SME Lancer Dancers
SME Dance
TRYOUT MATERIALS
Lancer Dancer Tryouts Video Submission
All dancers auditioning for the 2026-2027 SME Lancer Dancers will need to submit their Technical Skills video by 10:00 PM on Monday, April 20, 2026 to be considered as a candidate. A judging panel will evaluate these submissions, and those scores will be included in the total for each dancer.
Dancers may use the SME gym from 8:00-9:00 PM on Monday, April 20th to film their videos if needed. Lancer Dancers and coaches will be available to help with both filming and video submission during these times.
Before filming:
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Please make sure you are wearing fitted dance clothes and have your hair pulled back.
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Set up your camera from the front/audience’s viewpoint. Videos MUST be filmed wide-framed, horizontal, landscape. NO VERTICAL, TALL VIDEOS.
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Camera should be as still as possible/not moving during filming.
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Make sure your video has good lighting and clearly showcases the dancer. Test this before you film.
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The whole body of the dancer should be captured in the frame. Test this before you film.
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You may play music in the background of your video if you would like to. Test this before you film.
During filming:
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First, introduce yourself with your name and what grade you will be in for the 2026-2027 school year.
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Your performance needs to be a single, continuous shot and not edited from multiple takes or angles. You will complete the following skills:
3. Everyone MUST perform a skill of choice. Everyone who is interested in being eligible for Varsity must attempt an aerial cartwheel. Please make sure your skill of choice is a new/different skill that is not already required in another part of the tryout.
After filming:
You have 3 steps you MUST complete by 10:00 PM on Monday, April 20th 2026:
1. Upload your video to a video hosting site. We suggest Youtube or Google drive. On Youtube, make sure you set the video as “public” or “unlisted” as you upload. On Google Drive, you’ll need to change your general access to “anyone with the link” can view.
2. Before submitting, send your video link to a friend or family member to make sure the access is set correctly and they can open and view it.
3. Once you are sure your link works, click the video submission button below to upload your video:
Skills video demonstration:
Tryouts April 23rd:
Below you will find the routine videos you will be required to demonstrate at tryouts, along with the corresponding music track to practice with. Please learn all of the materials below by Monday, April 20th for our first clinic.
Hip Hop
Notes for Hip Hop:
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Make sure to get super low and use your plié.
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Add as much style and swagger as you can.
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Accent the musicality and dynamics. Make sure you are showing the difference between smooth and sharp movements.
Pom
Notes for Pom:
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Follow the dancer with the blue arrow.
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Make sure you spirit both before AND after you perform. We will explain more about spiriting during our first clinic.
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We will have poms for you to borrow for the tryout.
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During the first clinic, we will also teach you a chant to say after the pom routine.
Jazz
Notes for Jazz:
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You will follow the dancer with the blue arrow at the beginning of the video: however, when the dance gets to the aerial cartwheel, you may opt to do the other dancers choreography (fan kick) if you aren't comfortable attempting the aerial. Return back to the other dancer's choreography after she gets up off the floor (on the pivot).
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Accent the musicality and dynamics. Make sure there is a difference between the smoother, more lyrical moments and the sharper ones.
Flag
Notes for Flag:
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You will be able to check out a flag to take home on Monday, April 20th at the clinic. Please make sure you bring your flag back the day of tryouts.
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We will break this combo down more at our first clinic to help those who have never done flag before.