, there are exceptions to these groupings and a student will be placed in a different Group based upon their individual skill levels. This decision is made by the Staff and is on a case-by-case basis. If you feel you should be in a different group than the one assigned to you, please discuss this with the staff.

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What weekly classes do I take when I'm part of Smitty's Extreme Team?

Classes are assigned by Groups (Jr., Teen, etc.), and vary based upon the Team. Most classes you will attend are a mixture between recreational and competitive dancers. All dancers will be required to take Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, Acting For Dancers, Acro or Strectch and Conditioning,and speciality core classes depending on style chosen for team. Some Groups will take other required classes such as Clogging, Pointe, Pilates. There are optional classes available to all dancers.

We understand that although dance is important to our students, school and scholastic efforts take top priority. Therefore, all company-required dance classes will meet two-three nights during the week, for 2 to 4 hours per night. This leaves nights during the week free for homework and other commitments, or you may take other, optional SPAC classes.

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How long is the season?

Classes start in September and continue through May. The team requirement extends into the summer for Auditions, Bootcamp, Nationals Rehearsals, and Nationals.

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When are the comeptitions, and how do I know which ones Smitty's Extreme Team attends?

At the beginning of the season, Smitty's Staff will decide the 3 regional competitions and possible Nationals SET will attend. They give careful consideration to this, and only select high-caliber, reputable competitions. Shortly after their decision is made, the dates for competitions will be published, usually by the end of September. Competitions are on the weekends, usually Saturday and Sunday and occasionally Friday night. Our first regional competition is usually in February and the last one is in early April.. Nationals are usually late in June or July. Nationals is something in the future that Smitty's will be exploring in the future.

We don't know the times of our Group Numbers until a week or two before the event. As soon as we receive the schedule, it will be passed on to you. Since we know our competition dates months in advance, this allows you and your family time to adequately plan your schedules around competitions.

Although we try to select regional competitions in the Omaha area, occasionally we may have to travel to attend a competition out of state. For example, we have attended regionals in Los Angeles, Denver, and Chicago.

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Are there any other competitions I can attend?

There are usually opportunities for optional competitions for solos, duets and trios. Optional competition names and dates will be announced well in advance.

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What is Bootcamp?

Bootcamp will be new for 2010 and is made up of classes and workshops taught by Guest Teachers and Choreographers and is held in the summer, after the normal class season ends (May) and before Nationals. These Master Classes give SET dancers some of the best instruction available in the country!

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How many diferent dance groups or numbers will I be in?

All dancers (Micro Mini through Senior) will possibly be in the Team Production number and in one Large Group or Small Group for their assigned Group(Mini, Jr., etc). After that, you are free to select the quantity of numbers you want to be in, up to the maximum available for a particular Group. You will remain in the same numbers for the entire season (August through May). On average, our Minis will be in 3 Groups (Production and Mini/Large Group), and our Seniors may be in anywhere from 2 Groups through 10 Groups. For the 2008-2009 Season, there were a total of 14 SET Group numbers.

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I want to be in as many Group numbers as possible. How do I do this?

Dancers audition at the beginning of the season and placement in Groups will be made by Smity's Staff. Along with "the wish list" that gives your family the opportunity to communicate what your interest are, we will then place your dancer in competitive groups.  Be aware that the dancer may not be placed in as many numbers as they elect to participate in due to space and resource limits.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:Please be aware that the more group numbers a dancer and their family select, the commitment level and costs rise as well. Rehearsal times, costume fees, and competition entry fees all rise proportionally with the quantity of dance numbers. This decision is up to you, and is an IMPORTANT decision and commitment of both your time and money. Please make sure you give it careful consideration.

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Do only members of a single Group (Jr., Teen,etc.) dance in each number?

No. Although some of the time a Group number is made up of dancers within an age group, there are times the Staff decide to place certain dancers together to tap into (no pun intended!) a dancer’s particular strengths or abilities and to compete with the strongest Group for an age category.

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When do the Competition Group Numbers rehearse?

Groups are rehearsed during the week and some on Saturday mornings, and are scheduled well in advance. We try to schedule all Groups for a age group(Sr., Mini, etc) around the same time on a single day, but there may be times when your Group rehearsals are spread out across a day or may be on more than one day.

As we get closer to competition times, week-night classes will be re-arranged and Team rehearsals will be scheduled. You will know this schedule well in advance. Some of your regular weekly classes will be cancelled and replaced with Group rehearsals. Please be aware that even though your normal class nights may be, for example, Tuesday and Thursdays, your Group rehearsals during "pre-competition" time may be on just on Tuesdays or Thursdays, or possibly just on a single night (depending on how many Groups you are in).

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Can I do a solo, duet or trio?

Yes, and this is your time to shine! Solos, duets and trios are seleceted through our audition process and are available to any team member. If you elect to do a solo, duet or trio, you will need to express your interest before auditions and meet with the Staff at the beginning of the season. For duets or trios, the Staff will group dancers based upon the individual dancers' strengths and skills. Every effort will be made to honor pairing requests.

Once everything is agreed upon, you will schedule private choreography sessions. Choreography will be set by a SPAC choreographer, or a choreographer approved by the Director. You will be charged a flat fee for choreography. The fee includes as many privates as needed to complete and "set" the choreography, usually September-February. Once your choreography has been completed, you can continue scheduling privates to rehearse and "clean" your number. The teacher’s hourly rates will apply to these sessions, and must be paid for through the SPAC Office when the private is scheduled.

You are responsible for scheduling and signing up for your privates and you do this through the SPAC Office Manager.

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What about the costumes for competition?

All of Smitty's Extreme Team costumes are custom made. We have a great costumer who works wonders each year providing us with some of the best costumes seen at competitions! The average cost per costume is $100 to $175. You will pay for your costumes in several steps throughout the year. A per-costume deposit is due at the beginning of the season, and balances are paid in several payments prior to the beginning of the competition season.

Because each costume is custom made and fitted to the dancer, we make sure that the fit is exact. If you have problems with your costume, be sure to let your teacher know so that adjustments can be made. The costumes are yours to keep and you are responsible for ensuring that all costumes and accessories are kept neat and in good repair, and arrive at (and go home from!) the competition intact.

Tights and shoes are the responsibility of the dancer, and will vary for each Group. A list of styles, brands, colors and types of shoe or tight for each Group will be published. The brands and styles change year-to-year, so check with us before making any purchases.

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Are there other costume accessories needed?

Yes. For girls, this generally includes one pair of earrings, one choker, a hair accessory (barrette, clip, etc). Make-up is required, and can be purchased in early November for new team members. There is usually one set of accessories per year for all Groups, although occasionally a Group will have a different requirement. To ensure uniformity, SET generally will purchase everything for the costume and you will buy your own personal items.

The team also has team uniforms that complete the unity of the team.  A personalized jacket, pant and bag is included the price of the uniform.  These uniforms are worn at every public event, competition, and function that the team is involved with.  This fee is usually due upon making the team in July.  As sometimes it can take between 2-3 months to get them shipped to Smitty's.

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Can I speak candidly with a SET parent so I can decide if Smitty's Extreme Team is right for my child?

Yes, in fact, we strongly encourage you to talk with SET members and their families. Our strongest supporters are our dancers’ families, and they can tell you about their experiences. Please contact us and we can refer you to a SET family who would be happy to talk with you.

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How much does everything cost?

Costs vary based upon how many group numbers a dancer participates in.

Please Contact our Office Manager for pricing details.

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Is there a booster club or other type of fund-raising resource to help with expenses?

Yes. Through sponsorship from local businesses and benefactors, a tiered sponsorship program benefits the supporting business through advertisements seen by hundreds of SET families and friends. Your business will be recognized as a supporter of an elite, nationally recognized dance company. Sponsors can expect increased patronage by family and friends of SET.

Smitty's Extreme Team also offers a Fundraising Account in which each family is able to deposit and withdrawl funds throughout the year.

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Are there any other performing opportunities that aren't competitions?

Yes. Our annual Smitty's Extreme Team Showcase is held just before the first competition, and is a public show where friends and families of SET can get a "sneak peek" at all our Groups! The Showcase is usually held in a local high school theater with a seating capacity of approximately 1300. The Showcase is organized by Smitty's Staff and includes not only a fantastic night of dance presentations, but also is a fundraiser. There are gift basket raffles, a silent auction, and many other great opportunities to support our dancers and to thank our SET sponsors and donors.

All SET dancers participate in "Smitty's Spectacular" in May.

Also, we occasionally have opportunities to perform at local festivals and events supporting our community.