Student Company
Eligibility​
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You want to perform a lot.
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You have time in your schedule or can make time to allow for required training and rehearsals.
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Level 2+ skill level in dance, acrobatics or aerial dance.
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Participate in CC&DC's Training Program in the High Intensity Level.
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Ages 10+
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Desire to perform more than in the Student Showcase
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Able to handle feedback from faculty and choreographers as well as can work well with their peers.
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Auditions
Spring Date: Saturday, May 17
Fall Date: Saturday, August 9
Time: 1pm - 2:30pm
Location: Charlotte Cirque & Dance Center
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What to expect at the Audition
3 sections: Dance, Acrobatics, Aerial
Dance: Combination will be taught
Acrobatics: Demonstrate Level 1 and 2 Acrobatic and Partner Acrobatic Skills.
Aerial: Choose 1 roll, 1 split, 1 drop
Choreography: Create a dance in 6 minutes to show
- Perform it with a character - 2 showings
- Improvisation: dance and aerial sections
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Expectations
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Perform in at least 2 CC&DC shows per year
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Oz does not count as 1 of the 2 shows
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In the audition form, you will check a minimum of 4 shows that you are available for.
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Casting is determined by the School Director and Student Company Manager.
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Students might not be cast in every show that they are available for.
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Attend All Tuesday Rehearsals and Trainings (scroll down for details)
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August 19, 2025 - June 17, 2026 (every Tuesday)
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6:10pm - 8:30pm
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Each month students will participate in a Performance Workshop during the rehearsal timeframe
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Kick-Off Meeting and End of Season Party.
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To participate in the entire year even if their last CC&DC show is in December.
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If they do not complete the year or is asked to leave the Student Company, they cannot participate in the upcoming season. They will have to wait a full year to audition.
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No more than 2 unexcused absences
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Family vacations, prom, dances, athletic games, and dance/theater performances are not an excused absence.
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If you do not include an excuse in JackRabbit, the absence will count as unexcused.
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Not giving 3 weeks notice, will count as unexcused. Emergencies happen though and those will not count as unexcused.
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No more than 4 excused absences
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Illness, family emergency, religious commitments, and graded school requirements are excused.​
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To be deemed as excused, you need to provide documentation (doctors note, note from teacher, note from house of worship).
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More than 4 excused absences will lead to a meeting with the Student Company Manager to discuss your commitment to Student Company.
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COMMUNICATION is key to everyone's success.
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Performance Opportunities
Special Summer Performance Opportunity
Stories in Motion: The Nightingale and Mix it Up!
Description: An immersive show focused for ages 3 - 7
Venue: CC&DC Studio Theater
Rehearsals
Wednesday, June 25, 6pm - 8:30pm
Friday, June 27, 6pm - 8:30pm
Wednesday, July 2, 6pm - 8:30pm
Saturday, July 5, 1pm - 5pm: Technical Rehearsal
Sunday, July 6, 2pm - 3pm: Invited Dress Rehearsal (Performer Call 12pm)
Additional rehearsals pending casting
Schedule: July 12 - 27 (Saturdays and Sundays)
Saturdays
12pm - 2pm: Load-in
2pm - 3pm: Show 1
4pm - 5pm: Show 2
5pm - 6pm: Clean up
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Sundays
12pm - 1pm: Show 3
2pm - 3pm: Show 4
4pm - 5pm: Show 5
5pm - 6pm: Clean up
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Pending performer availability, there might be multiple casts. However, you will need to be able to perform in at least half of the shows to be eligible.
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Shows in bold are required.
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August 20: Welcome Back Party and Student/Parent Meeting
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September 3: Audition for Season Roles
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September 10: Casting Announced
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October 4 - 26: Stories in Motion at CC&DC Studio Theater (Saturdays and Sundays) TBC
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October 26: Tricks and Treats at CC&DC
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December 11 - 14: Caroline Calouche & Co.'s Clara's Trip* (Charlotte)
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December 18 - 23: Clara's Trip Tour dates TBD
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December 11 - 16: UNCSA Adjudication Application due
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January: UNCSA Adjudication Notification
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February 27 - March 1: University of NC School of the Arts Festival ($225 per participant)
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April 25: International Circus and Dance Celebration (TBC)
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May 9: Spring Forward
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June 18: End of Season Celebration
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June 19 - 20: Student Showcase / The Wizard of Oz at the Knight Theater
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*Student Company performers might be cast in Charlotte and/or touring shows for Clara's Trip.
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Year Round Training Requirements
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Minimum Number of Training Hours per Week: 4 hours (not including Tuesday rehearsal class)
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Tuesdays 6:10pm - 8:30pm: Weekly Rehearsal, Performance Workshop and/or Guided Open Practice.
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Performance Workshops: Once a month classes in performance skills.
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Summer Training Requirements
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June 23, 2025 - August 16, 2025 (8 weeks)
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Minimum Hours: 40
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Options for Training
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Intermediate/Advance Camp
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June 23 - 27
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July 28 - Aug. 1
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Regular Weekly Classes continue and these count
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If only doing weekly classes, you must take a minimum of 5 classes per week and have perfect attendance to reach a minimum of 40 hours.
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10 max personal training / open practice hours
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Privates
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All other hours can be done at CC&DC or another dance and/or circus training facility
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If you do not participate in Int/Adv camp or 5 Weekly Classes, you will have to keep a log of your Summer Training.
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Benefits
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Only students in the student company can audition for lead roles in Oz
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Additional coaching during Open Practice
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Mid-Year feedback from Student Company Manager
Fees
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Student Company will be a 2 hour class fee.
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Charged as part of their monthly classes.
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No additional performance fees except for the Student Showcase as a Training Program Student.
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Questions? Contact info@cltcirquedancecenter.org.
Meet the CC&DC Company
Noa Anavim is a 10-year-old from New York City and a 5th grader with a love for circus and dance. Inspired by her older sister Maya, Noa began her journey 4 years ago. Now, she’s honing her skills at Charlotte Cirque & Dance Center and is thrilled to be in her first year as part of the Student Company.
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Kiyah Desautels is 14 years old and found circus through one of her best friends. She was born here in Charlotte and found a love for gymnastics at age 3. She continued that plus competing for over 4 years before finding circus. She now attends South Charlotte Middle School as an eighth grader and has been at CC & DC for over 3 years. Kiyah enjoys performing, especially on the Silks and Lyra and is looking forward to new experiences gained through the student company.
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Joni Hutton is a 12-year-old 6th grader who fell in love with circus arts after watching Clara’s Trip with her family. She’s been pursuing her passion for 2 years and is excited to continue her journey at Charlotte Cirque & Dance Center as part of her first year in Student Company.
Brooke Efird has marched to the beat of her own drum since she was born. She started on a traditional childhood dance track of ballet, tap, and hip-hop. However, after discovering aerial silks on YouTube during the great lockdown of 2020, Brooke asked if there was somewhere in Charlotte where she could try them herself. Fortunately, CC&Co offered exactly what she was looking for, and she has made herself at home trying all of the apparatuses they have to offer. When not hanging upside down or flipping around, Brooke is a fifth grader who still loves to watch YouTube, mostly while snuggling with her dog, Reba.
Aisosa James is 12 years old and a seventh grader at Weddington Middle School. She was born in Columbus, Ohio where she started taking ballet lessons at age 3. By age 4, she was enrolled in the Cirque D'Art Theatre in Portsmouth, Ohio. This was the beginning of her exposure to the different aspects of dance. She joined Charlotte Cirque and Dance Co (CC & DC) shortly after moving to Charlotte with her family in 2018. Aisosa has been with CC & DC for about four and a half years, and she is loving every opportunity to improve her art.
Sara Kellam took her first aerial silks class at Charlotte Cirque and Dance Center in 2018 and has never looked back. As a dedicated member of the studio, she has participated in numerous performances and training sessions, building a deep passion for movement, strength, and creativity. Further refining her skills, she embraced learning lyra, acrobatics, and dance. Her love for performance grew even stronger when the opportunity to perform in Clara's Trip inspired her to explore trapeze, a new passion that has since become an integral part of her aerial repertoire. Being part of Charlotte Cirque and Dance Center has not only fostered discipline and resilience but also shaped Sara's ability to collaborate within a team and perform under pressure. With a foundation in aerial techniques and a commitment to the dance center, Sara eagerly anticipates the final years of her journey with the studio before graduating high school in 2026, always ready to take on new challenges and continue growing as an artist.
Emerson Kelley has lived in Charlotte her whole life. She started out in competitive gymnastics, which she began at the age of 5. With the COVID shutdown, she began exploring cirque at the age of 13. She started with just doing aerial silks and partner acrobatics and quickly fell in love with cirque. She has now been doing cirque for 3 years and has since started aerial partnering, and hand balancing. Emerson is now 16 years old and a sophomore in high school. When not at Charlotte cirque and Dance Center she enjoys hanging out with friends and family, traveling, and snowboarding with her twin sister.
Payton Kelley is 16 and is a sophomore at Charlotte christian. She has lived in Charlotte her whole life. She did competitive gymnastics from the age of 5 until COVID. In 2021, at the age of 13, she discovered Charlotte Cirque and Dance center where she quickly fell in love with cirque and has not looked back since. She has since found her passion in aerial silks, duo trapeze, and partner acrobatics. Outside of Cirque she enjoys hanging out with friends and family as well as traveling and snowboarding in the winter.
Hayli L. is 12 years old from Charlotte, NC. Hayli started ballet at age 3 then moved to ballroom. After taking a break from dancing, she discovered a love for circus. This is Hayli’s second year with CC&DC where she trains in lyra, silks, trapeze, and contemporary dance. She also likes to ride horses, paint, bake, and martial arts where she currently holds a red belt.
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Sophia Maggio has been training at Charlotte Cirque and Dance center since 2017. She has since taken Lyra, Aerial Silks, Trapeze, Partner Aerial, Partner Acro, and other similar disciplines. She is Currently 16 years old and attends the Central Academy of Technology and Arts for their dance program.
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Chiara Paravela is 10 years old and is in the 5th grade. She was born in Brazil and moved to USA when she was 2 years old. Chiara started doing gymnastics when she was 7 years old. One day she watched a sling class and fell in love with it. Chiara started practicing sling and then found her real talent with the silk classes. She came to CCDC for summer camp classes and got interested in joining Student Company. This is Chiara's 1st year in Student Company and she is excited for all that is ahead.